- Explain how each of the three major theoretical paradigms discussed in this section (structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory) might be used in looking at the issue of inequality and share some examples.
- Using the sociological imagination, how might one explain the personal trouble of experiencing an eating disorder?
- How can sociological theories be beneficial when studying various groups or institutions within a society? Provide some examples which support your claims.
- Why is it so vital to follow ethical standards and guidelines when conducting sociological research? Can you think of a time when ethical guidelines were violated during scientific research? Please share some examples.
Unit 1 Discussion
Views society as a system of independent parts that work together to keep the whole stable. It could consider how social institutions such as the education or economy, for instance, contribute and mitigate inequality.
Emphasis is put on micro-level interactions and symbols. In all its complexity, when studying inequality, it may explain how the daily interactions among people perpetuate or challenge social hierarchies.
Emphasizes power struggles and social inequality. It would analyze how as the societal structures like resource distribution have seen conflicts and inequality in various forms.
The sociological theories provide frameworks through which group behavior and social patterns may be interpreted and explained. For example, functionalism examines education to realize its place in the maintenance of social equilibrium, whereas conflict theory clarifies power struggles within educational systems.
Emphasis is put on micro-level interactions and symbols. In all its complexity, when studying inequality, it may explain how the daily interactions among people perpetuate or challenge social hierarchies.
Emphasizes power struggles and social inequality. It would analyze how as the societal structures like resource distribution have seen conflicts and inequality in various forms.
The sociological theories provide frameworks through which group behavior and social patterns may be interpreted and explained. For example, functionalism examines education to realize its place in the maintenance of social equilibrium, whereas conflict theory clarifies power struggles within educational systems.
The three major theoretical paradigms can be used to examine the issue of inequality in different ways. Structural functionalism focuses on how society functions as a whole, and how social institutions work together to maintain stability. When looking at inequality, structural functionalism might argue that some level of inequality is necessary for society to function efficiently. For example, it may suggest that certain roles or positions in society require more skill or education, resulting in higher pay and status.
Symbolic interactionism examines the subjective meanings that individuals attach to their experiences. In relation to inequality, symbolic interactionism would emphasize how individuals perceive and interpret their own position within society. For instance, it might explore how people from marginalized communities develop strategies to cope with discrimination or prejudice.
Conflict theory highlights the power dynamics and inequalities present within society. It suggests that social order is maintained through power struggles between different groups. When analyzing inequality, conflict theory would focus on the unequal distribution of resources and opportunities among different social classes. An example could be examining how economic disparities lead to unequal access to quality education and healthcare.
Using the sociological imagination, one could explain experiencing an eating disorder as a personal trouble influenced by broader societal factors. This perspective considers how cultural standards of beauty, media representations, and social pressures contribute to an individual's perception of body image and self-worth.
Sociological theories are beneficial when studying various groups or institutions within a society because they provide frameworks for understanding complex dynamics. For example, feminist theory helps analyze gender inequalities in various contexts such as workplace discrimination or domestic violence. By using sociological theories, researchers can identify patterns and underlying structures that influence group behavior or institutional practices.
Ethical standards and guidelines are crucial when conducting sociological research because they ensure the protection of participants' rights and well-being. Violating ethical guidelines can harm individuals physically, emotionally, or socially. One example of ethical guideline violation is the notorious Tuskegee Syphilis Study, where African American men were deliberately left untreated for syphilis without their informed consent. This unethical study lasted for 40 years and caused significant harm to the participants.
In summary, the three major theoretical paradigms can be used to analyze inequality from different angles. The sociological imagination helps explain personal troubles like eating disorders as influenced by broader social factors. Sociological theories offer valuable insights when studying various groups or institutions within a society. Finally, following ethical standards is crucial in sociological research to protect participants and prevent harmful actions like the Tuskegee Syphilis Study.
Symbolic interactionism examines the subjective meanings that individuals attach to their experiences. In relation to inequality, symbolic interactionism would emphasize how individuals perceive and interpret their own position within society. For instance, it might explore how people from marginalized communities develop strategies to cope with discrimination or prejudice.
Conflict theory highlights the power dynamics and inequalities present within society. It suggests that social order is maintained through power struggles between different groups. When analyzing inequality, conflict theory would focus on the unequal distribution of resources and opportunities among different social classes. An example could be examining how economic disparities lead to unequal access to quality education and healthcare.
Using the sociological imagination, one could explain experiencing an eating disorder as a personal trouble influenced by broader societal factors. This perspective considers how cultural standards of beauty, media representations, and social pressures contribute to an individual's perception of body image and self-worth.
