Sociological Theory

Theories in Sociology

Sociologists study social events, interactions, and patterns, and they develop a theory in an attempt to explain why things work as they do. In sociology, a theory is a way to explain different aspects of social interactions and to create a testable proposition, called a hypothesis, about society . (Allan 2006)

When sociologists attempt to explain any aspect of the society they are observing, they use theories.

A theory is a set of interrelated propositions or principles designed to answer a question or explain a particular phenomenon.

Theories give us a particular set of views from a particular sociologist or group of sociologists.

Theories in sociology therefore provide us with different perspectives with which to view our social world.

A perspective is simply a way of looking at the world.

Sociologists will not all observe the world in the same way, or for the same reasons; their perspectives will be different.

Sociological theories are therefore a partial and specific way of seeing the world and will not be shared by all sociologists alike.

HOWEVER – perspectives can be grouped together under broader theories. These include: