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Education through South Dakota’s EveryTeacher Teacher Quality Enhancement grant.
South Dakota State University
Sociological Perspectives
Please note that the following perspectives and definitions should not to be considered a
complete compilation of all theories/ideas or works related to the question being posed.
This is merely an elementary guide to help with understanding the larger concepts found
within the field of sociology.
What is Sociology? Sociology is the scientific study of society and human behavior
(Henslin 2003: GL-13).
What is the field of Sociology? The field of sociology is the professional application of
scientific and humanistic approaches to the understanding of society and human behavior.
It is a science based profession used to understand the social and human condition.
Sociologist, C. Wright Mills (1959) in his text, The Sociological Imagination, encourages
readers to think about the relationship between themselves and the society in which they
reside. Mills espouses that we are innately influenced by the larger society and the
historical context in which we find ourselves.
What is the unit of analysis in sociology? The unit of analysis in sociology can range
from the individual person to a large group of persons. The unit of analysis can be one to
a whole society. Different theoretical perspectives within sociology focus on different
units of analysis. Sociologists use the terms Micro, Mezzo, and Macro to define what
level of analysis is being utilized.
What are the major theoretical orientations in the field of sociology? There is debate in
the field of sociology as to what are the major theoretical orientations that guide the
profession. These debates merit attention to those within the field, however, sociologists
would generally state that the profession is primarily focused on three theoretical
orientations. These three theoretical orientations are: Structural Functionalism, Symbolic
Interactionism, and Conflict Perspective.
To understand a theoretical orientation in any profession it is critical to understand what
is meant by the term theory. Simply stated, “A theory is a statement of how and why
specific facts are related” (Macionis 2006: 11).
1. Structural Functional Approach: this theoretical orientation views society as a
complex interconnected system of parts that work together in harmony. “…
This approach points to the importance of social structure, any relatively
stable pattern of social behavior. [Secondly], this approach looks for any
structure’s social function, the consequences of any social pattern for the
operation of society as a whole” (Macionis 2006: 12-13). Structural
Functionalists approach society from a macro-level perspective; they view