Sociological theories are beneficial when studying various groups or institutions within a society because they provide frameworks for understanding complex dynamics. For example, feminist theory helps analyze gender inequalities in various contexts such as workplace discrimination or domestic violence. By using sociological theories, researchers can identify patterns and underlying structures that influence group behavior or institutional practices.
Ethical standards and guidelines are crucial when conducting sociological research because they ensure the protection of participants' rights and well-being. Violating ethical guidelines can harm individuals physically, emotionally, or socially. One example of ethical guideline violation is the notorious Tuskegee Syphilis Study, where African American men were deliberately left untreated for syphilis without their informed consent. This unethical study lasted for 40 years and caused significant harm to the participants.
In summary, the three major theoretical paradigms can be used to analyze inequality from different angles. The sociological imagination helps explain personal troubles like eating disorders as influenced by broader social factors. Sociological theories offer valuable insights when studying various groups or institutions within a society. Finally, following ethical standards is crucial in sociological research to protect participants and prevent harmful actions like the Tuskegee Syphilis Study.
1. A structural functional analyze the role of the agriculture industry the role of agriculture industry within the nations economy. How this has changed from early days of manuel-labor. Farming to modern mechanized production. another studies the different functions of processes in food production from farming and harvesting to flashy packaging and mass concumerison
Conflict Theorist interest in the power differentials present in the regulation of food by exploring where people's rights to information inter seeds with corporation drive for profit. How the government mediates those interest.
Symbolic Interactionist focus on the interest of micro-level topics, such as the symbolic use of food in religious rituals, role in social interaction of a family dinner.
2. Explores the interactions of groups who identify themselves based on their sharing a particular diet, such as vegetarians ( no meat), locavores (people who eat locally produced food). Eating an individual or group action eating habits and customs are influenced by our cultures in society. Our nation's food system is at the care of social movements, political issues, economic debates. These factors might become a topic of sociological study.
3. Sociologists have different aspects of the potential global culture. We explore the dynamics involved in the social interaction of global online communties when members feel a closer kinship to other group members than to people residing i their own countries.
4.In order to protect the dignity, rights and welfare of research participants.
Conflict Theorist interest in the power differentials present in the regulation of food by exploring where people's rights to information inter seeds with corporation drive for profit. How the government mediates those interest.
Symbolic Interactionist focus on the interest of micro-level topics, such as the symbolic use of food in religious rituals, role in social interaction of a family dinner.
2. Explores the interactions of groups who identify themselves based on their sharing a particular diet, such as vegetarians ( no meat), locavores (people who eat locally produced food). Eating an individual or group action eating habits and customs are influenced by our cultures in society. Our nation's food system is at the care of social movements, political issues, economic debates. These factors might become a topic of sociological study.
3. Sociologists have different aspects of the potential global culture. We explore the dynamics involved in the social interaction of global online communties when members feel a closer kinship to other group members than to people residing i their own countries.
4.In order to protect the dignity, rights and welfare of research participants.
1. According to Structural Functionalism, society is a complex system made up of several components that cooperate to foster peace and stability. Structural functionalists concentrate on the role that social institutions play in upholding the current social order while analyzing inequality. For instance, they can contend that inequality is beneficial because it encourages people to aim high and guarantees that society's most gifted and diligent citizens are compensated.
Symbolic interactionism: This paradigm places emphasis on how interactions and symbols shape people's beliefs and actions. Symbolic interactionists could investigate the ways in which social inequality is sustained by symbols of power and status. For example, they could research the impact of labels and stereotypes on the possibilities available to members of underrepresented groups, like women or racial minorities.
With conflict theorists, society is marked by rivalry and conflict over scarce resources. They concentrate on power dynamics and how dominant groups preserve their advantage at the expense of subordinate groups when examining inequality. Conflict theorists might, for instance, look at how differences in income reinforce social hierarchies by resulting in unequal access to healthcare and education.
2 Applying the sociological imagination entails placing one's own problems within the larger framework of social forces. When someone has an eating disorder, they may investigate how cultural norms and beauty standards affect their personal battles with self-esteem and body image. Peer pressure, media portrayals of thinness, and the focus society places on looks and diets can all have an impact on how someone experiences an eating disorder. By using the sociological imagination, it is possible to understand that eating disorder troubles are not just personal problems but also have an impact on larger society issues.
