Total = 27 slides1Sociology 201:Social Research Design5: Paradigms and Paradigm ShiftsTotal = 27 slides2Preview•Workbook assignment due: 3.3(15 pts)•Paradigms–Natural sciences–Social Sciences•Postmodernism•The Reality of RealityTotal = 27 slides3What is a paradigm? •Model or system or framework to think within or from –Theories are what we think within those paradigms•Many of our paradigms are implicit –As we’ll see, it’s difficult to recognize a paradigm from insideTotal = 27 slides4Natural Science Paradigms •Ptolemy vs Copernicus•Aristotle vs Galileo on gravity •Newton vs Einstein •Light as wave or particle •Darwinian evolution vs CreationismTotal = 27 slides5Religious ideologies offer paradigmsTotal = 27 slides6So do political ideologiesTotal = 27 slides73 Major Sociological paradigms • Interactionism•• Functionalism•• Conflict•Total = 27 slides8Interactionist ParadigmTotal = 27 slides9Social Systems Paradigm (Functionalism)Every piece has its part to contribute to the wholeTotal = 27 slides10Conflict ParadigmTotal = 27 slides11Three sociologists selling furniture . . .• Interactionist: “Buy this love seat so you and your honey can really get together.”•• Functionalist: “Every home needs a spare bed for when friends stay over.”•• Conflict theorist: “How about a king-sized bed? Your neighbors just bought a queen-sized bed.”Total = 27 slides12. . .planning a dinner party. . .•Interactionist: “How about fondue for an appetizer? That’ll give everyone a chance to get together and chat.”••Functionalist: “Good idea. The cheese will provide lots of protein.”••Conflict theorist: “But some of our fondue forks are longer than others. People will fight for the longest forks.”Total = 27 slides13. . .spending time in college. . .•Interactionist: Cocktail parties••Functionalist: Computer programming••Conflict theorist: Debate teamTotal = 27 slides14. . .or training the dog.•Interactionist: “Shake hands!”••Functionalist: “Fetch!”••Conflict theorist: “Kill!”Total = 27 slides15Some other paradigms•Social Darwinism•Role Theory•Ethnomethodology•Exchange Theory•Feminist Theories•Rational-Choice TheoryTotal = 27 slides16Post-modernist point of view•Many sciences founded on a positivistic assumptions–There is an objective reality–We can observe it ever more accurately–We can understand it ever more fully•Postmodernism calls these assumptions into questionTotal = 27 slides17Three modes of thinking•Pre-modern: There is reality and I see it as it is••Modern: There is a reality but we all see it through our personal biases••Post-modern: There may not be a reality at all, only our subjective perceptionsTotal = 27 slides18Consider the reality of reality•Imagine husband and wife fighting•Imagine each one’s view of what’s happening–What does it look like to the husband?–What does it look like to the wife?•How can we tell what’s really happening?Total = 27 slides19Outside observer?•Feminist observer•Male chauvinist observer•Freudian analyst•Jungian analyst•“They’re both wrong”•“Both are struggling to do their best. . .”Total = 27 slides20We think reality is something rational•Are people rational?••Are researchers rational?••What is rationality?••What would be the opposite of rationality? -- Let’s discuss it -->Total = 27 slides21Form small groups–Discuss rationality–What does it mean to you?–What would be an alternative?Total = 27 slides22Rationality •Nonrationality vs irrationality –Love, poetry, music, painting –Intuition –Creativity? –Will see next time that rationality=determinism •Can't go beyond paradigm by using it –Transparadigmatic thinking is difficult to conceiveTotal = 27 slides23From The Sociological Spirit• Rationality may have given us Teflon, but it isn’t much good for the experience of poetry.• Further, it has little to contribute to the experience of love or of making love.• In a moment of passion, for example, when your partner shouts, “God! I love it!” don’t ask how much or point out that you are not actually a god.Total = 27 slides24From The Sociological Spirit•Rational sociological paradigms aren’t much use at such a moment, either.•Don’t go functionalist and ask, “Do you want to know how this works?”•Don’t put on your interactionist cap and ask, “What exactly does this symbolize?”Total = 27 slides25From The Sociological Spirit•And no matter how strongly you may be committed to a conflict perspective,•never say,•“Did you know this is what capitalism does to the working class?”Total = 27 slides26esp Research Problem•Paranormal psych finds people with psi•Skeptic asks to observe•Now, subjects fail•Two explanations•How to choose between them: choice, faith, belief•Total = 27 slides27Next Time•“The Nature of Causation”•Read Chapter