Select a course.
Theories and Methods
infoWhy this? Debates about theory and method examine what sociology can explain, how sociological knowledge is established, and how it relates to values and social policy. Comparing structural, social action, feminist, and postmodern approaches helps us evaluate different accounts of society and reach reasoned judgements about scientific status, objectivity, and research choices.
scheduleWhy now? At this stage, the substantive units provide a range of evidence and examples with which to revisit and deepen theoretical and methodological debates. Bringing these strands together allows us to compare explanations across institutions, connect theoretical assumptions with research decisions, and develop more coherent, evidence-informed arguments.
neurologyYou need to know
- Consensus vs conflict approaches
- Social action theories
- Feminism
- Postmodernism
- Relationships between theories and methods
- Sociology as a science
- Values in sociology
- Social policy and sociology
rocket_launchYou must be able to
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Functionalist, Marxist, Feminists, New Right and Postmodernism perspectives
- Demonstrate knowledge of Interactionalism and Postmodernism
- Apply knowledge of education for the methods in context
- Analyse and evaluate key sociologists
- Analyse different methods of collating data and the effectiveness of this