Contemporary Sociological Theory

Tutor(s): Dr Darren O'Byrne
Assessment: essay (2000 words) to be submitted on-line
Excluded combination: SOC020N221

This module is designed to introduce students to the diverse range of perspectives which contribute to the sociological imagination. It is intended to give students a taste of the many different ways they can approach a subject of sociological enquiry. It is important for students to understand that debates within sociological theory are often the result of different interpretations of the same field of study. The module is specifically designed to encourage students to think about so-called ?schools of thought?, to understand what it might be that makes one school of thought different from another, what features might be shared by different schools of thought, and how different perspectives might complement one another in building a fuller understanding of a given subject of enquiry. Furthermore, while an understanding of theory is an essential part of any sociology programme, theory should not be presented as something which is done by others and written about in text books. Theorising, seeing how different perspectives can shed light on particular subjects, should be actively encouraged as part of the training of any sociologist.