SOAN 2120 Lecture : Lecture notes for Jan 20th 2012

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology and Anthropology
• Course: SOAN 2120
• Professor: Scott Schau

Document Summary

Theories seek to provide explanations for observed patters. Sensorial observations, identification of patterns, theory generation, hypothesis testing. Theories are linked to the explanatory objective of scientific research. Fundamental frames of reference used to organize observations. Underlie different sets of theories and explanations. Collection of theories which share common underlying assumptions, values and views of social reality. Social paradigms are neither true nor false- they just suggest a different understanding of the world, comprise of different kinds of theories, and inspire different kinds of research. Some paradigms focus their attention on aggregate numbers of individuals and society at large a leads to macrotheoratical. Others take a more individual approach to social life and leads to microtheoretical. Thomas kuhn: the structure of scientific revolutions (1962) Science does not progress via a linear accumulation of new knowledge, but undergoes periodic revolutions called paradigm shifts . Revolutionary science - pre-science a normal science, a crisis, a new paradigm.