Discuss the main approaches of sociology

      

Discuss the main approaches of sociology

  

Answers


Lellah
1. Historical Approach.
- Issues of origin, development and change in society. This approach tries to study society from historical perspective i.e. the past is used to understand the present. The past offers reasons why things appear the way they are.

2. Comparative Approach
This method was popular with earlier sociologists – regarded as method “par excellence” by pioneer
sociologists. Under this approach different societies were studied, compared and contrasted or institutions from different societies were studied and compared. However this method was wanting in objectivity. It reflected the biases of individual researchers (ethnocentrism); these sociologists looked at their own societies as superior and therefore became standards by which other societies could be judged. Basis of Evolutionary approach to sociology “Society evolved from simple to complex” hence social Darwinism. On the simple side is Barbarism and on the complex side was civilization.

3. Functional Approach
- Existence of social institutions is justified by the role they play in maintaining order in society. It also borrowed from social Darwinism.

4. Correlational Approach
- Establishes cause-effect relationships between social phenomena e.g. poverty and crime.

5. Participant Observation Approach. The researcher goes out to study society in total. This approach is advantageous – with time one gets accepted in a society hence can get secret information that he could otherwise not.

Lellah answered the question on July 5, 2021 at 13:38


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