StudyPath

SOC 316 Social Theories

300 levelSocial Sciences10 topics

SOC 316 covers 10 topics. StudyPath paces them into daily study sessions that finish before your exam date, with practice questions and worked answers for each one.

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Course outline

The topics this course covers, in teaching order.

  1. Nature and functions of sociological theory
  2. Classification of theories
  3. Macro and micro perspectives
  4. Auguste Comte and positivism
  5. Herbert Spencer and social evolution
  6. Emile Durkheim: social facts and solidarity
  7. Karl Marx: class and conflict
  8. Max Weber: social action and bureaucracy
  9. Structural functionalism
  10. Concept building in sociological theory

A sample from this course

One topic, as StudyPath teaches it.

Nature and functions of sociological theory

The nature of sociological theory concerns what theory is, how it differs from facts, concepts, and methods, and how it provides organised explanations of social life. Its functions matter in examinations because theory is the tool sociologists use to describe, explain, predict, and guide research about social behaviour and institutions.

What you get for SOC 316