SOC101Y1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Macrohistory, Refrigerator Mother Theory, Time Point
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The nature of analysis analysis involves trying to understand a phenomenon/event by breaking into its parts and seeing how they fit together and are organized. + how explanations tend to examine the mechanisms at work whereas why explanations tend to identify causes two types of explanations are the same. +ie: people whose goals become more similar over time have happier marriages or a more equitable division of household labor. + all analysis and all theories make theoretical assumptions in order to explain things. Many theories could compete to explain the same phenomenon. + richness of concepts & theories gives us alternative ways of viewing any one phenomenon. Three sets of assumptions: motivational theories, normative theories, & macro- historical theories. Motivational theories assume one choose/determine why and how they do something. + most people like to think they determine their actions one would choose option with bigger rewards rational choice theory & much of micro-economics founded on such an assumption.
