Models and Social Change

Dr. Andrew Austin

Study Guide

What is the definition of model in play this semester? What is theory? What is generalization, abstraction, and concrete?

Know Durkheim’s functionalist model. What is the organic analogy? What are mechanical and organic solidaries? What is the relationship of social organization and morality? What is Durkheim’s theory of punishment derived from this model?

What is the difference between ideographic and nomothetic approaches to studying society and social history? Imagine various examples.

What is epistemology? What is ontology? Recall the 2X2 model combining the macro/micro and objective/subjective dichotomy. Be able to place models such as Marx’s base-superstructure or Weber’s Protestant ethic in this table.

Recall the lecture on Sandra Harding’s work concerning strong objectivity. What is “strong objectivity”? What is the difference between epistemological and sociological relativism? What is standpoint epistemology? What does Harding mean when she talks about the “depoliticization of science”?

Know Karl Marx’s base-superstructure model. What is the basic premise of the model? In what level of society does historical change root? What is the dominant class in capitalist society? How important is socialization to the development of human being. Know the outline of Marx and Engels’ theory of globalization. What are the consequences of capitalist development?

Know Max Weber’s Protestant ethic model. What is different about Protestantism compared to other religions, such as Catholicism, Buddhism, and Hinduism, that leads to the development of capitalism? Know his method of the ideal type and his distinction between statistical (or sociological) and historical approaches. Know also his ideal typologies of authority and bureaucracy. What are levels of abstraction? What do these terms mean: iron cage, depersonalization, and disenchantment?

From the Galt-Smith text and lecture know the different orientations. What is the distinction between particularistic-holistic and partial-general. What are the differences between analogical, mathematical, and theoretical models? What is the difference between diachronic and synchronic approaches to studying society. What is the difference between emic and etic perspectives?

What are the differences between deductive and inductive reasoning? Can these be combined in a model of science? Which is the logic of standard science taught in high schools?