3. Benefits of Sociological Theories for Group and Institution Studies: Sociological theories offer frameworks for comprehending the dynamics of organizations and groups in society. For instance, the various components of a religious organization that cooperate to sustain stability and social cohesiveness can be examined using functionalism. The way that language and symbols influence the interactions and culture of a specific ethnic group can be better understood through the lens of symbolic interactionism. Power struggles in the workplace, such as disputes between management and labor or salary differences between social classes, can be better understood through the lens of conflict theory. These theories provide a more comprehensive theoretical framework for researchers to understand their data, develop hypotheses, and pose important questions.
4. Ethical guidelines for sociological research must be adhered to in order to safeguard participant rights and welfare and maintain the process's integrity. Researcher and institutional reputations can suffer, participants may suffer, and the validity and reliability of the study's conclusions may be jeopardized when ethical standards are broken. The Tuskegee Syphilis Study is one instance of how ethical standards were broken in scientific research. Even after penicillin became a widely available remedy for syphilis, African American men with the disease were observed in this study without their informed consent or treatment offers. The participants suffered severe injuries as a result of this flagrant breach of ethical principles.
Ethics cades and guidance bring harmony in the all system of education
1. Structural Functionalism, Symbolic Interactionism, and Conflict Theory in Analyzing Inequality:
Structural Functionalism: This perspective might analyze inequality by examining how different social structures contribute to the overall functioning of society. For example, it could explore how social institutions, such as education or the economy, contribute to maintaining or challenging inequality.
2. Symbolic Interactionism: This paradigm would focus on how individuals' interactions and interpretations contribute to the perpetuation or challenging of inequality. For instance, it might study how symbols, language, and gestures shape people's understanding of their social status and roles.
Conflict Theory: This perspective views society as marked by conflict between different social groups. In analyzing inequality, it would investigate how power dynamics, resource distribution, and social structures contribute to the conflicts between different groups, such as the rich and the poor.
Sociological Imagination and Eating Disorders:
The sociological imagination involves understanding personal troubles in a broader social context. In the case of eating disorders, it might be explained by societal pressures related to beauty standards, media influence, or cultural expectations regarding body image. The individual struggle becomes connected to broader social forces that shape perceptions of beauty and body norms.
3. Benefits of Sociological Theories in Studying Groups or Institutions:
Sociological theories provide frameworks for understanding social phenomena. For example, functionalism can help explain how different parts of a social system contribute to its stability. Symbolic interactionism can offer insights into how individuals create and interpret symbols within a group. Conflict theory can shed light on power struggles and inequalities within institutions, such as corporations or educational systems.
Importance of Ethical Standards in Sociological Research:
4. Ethical standards are crucial to ensure the well-being, rights, and privacy of research participants. Violating ethical guidelines can lead to harm, mistrust, and compromised research integrity. An example of ethical violations might include conducting research without informed consent, misrepresenting findings, or failing to protect participants' confidentiality.
Structural Functionalism: This perspective might analyze inequality by examining how different social structures contribute to the overall functioning of society. For example, it could explore how social institutions, such as education or the economy, contribute to maintaining or challenging inequality.
2. Symbolic Interactionism: This paradigm would focus on how individuals' interactions and interpretations contribute to the perpetuation or challenging of inequality. For instance, it might study how symbols, language, and gestures shape people's understanding of their social status and roles.
Conflict Theory: This perspective views society as marked by conflict between different social groups. In analyzing inequality, it would investigate how power dynamics, resource distribution, and social structures contribute to the conflicts between different groups, such as the rich and the poor.
Sociological Imagination and Eating Disorders:
The sociological imagination involves understanding personal troubles in a broader social context. In the case of eating disorders, it might be explained by societal pressures related to beauty standards, media influence, or cultural expectations regarding body image. The individual struggle becomes connected to broader social forces that shape perceptions of beauty and body norms.
3. Benefits of Sociological Theories in Studying Groups or Institutions:
Sociological theories provide frameworks for understanding social phenomena. For example, functionalism can help explain how different parts of a social system contribute to its stability. Symbolic interactionism can offer insights into how individuals create and interpret symbols within a group. Conflict theory can shed light on power struggles and inequalities within institutions, such as corporations or educational systems.
Importance of Ethical Standards in Sociological Research:
4. Ethical standards are crucial to ensure the well-being, rights, and privacy of research participants. Violating ethical guidelines can lead to harm, mistrust, and compromised research integrity. An example of ethical violations might include conducting research without informed consent, misrepresenting findings, or failing to protect participants' confidentiality.
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Symbolic interactionism: This theory highlights how symbols, meanings, and social relationships influence how people behave both individually and in society at large. Symbolic interactionism can be used to study inequality by looking at how people perceive and comprehend their social roles as well as the meanings associated with inequality. It might, for instance, look into how people from various social classes or racial/ethnic origins view and feel inequality, and how this affects their interactions and behavior.
According to conflict theory, there are always going to be disputes and inequality in society, especially when it comes to resources and power. Conflict theory would concentrate on the power relationships and social conflicts that underlie inequality. It could examine how various groups struggle with one another for resources, how power is allocated and preserved, and how
2. Because sociological theories offer frameworks for comprehending and analyzing social phenomena, they are useful when researching different groups or institutions within a society. They support the analysis of the underlying social structures, dynamics, and processes that affect people's experiences and behavior as individuals and as groups. As an illustration:
Sociological theories are useful in understanding how social class, race/ethnicity, and gender affect educational opportunities and results while researching educational institutions.
Sociological theories can clarify how social factors such as socioeconomic status, healthcare access, and cultural attitudes influence health disparities in healthcare systems research.
Sociological theories can be used to better explain how structural elements such as poverty, discrimination, and unequal resource distribution affect the distribution of arrests, convictions, and
3.Because sociological theories offer frameworks for comprehending and analyzing social phenomena, they are useful when researching different groups or institutions within a society. They support the analysis of the underlying social structures, dynamics, and processes that affect people's experiences and behavior as individuals and as groups. As an illustration:
Sociological theories are useful in understanding how social class, race/ethnicity, and gender affect educational opportunities and results while researching educational institutions.
Sociological theories can clarify how social factors such as socioeconomic status, healthcare access, and cultural attitudes influence health disparities in healthcare systems research.
Sociological theories can be used to better explain how structural elements such as poverty, discrimination, and unequal resource distribution affect the distribution of arrests, convictions, and
4.It is imperative that sociological study adhere to ethical norms and rules for a number of reasons:
Safeguarding human subjects: Research participants' rights, confidentiality, and welfare are guaranteed by ethical norms. This entails getting participants' informed consent, protecting participant privacy, and reducing any risks or potential harm.
Steer clear of prejudice and exploitation: Researchers can steer clear of biases that could affect the research's design, conduct, or interpretation by adhering to ethical norms. They also stop vulnerable populations or groups from being exploited.
Preserving credibility and integrity: Respecting moral principles aids in preserving the validity and integrity of sociological research. It guarantees that study results are reliable and applicable to practice, policy, and future research.
According to conflict theory, there are always going to be disputes and inequality in society, especially when it comes to resources and power. Conflict theory would concentrate on the power relationships and social conflicts that underlie inequality. It could examine how various groups struggle with one another for resources, how power is allocated and preserved, and how
2. Because sociological theories offer frameworks for comprehending and analyzing social phenomena, they are useful when researching different groups or institutions within a society. They support the analysis of the underlying social structures, dynamics, and processes that affect people's experiences and behavior as individuals and as groups. As an illustration:
Sociological theories are useful in understanding how social class, race/ethnicity, and gender affect educational opportunities and results while researching educational institutions.
Sociological theories can clarify how social factors such as socioeconomic status, healthcare access, and cultural attitudes influence health disparities in healthcare systems research.
Sociological theories can be used to better explain how structural elements such as poverty, discrimination, and unequal resource distribution affect the distribution of arrests, convictions, and
3.Because sociological theories offer frameworks for comprehending and analyzing social phenomena, they are useful when researching different groups or institutions within a society. They support the analysis of the underlying social structures, dynamics, and processes that affect people's experiences and behavior as individuals and as groups. As an illustration:
Sociological theories are useful in understanding how social class, race/ethnicity, and gender affect educational opportunities and results while researching educational institutions.
Sociological theories can clarify how social factors such as socioeconomic status, healthcare access, and cultural attitudes influence health disparities in healthcare systems research.
Sociological theories can be used to better explain how structural elements such as poverty, discrimination, and unequal resource distribution affect the distribution of arrests, convictions, and
4.It is imperative that sociological study adhere to ethical norms and rules for a number of reasons:
Safeguarding human subjects: Research participants' rights, confidentiality, and welfare are guaranteed by ethical norms. This entails getting participants' informed consent, protecting participant privacy, and reducing any risks or potential harm.
Steer clear of prejudice and exploitation: Researchers can steer clear of biases that could affect the research's design, conduct, or interpretation by adhering to ethical norms. They also stop vulnerable populations or groups from being exploited.
Preserving credibility and integrity: Respecting moral principles aids in preserving the validity and integrity of sociological research. It guarantees that study results are reliable and applicable to practice, policy, and future research.
Views society as a system of independent parts that work together to keep the whole stable. It could consider how social institutions such as the education or economy, for instance, contribute and mitigate inequality.
Emphasis is put on micro-level interactions and symbols. In all its complexity, when studying inequality, it may explain how the daily interactions among people perpetuate or challenge social hierarchies.
Emphasizes power struggles and social inequality. It would analyze how as the societal structures like resource distribution have seen conflicts and inequality in various forms.
Emphasis is put on micro-level interactions and symbols. In all its complexity, when studying inequality, it may explain how the daily interactions among people perpetuate or challenge social hierarchies.
Emphasizes power struggles and social inequality. It would analyze how as the societal structures like resource distribution have seen conflicts and inequality in various forms.
Symbolic interactionists focus on how individuals create and interpret symbols and meanings in their interactions. Regarding inequality, they might explore how labels and stereotypes affect people’s experiences. For instance, they could study how being labeled as “low-income” affects an individual’s self-concept and opportunities. Conflict theorists emphasize power struggles and social inequalities. They would analyze how social structures perpetuate inequality and benefit certain groups. For example, they might examine how economic systems favor the wealthy and exploit the working class. Structural Functionalism: When studying institutions (e.g., education), this perspective helps us understand their roles in maintaining stability. For example, schools socialize students and prepare them for future roles.
1. a) The structural functionalism states sociology as a big machinery with many intricate parts that have to work together, for a common result. Regardless the nature, it is necessary that all elements be present in the big whole. In it are inbedded social structure and social funcions as sociological components that work in the building up the dynamic force. The enfase it is to look at sociology on a macro-systematic apptoach.
b) The simbolic-interaction approach looks at sociology as a society individual everyday interaction efforts to represent the whole. to exemplify this approach is the teatrical plays that would be enhanced to correct or motivate the society. The simbolic approach uses simbols to convey hidden messages to the society.
c) The conflict theory looks at sociology as a class conflict that is waged the haves and the havenot in the society. As envisioned by Karl Marx, it is the economical struggle between the poor and the rich. In other words it is the struggle of the owners and the workers. In this struggle, the owners fight to maintain their status cuo, while the workers fight for the equalities.
2. As one may sociologically imagine the solution for the eating disorder, the first step would be to conduct a research.
3. When studying theories in a society, the outcome results can be collectively beneficial to all because as the society is a collective of people that do and live by cultural practice, the society comes out as beneficiaries. Examples is an outbrake of a deadly virus. When quaranteened, the society gets saved from unprcedented mortalities.
4. It is important to follow and live by ethical guilines set as standards for research project. In many cases, research outcomes have been adulterated just to make it good for the leading researcher, so as to get reputation.
b) The simbolic-interaction approach looks at sociology as a society individual everyday interaction efforts to represent the whole. to exemplify this approach is the teatrical plays that would be enhanced to correct or motivate the society. The simbolic approach uses simbols to convey hidden messages to the society.
c) The conflict theory looks at sociology as a class conflict that is waged the haves and the havenot in the society. As envisioned by Karl Marx, it is the economical struggle between the poor and the rich. In other words it is the struggle of the owners and the workers. In this struggle, the owners fight to maintain their status cuo, while the workers fight for the equalities.
2. As one may sociologically imagine the solution for the eating disorder, the first step would be to conduct a research.
3. When studying theories in a society, the outcome results can be collectively beneficial to all because as the society is a collective of people that do and live by cultural practice, the society comes out as beneficiaries. Examples is an outbrake of a deadly virus. When quaranteened, the society gets saved from unprcedented mortalities.
4. It is important to follow and live by ethical guilines set as standards for research project. In many cases, research outcomes have been adulterated just to make it good for the leading researcher, so as to get reputation.
1. Structural functionalism would look at what role inequalities play in society as a whole. Symbolic interactionism would look at day-to-day experiences of inequality, and conflict theoriy would see inequalities as the driving force behind societal change. For example, symbolic interactionism may look at intra-race conversations at a Thanksgiving dinner, and conflict theory would study how racism and the struggles to eradicate it have changed society over time.
2. One could use the sociological imagination to explain an eating disorder as being intimately connected to the media and current perceptions about what health and attractiveness look like, leading to disordered eating as a way to achieve that ideal.
3. Sociological theories can explain aspects of social interaction. For example, using critical race theory to examine police brutality allows one to dig deeper into institutional realities influencing the behavior.
4. When ethical standards and guidelines are not followed when doing research, it erodes trust in the scientific method and casts doubt on others' research as well.
2. One could use the sociological imagination to explain an eating disorder as being intimately connected to the media and current perceptions about what health and attractiveness look like, leading to disordered eating as a way to achieve that ideal.
3. Sociological theories can explain aspects of social interaction. For example, using critical race theory to examine police brutality allows one to dig deeper into institutional realities influencing the behavior.
4. When ethical standards and guidelines are not followed when doing research, it erodes trust in the scientific method and casts doubt on others' research as well.
SOC101 Introduction to Sociology – Unit 1 Introduction to Sociology Discussion Forum 1
According to Griffiths & Keirns (n.d.), sociologists use theories to explain and illustrate social interactions among individuals, examine their patterns of behavior, and state hypothesis based on their observations and imagination about society. These theoretical and philosophical paradigms frameworks came up with three different approaches or explanations: (1) structural functionalism, (2) conflict theory, and (3) symbolic interactionism theory. Structural functionalism was developed by Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, Alfred Radcliffe-Brown, and Robert Merton. It explains a macro-level theory that states that individuals share a common language, values, symbols, and customs in social institutions such as family, education, religion, and government, among others to meet those social needs (Hannan, 2021b). Conflict theory, on another hand, was developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Ludwig Gumplowicz, Max Weber, Georg Simmel, and some other German philosophers from Frankfurt School. This macro-level theory explained that individuals in society struggle with inequalities. These inequalities are institutionalized, feed social differences and the repartition of power, wealth, and prestige. And can be perpetuated throughout time causing social conflicts. Marx sentenced that the oppressed party of society would end raising and making war against the dominant party (Hannan, 2021a).
Symbolic interactionism theory is a micro-level theory that explains individuals’ one-to-one interactions and communications among society. It was developed by George Herbert Mead, and a Mead’s student Herbert Blummer (Hanna, 2021c). When applying one or all these theories, experts in the field of Psychology, Sociology, and social work can analyze different patterns of behavior originated in background, culture, social class, and any other factor that contribute and or influence individuals’ social interaction. Studies and result can be used as a base to create and enact laws and regulations, design education methods, and help with development of more healthy societies.
One of the forms to use these theories is to reduce inequality among different social groups. In the functionalist perspective, sociology can be used to study the functions that each group in a society has and how it contributes to the community overall. Social programs can be better designed and distributed to fit different groups needs in the role they play in society and the input each bring. An example can be designing and creating more appropriate treatments for people that are on the verge of a sentence after a trial, and to ensure their civil rights are protected equally. Procedures to regulate society have improved due to the functionalist theory knowledge and its understanding of different groups after several sociological studies so far. Other scenario when sociological approaches such as symbolic interactionists are helpful to reduce inequality, is by designing methods of study that can meet students’ capacity and learning styles that have been shaped by individual factors of interaction like ethnicity, culture, social class, background, or another critical factor. A last illustration can be how research, study, and results under these sociological perspectives including conflict theorists’ perspective can be used in governments’ entities for legislation and enaction of local, state, and national laws that regulate and encourage healthier and better communities according to their diverse trends, role, and characteristics to reduce friction among them and promote social justice.
Sociological imagination is a mindset and framework used by sociologists to relate the connections between the experiences, personal challenges (problems) and larger social issues in societal structures to those of other people and that can involve even their history (Griffiths & Keirns, n.d.). By using sociological imagination, for instance, dietitians can assess and provide more accurate orientation to their patients and factors that drive the eating disorders. The sociological imagination concept suggests that the eating disorder is a personal problem of the individual that is experimenting this illness on one hand. On the other hand, specialists that experimented themselves an eating disorder or personal problem, can be more connected to their patients’ situation to exercise the profession and be more empathic, therefore, being even more assertive when assigning a diet regime and treatment to their patients. Furthermore, examining historic patterns in the family genetics, learning about life circumstances that can encompass personal connections and relationships with other people with eating disorders, community behaviors and nutritional culture, experimenting emotional and or psychological stress that trigger this illness are issues that indicate just how complex and accurate dietitian work can be when putting into practice the sociological imagination framework.
Sociological theories can be beneficial in many ways when studying various groups or institutions (e.g., schools, activists’ movements, prisons). Social workers can have a better understanding of different scenarios when examining groups and patterns of behavior. A practical illustration can be an expert psychologist or social worker that is applying therapy to a family group that have serious conflicts. Under the light of knowledge of these sociological theories, the specialist can detect abnormalities in the origin of these conflicts and apply a more accordingly therapy to the members to reduce friction. Another example can be when therapists and counselors work on people that is paying sentences at prison. A great number of these prisoners face strong childhood traumas and abuses, other present physical or mental pathologies that reinforce criminal instincts. With the help of sociological theories, psychology, and medicine expertise, a high number of these prisoners can be treated and successfully incorporated to society without harming themselves or others.
