SOC 2109 Lecture 3: soc 2109 lecture 2

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 2109
• Professor: Sam Alvaro

Document Summary

Lecture 2: theories of the small and large. A theory is a set of interrelated propositions that organizes and explains observed phenomena. A theory goes beyond mere observable facts by postulating casual relations among variables. If a theory is valid, it enables its user to explain the phenomena under consideration and make predictions about events not yet observed. Allows you to make predictions that are not yet observed. Conceptual plane operational plane (more applied) Racism - operationalize it by saying a billionaire in new york refuses to give to a minority group. Violence - what type of violence are we talking about. Explanations can be described as the stories we tell each other in attempts to reduce some order in our lives. Explanations outline paths that lead to particular outcomes. They allow us to feel that we know why something happened, and whether or not under certain conditions, it is likely to occur again.