SOAN 2120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Symbolic Interactionism, Class Conflict, Conflict Theories

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology and Anthropology
• Course: SOAN 2120
• Professor: D Walters

Document Summary

The interrelationship between theory and methods (part one) Karl marx (conflict theory), max weber (symbolic interactionism), and emile durkheim (functionalism) These theoretical perspectives are all very important in shaping how we think about society. Functionalists and conflict theorists are more likely to use quantitative methods in their research, while symbolic interactionists are more likely to do qualitative research. Social researchers use research methods to determine how the environment influences people (generate and evaluate theories) There are two types of theories testable theories and non-testable theories. Marx"s theory on social and economic change revolved around capitalism, what he thought to be the most powerful and darkest force on the planet. The problem is that his theory is non-testable, just as freud"s psychoanalytic theory is in psychology. A theory is a general assertion about something which is tested indirectly through a more specific hypothesis.