Nevertheless, chances are these theories can be used not meaning good. People must ensure authorities delegate these critical functions on ethically committed professionals to reduce the possibility of evil-minded experts that use this potential knowledge to attain selfish or harmful purposes where citizens are used as a mean. Knowledge is like a seed, the plant’s quality that grow will depend on the ground where it grows. Similarly, as this assignment’s prompt states, “it is vital to follow ethical standards and guidelines when conducting sociological research”. This is because results” validity and reliability will depend on the process implemented to collect information. But not only that, experiments might require the most approximate to reality testing as possible. Consequently, some researchers and scientists eventually will choose using animals or even people in testing.
According to Resnik (2020), ethical principles applied to research can be summarized as follows: (1) honesty, (2) objectivity, (3) integrity, (4) carefulness, (5) openness, (6) transparency, (7) accountability, (8) intellectual property, (9) confidentiality, (10) responsible publication, (11) responsible mentoring, (13) respect for colleagues, (12) social responsibility, (13) non-discrimination, (14) competence, (15) legality, (16) animal care, and (17) human subjects protection. While paying attention to these ethical principles, responsibly collecting, interpreting, assessing, and respecting rules is critical in the research process and how decisions are made. Therefore, avoiding misconduct (which is falsification, fabrication, or plagiarism -FFP- or having the intention to deceive). Reasonable disagreements may occur but not necessarily imply or constitute misconduct. Credibility, keeping privacy about patients result and informing all details before experimenting is important and responsible conduct, in addition to be caring with animals as well, which are the most innocent and helpless instruments and cannot defend themselves or claim abuses.
Many are the situations when ethical guidelines are violated during scientific research. This usually happens in research that is conducted with people in disadvantage such as prisoners in jails, terminal patients in hospitals, institutions that offer free medical services to rural communities, free educational institutions that are in the experimenting phase offered to people in extreme poverty levels, or harsh conditions in general in different points of the globe. Patients in these types of communities may be used as tasting subjects for medicaments that haven’t been approved yet, experiments tasting students’ patterns of behaviors with new education methods or the new implementation of information systems to teach, assess, and grade students. Other cases can be psychological testing in jails where prisoners have none or very little chance to decide on their fate. Ultimately, animals in laboratories are one of the most sensitive groups due to their inability to talk and report in addition to not counting on witnesses that are willing to report to what it’s done to them (Resnik, 2020).
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References:
Griffiths, H. & Keirns, N. (n.d.). Chapter 2 Introduction to sociological research. Heather Griffiths and Nathan Keirns for OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/introduction-sociology-2e/pages/2-introduction-to-sociological-research
Hannan, P. (2021a). Social Conflict Theory 3 [video]. Sophia Learning. https://app.sophia.org/tutorials/social-conflict-theory--3
Hannan, P. (2021b). Structural Functional Theory 2 [video]. Sophia Learning. https://app.sophia.org/tutorials/structural-functional-theory--2
Hannan, P. (2021c). Symbolic interaction theory 3 [video]. Sophia Learning. https://app.sophia.org/tutorials/symbolic-interaction-theory--3
Resnik, D. (2020). What is ethics in research & why is it important? National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH). https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/bioethics/whatis/index.cfm
1. Explanation of the three major theoretical paradigms and their application to the issue of inequality:
Structural Functionalism: This perspective views society as a system of interconnected parts, each with a specific function that contributes to the overall stability and functioning of the system. From this viewpoint, inequality may be seen as a necessary and functional aspect of society, as it provides incentives for individuals to strive for success and maintain social order. For example, the existence of a wealthy upper class may be justified as providing investment and employment opportunities for the rest of society.
Symbolic Interactionism: This perspective focuses on the meanings and interpretations that individuals attach to social interactions and symbols. Regarding inequality, this approach might examine how individuals and groups construct and negotiate the meanings of social status, power, and privilege. For instance, it could explore how certain occupations or lifestyles are perceived as more prestigious or desirable, and how these perceptions contribute to the perpetuation of social stratification.
Conflict Theory: This perspective emphasizes the role of power, competition, and conflict in shaping social structures and relationships. From this viewpoint, inequality is the result of dominant groups using their power to maintain their privileged position at the expense of subordinate groups. Examples could include the analysis of how economic and political systems are structured to benefit the ruling class or how marginalized groups, such as racial minorities or the working class, are systematically disadvantaged.
