24/07/2025
SOCIOLOGICAL THOUGHTS OR THEORY
1. Calwin Larson: “It is a conceptual scheme desire to explain observe regularities or relationship between two or more variable”.
2. Zedderberg: “Social theory is systematically organized law like proposition about society that can be supported by evidences.”
From the definition it conclude that the term social theory refer to logically interconnected set of proposition from which empirical uniformities can be derived related to society.
TYPES OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES ;
A number of classifications of social theories have been given by various sociologists. Some important views on theories classification are below.
1. Boskoff refers 2 types of sociological theory namely:
(i) Social Theory.
(ii) Non social theory.
2. Homans identifies two types of general theory.
(i) Normative Theory.
(ii) Non normative theory.
*Now according to Homans the normative theory may be one sided or two sided or many sided. And the non normative theories can be further classified into three types. Which are as followings?*
(i) Structural Theory
(ii) Functional theory.
(iii) Psychological theory.
3. Helmut Wagner classifies sociological theory into three main categories.
(i) Positive sociological theories.
(ii) Interpretative sociological theories.
(iii) Non scientific or evaluative social theories.
But most of the sociologists agreed with the followings types.
1. FORMAL & INFORMAL THEORIES:
Formal theories have structured assumptions and proposition derived with the application of scientific methods and are open to verification for a common researcher in the field . Where as informal theories and primarily based upon individual thinking and likes and dislikes without following rigid and strict scientific logic and methods.
2. DESCRPTIVE & EXPLANATORY THEORIES: The descriptive theories are simple and spell out what is, how much, and where, for the phenomenon under study. While explanatory theories are clear specific by involving logical reasoning, starting form doubt, and establishing causal relationships b/w independent and dependent variable. These theories not only study, what, is but also explain the why, and, therefore for the subject under study.
3. IDEOLOGICAL & SCIENTIFIC THEORIES: The scientific theories are empirically testable, objective and neutral in their contents and source of information. While ideological theories are based on a particular ideology which has built in biased philosophy and defends its aims.
4. OBJECTIVE & INTUTIVE THEORIES: The objective theories maintain the fundamental methodological requirement of objectivity at all costs. The researcher does not incorporate his own feelings and attitudes into the theory. In case of intuitive (unplanned) theory, the contents can not be repeated by an average scholar in a particular discipline. The source of theory is a personal experience based on deep and long concentration of the scholar.
5. INDUCTIVE & DEDUCTIVE THEORIES: Deductive theories are axiomatic (self evident) theories based on classical logic e.g., .A……..B, B…….C, A………C. These theories have the focus on form general to particular as against the inductive theories focused on form particular to general. While the inductive theories are based on observations. In sociology inductive theories are more common that deductive theories.
6. SPECULATIVE & GROUP THEORIES: Speculative theory is that which is based on philosophical approach. It is the theoretical methods. There are more concepts in it. While Group theory is that which can be empirically tested. The first developed philosophical knowledge and the second develop practical and empirical rules. One developed ideological laws and the other developed real laws.
7.GRAND & MINIATURE THEORIES: Grand (big) theories are that theory which is based on so many hypotheses. It is based on the systematic assumption, e.g., whole sociology department in the university of malakand. While miniature theory is that theory which is based on one proposition and that can be empirically tested. It is also called partial theory. E.g. In the whole sociology department only the 6th term class.
8. MACRO & MICRO THEORIES: The micro theories focus on a few individuals’ small groups, role status reference group, and socio psychological subject matter. These theories go into depth and study the minute details. While macro theories are general theories covering total human societies while aiming at making generalizations on a global basis.
9. STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALIST & CONFLICT THEORIES: The functionalists base their analysis on the explanation of the structural aspects of the phenomenon under study and believe that the structure has these problems, which tries to maintain integration order or equilibrium for its maintenance, the normative order is taken as given. Where as the conflict theories consider the dynamic aspect of the phenomenon for analysis. The normative order’s not taken as given but as problem.
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YOURS SOCIO-NOOR.
