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Thinking Sociologically

 When Thinking Sociologically You Should Think In Terms Of:

  1. Individual action, subjectivity, meanings
  2. Relationships, connections, interactions
  3. Structures, systems, forces, dynamics

Considerations:

  • Consider ability
  • Consider class
  • Consider age
  • Consider gender
  • Consider ethnicity
  • Consider nationality
  • Consider sexuality
  • Consider culture/subculture
  • Consider context
  • Consider the issue of space

 

Questions:

  • Why?
  • Who speaks?
  • Who do they speak for?
  • Who benefits?
  • Who loses?
  • Who rules?
  • Who decides?
  • What evidence is presented?
  • What are the alternative interpretations of it?
  • What evidence might not be presented?
  • What is the opposite point of view?
  • What is the difference that makes the difference?
  • What are the connections?
  • What institutions are involved?
  • What is being assumed?
  • Compare and contrast: how does X do it?
  • Have they always done it this way?
  • Does this happen formally or informally?
  • What causes changes?
  • Cause or consequence?
  • Failure or product?
  • How does individual relate to society?
  • How does private relate to public?
  • How is this society structured?
  • How are resources (material and immaterial) allocated?
  • Does X transform society or secure it?
  • What are the implications for the future?

 

 

 


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