2. Applying the sociological imagination to the personal trouble of experiencing an eating disorder:
The sociological imagination allows us to understand personal troubles, such as an eating disorder, within the broader social and cultural context. From this perspective, an individual's experience with an eating disorder may be influenced by factors like societal pressures on appearance, media representations of beauty, gender norms, family dynamics, and the availability of mental health resources. The sociological imagination encourages us to look beyond the individual and consider how larger social forces shape personal experiences and struggles.
3. The benefits of sociological theories in studying groups and institutions:
Sociological theories provide a framework for understanding the complex relationships and dynamics within various groups and institutions. For example, using conflict theory, one could analyze the power dynamics and resource allocation within a healthcare system, examining how certain groups (e.g., medical professionals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical corporations) may have disproportionate influence and how this affects the accessibility and quality of healthcare for marginalized communities. Symbolic interactionism, on the other hand, could be used to study the cultural norms and meanings associated with different religious institutions and how these shape the experiences and identities of their members.
4. The importance of ethical standards in sociological research and examples of ethical violations:
Adhering to ethical standards and guidelines is crucial in sociological research to protect the rights, dignity, and well-being of research participants. Ethical considerations include obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality and privacy, avoiding harm or exploitation, and respecting the autonomy of participants. Violations of these ethical principles can have serious consequences, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, where researchers deliberately withheld treatment from African American men with syphilis without their knowledge or consent. Another example is the Stanford Prison Experiment, where the researchers created a harmful and abusive environment that led to significant psychological distress among the participants. Upholding ethical standards is essential to maintain the integrity of sociological research and to ensure that it is conducted in a responsible and respectful manner.
Theoretical Paradigms and Inequality:
Structural functionalism would view inequality as serving a purpose in society, perhaps by motivating individuals to work harder for success. Example: High levels of income inequality may be justified as incentivizing innovation and productivity.
Symbolic interactionism focuses on how individuals interpret and interact with symbols related to inequality. Example: Studying how individuals from different social classes interpret and respond to wealth disparities.
Conflict theory sees inequality as a result of power struggles between different groups in society. Example: Analyzing how economic inequality leads to social unrest and protests against the elite.
Sociological Imagination and Eating Disorders:
From a sociological perspective, personal troubles like experiencing an eating disorder can be understood as influenced by broader social factors such as media portrayals of beauty standards, societal pressure for thinness, and cultural norms around food and body image.
Benefits of Sociological Theories in Studying Groups or Institutions:
Sociological theories provide frameworks for understanding the dynamics within groups or institutions. For example:
Functionalism can help explain how different parts of an institution work together to maintain stability.
Conflict theory can reveal power struggles within institutions, such as class conflicts in educational systems.
Symbolic interactionism can shed light on how individuals within a group construct meanings and identities through interaction.
Importance of Ethical Standards in Sociological Research:
Following ethical standards ensures the well-being and rights of research participants are respected, and the integrity of the research is maintained. Violating ethical guidelines can lead to harm or exploitation of participants, damage to research credibility, and legal consequences. One example of ethical violations in scientific research is the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, where researchers withheld treatment from African American men with syphilis without their informed consent, leading to serious harm.
Structural functionalism would view inequality as serving a purpose in society, perhaps by motivating individuals to work harder for success. Example: High levels of income inequality may be justified as incentivizing innovation and productivity.
Symbolic interactionism focuses on how individuals interpret and interact with symbols related to inequality. Example: Studying how individuals from different social classes interpret and respond to wealth disparities.
Conflict theory sees inequality as a result of power struggles between different groups in society. Example: Analyzing how economic inequality leads to social unrest and protests against the elite.
Sociological Imagination and Eating Disorders:
From a sociological perspective, personal troubles like experiencing an eating disorder can be understood as influenced by broader social factors such as media portrayals of beauty standards, societal pressure for thinness, and cultural norms around food and body image.
Benefits of Sociological Theories in Studying Groups or Institutions:
Sociological theories provide frameworks for understanding the dynamics within groups or institutions. For example:
Functionalism can help explain how different parts of an institution work together to maintain stability.
Conflict theory can reveal power struggles within institutions, such as class conflicts in educational systems.
Symbolic interactionism can shed light on how individuals within a group construct meanings and identities through interaction.
Importance of Ethical Standards in Sociological Research:
Following ethical standards ensures the well-being and rights of research participants are respected, and the integrity of the research is maintained. Violating ethical guidelines can lead to harm or exploitation of participants, damage to research credibility, and legal consequences. One example of ethical violations in scientific research is the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, where researchers withheld treatment from African American men with syphilis without their informed consent, leading to serious harm.