Deck 1: E: The Sociological Perspective

Question 1

How is Canadian sociology distinct from American sociology? Why is this the case?

Answer 1

no answer

Question 2

Develop the differences among the three theoretical approaches by applying each to the family.In each case,how do we understand a family and its operation?

Answer 2

no answer

Question 3

Since beginning this course in sociology,how has your view of the world changed? Provide one specific example of something in your life that you see differently now compared to before you started this course.Is this change a good thing? Explain.

Answer 3

no answer

Question 4

The sociological perspective helps us recognize that the lives of individuals are shaped by the forces of society.Explain,in a short essay,how the sociological perspective reveals "the general in the particular." To illustrate,explain how society plays a part in your own decision to attend a post-secondary institution.

Question 5

Point out what the viewpoint of a sociologist who is influenced by the structural-functional approach (say,Emile Durkheim)has in common with that of a sociologist influenced by the social-conflict approach (say,Karl Marx).That is,how are they both sociological? At the same time,how does each represent a different assumption about the nature of the society? How is the purpose of sociological study different?

Question 6

Explain how the structural-functional approach is more focused on understanding society as it is,and how the social conflict approach (consider the gender-conflict or race-conflict approaches)is more focused on social change.

Question 7

Sociologists increasingly focus on,not just Canadian society,but the world as a whole.Provide several reasons for this global focus.How is an awareness of global patterns such as immigration or social inequality very much a part of the sociological perspective?

Question 8

Explain the difference between sociological generalizations about categories of people and the simple stereotypes we hear in everyday life.

Question 9

Do you see any dangers in adopting the sociological perspective too intensely? For example,if we say that society is at work in all our choices about how to live,do we lose any sense of personal responsibility for our actions?