Sociological Frameworks

Sociology is about understanding patterns of behavior.

But how do you "begin" trying the understand any particular pattern of behavior?

Answer:  You have to make assumptions about the nature of society or human beings.  These assumptions will allow you to collect information, put it into a "framework," see generalities.

Have all sociologists agreed that one set of assumptions is the best approach to understanding patterns of behavior?

Answer:  No.
Groups of sociologists -- you could call them "schools" -- have found different sets of assumptions most useful for understanding patterns of behavior.

Below are four of the most prevalent "ways of doing sociology" current today.
 
 
 
 
 

Structural Functional Framework

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Basic assumptions:

• A social system is a group of institutions that together fulfill the basic needs of a society.
• An institution is a cluster of norms built up around a particular basic need.
• For example, "the family" is a cluster of norms that induce individuals in a society to have children and take care of them.
• All the institutions in a given social system are related to each other.  If one institution changes, it will have repercussions on all other institutions in that system.
• For example, if a society's economy changes from being agricultural to industrial then the family, polity, religion, etc... of that society will also undergo changes.

Explain the change in the number of births average American women have experienced.
 
 

Basic assumptions/concepts:

• Society is a cluster of classes.
• The social structure is held together by the actions of the privileged class to preserve their position.
• Each class will pursue its interest.
• Pursuit of class interest is a basic cause of social change.
• The direction of social change can be uncovered by identifying the "contradictions" that lay behind the pursuit of class interest.

Explain why there were so many colonies in 1900 and so few colonies today.  What brought about the end of colonialism?

What was in the interest of "mother countries"?  Why did they want to have colonies?
ANSWER:  As a source of raw material and agricultural product, and as a guaranteed market for their manufactured goods.

Mother countries tended to implement the following policies in pursuit of these goals:

• "rationalize" agriculture by building irrigation networks, and practicing scientific agriculture.  These changes increased agricultural output.  They also provided more food for the population and reduced levels of malnutrition.
• build transportation and communication systems in their colonies:  canals, railroads, highways, telegraph system.  These changes lowered the costs of transporting bulky raw materials and agricultural products to market.  They also helped eliminate the deadly effects of local famines caused by drought or flooding.
• implement public health measures:  draining swamps and attempting to control malaria, yellow fever and other diseases; building latrines and separating drinking water from waste water.   These changes provided them with a healthier and more productive workforce.  They also dramatically lowered infant mortality rates.
• built education systems to foster some degree of literacy within the colonial population.  There was a need for a native "middle management" class to help administer colonial enterprises and government structures.
• prohibited the development of industry in their colonies.  They wished them to be only a source of raw materials and not competitors in the production of manufactured goods.