Page 39 - Essencials of Sociology

12 CHAPTER 1 The Sociological Perspective

gaining knowledge. Others reply, “Knowledge for what?” They argue that gaining
applied sociology the use of
sociology to solve problems— knowledge through research is not enough, that sociologists need to use their expertise
from the micro level of classroom to help reform society, especially to help bring justice and better conditions to the poor
interaction and family relationships and oppressed.
to the macro level of crime and
pollution Applied Sociology. As Figure 1.3 shows, one attempt to go beyond basic sociology
is applied sociology, using sociology to solve problems. Applied sociology goes back
to the roots of sociology: As you have seen, sociologists founded the NAACP. Today’s
applied sociologists lack the broad vision that the early sociologists had of reforming
society, but their application of sociology is wide-ranging. Some work for business firms
to solve problems in the workplace, while others investigate social problems such as por-
nography, rape, pollution, or the spread of AIDS. Sociology is even being applied to find
ways to disrupt terrorist groups (Sageman 2008a) and to improve technology for the
mentally ill (Kelly and Farahbakhsh 2012).

FIGURE 1.3 Comparing Basic and Applied Sociology

BASIC SOCIOLOGY PUBLIC SOCIOLOGY APPLIED SOCIOLOGY
Audience: Fellow sociologists and anyone interested Audience: Policy makers Audience: Clients
Product: Knowledge Product: Recommendations Product: Change

1 2 Research on 3 The middle 4 Analyzing 5
Constructing problems, evaluating Implementing
theory and testing basic social life, ground: criticisms programs, and solutions
hypotheses on how groups of society and (clinical sociology)
affect people social policy suggesting solutions

Source: By the author. Based on DeMartini 1982, plus events since then.

Watch on MySocLab Public Sociology. To encourage sociologists to apply sociology, the American Socio-
Video: George Ritzer: Importance logical Association (ASA) is promoting a middle ground between research and reform
of Sociological Theory
called public sociology. By this term, the ASA refers to harnessing the sociological per-
public sociology applying sociol- spective for the benefit of the public. Of special interest to the ASA is getting politicians
ogy for the public good; especially and policy makers to apply the sociological understanding of how society works as they
the use of the sociological perspec- develop social policy (American Sociological Association 2004). Public sociology would
tive (how things are related to one
another) to guide politicians and incorporate both items 3 and 4 of Figure 1.3. The lines between basic, applied, and pub-
policy makers lic soiology are not always firm (Nickel 2010). In the Cultural Diversity box on the next
page, you can see how basic sociology morphed into public sociology.
theory a general statement about With roots that go back a century or more, this debate about the purpose and use of
how some parts of the world fit
together and how they work; an sociology is likely to continue for another generation. At this point, let’s consider how
explanation of how two or more theory fits into sociology.
facts are related to one another
Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology
Explain the basic ideas of
1.4
symbolic interactionism, functional
Facts never interpret themselves. To make sense out of life, we use our common sense.
analysis, and conflict theory.
That is, to understand our experiences (our “facts”), we place them into a framework
of more-or-less related ideas. Sociologists do this, too, but they place their observations
into a conceptual framework called a theory. A theory is a general statement about how
some parts of the world fit together and how they work. It is an explanation of how two
symbolic interactionism a theo- or more “facts” are related to one another.
retical perspective in which society
is viewed as composed of symbols Sociologists use three major theories: symbolic interactionism, functional analysis, and
that people use to establish mean- conflict theory. Each theory is like a lens through which we can view social life. Let’s
ing, develop their views of the first examine the main elements of each theory and then apply each to the U.S. divorce
world, and communicate with one rate to see why it is so high. As we do this, you will see how each theory, or perspective,
another provides a distinct interpretation of social life.