Paradigmatic Sociology: Toward an Interdisciplinary Science of Human Behavior

Abstract

Mills’ The Sociological Imagination was rated by the members of the International Sociological Association as the second most influential book for sociologists published during the entire 20th century, just behind Weber’s Economy and Society. This course has been designed by a diverse group of theorists in order to bring together...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Theory

Resource Type(s):

Syllabus

Class Level(s):

Any Level, College 400, Graduate

Class Size(s):

Any

Usage Notes

See attached document for usage notes.

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. Demonstrate how theoretical and empirical approaches in sociology and social science are tacitly shaped by paradigms or worldviews.
2. Demonstrate understanding of how scientific paradigms integrate with, influence, and are influenced by paradigms, worldviews, and metaphysical assumptions that tacitly govern society.
3. Consciously and reflexively construct new theoretical and/or empirical paradigms through which interdisciplinary social scientific theories can be applied to address key social problems that threatened contemporary society.
4. Consciously and reflexively construct new paradigms that can be applied to address key problems in students’ personal lives.

Goal Assessment(s):

1. Classroom Activities (15%) Throughout the semester we will hold in-class activities that will enhance the students’ understanding of the material. The activities will be pass/fail and cannot be made up.
2. Three Reflective Papers (45%)
   Throughout the semester students will complete reflective papers, based on various key experiences in the course.
   • Paper 1: 5 to 7 pages about conformity and its effects on our aggression, tied to films/readings on Milgram, Zimbardo and Levin experiments.
   • Paper 2: 5-7 pages about issues of inequality and...
3. Final Comprehensive Paper (40%)
   The final 12 to 15 page comprehensive paper, evaluating relationships among key theoretical ideas presented in the class and the larger social context within which the students exist. More specifically, the student will address this question: How does the relationship between the...