As we see in our text, while all sociologists agree that social forces should be treated as a subject of scientific study, the discipline of sociology was founded by thinkers with very different views on what those social forces are, how they are related to one another, and how they influence and are influenced by individuals. In this discussion, we will use our understandings of each of the major sociological paradigms to offer explanations of the events in these articles.
Each article offers detailed information regarding the characteristics of individuals and/or collectives which are related to variations in some outcome of interest. You are not being asked to discuss any of the topics in general but to offer explanations of the specifics in the article. For example, one article reports on the characteristics of women who get abortions; if you chose to write about this article, your goal would be to use each paradigm to explain the relationship between one or more of those characteristics and the choice to have an abortion.
First, you will briefly identify at least one relationship described in the article you choose to write about.
Then you will adopt each of the major perspectives (or paradigms) described in our text and videos – functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism – to explain that relationship. How would someone speaking from each of these perspectives explain the relationship?
Keep in mind, the goal here is to use the perspectives to offer differing explanations of the specific data and/or relationships in the articles. Again, the “facts” – the data are the same; explanations based on each paradigm reflect the different focuses each paradigm has. Your work should demonstrate a clear understanding of the differences in those focuses and how those different focuses produce distinct explanations of the same phenomenon.
Finally, you will explain which perspective best fits your understanding of the relationship. This explanation should make direct reference to the concepts (and/or variables) and relationships that you see as key to understanding the event.
At least one of your responses MUST be to a classmate whose initial post was on an article you did not write about in your initial post. (Yes, this is to ensure that everyone reads at least two articles).
Your responses can include your ideas on an opinion offered by a classmate, but responses must include some reflection on your classmates’ applications of theory along with explanations of your reflection.
The links below will take you to our library where the articles are held. If you are logged into D2L, the links should take you a library page where you can then click “Full Text Available” to view the article.
Where Are Young People Most Optimistic
What Teenagers Have Learned From a Tumultuous Time in Politics
How Public Preschool Can Help, and How to Make Sure It Doesn’t Hurt