5 Empirical Analysis
5.3 A First Look at the Data: Identification
1.0 Introduction 2.0 Objectives 4.0 Main Content
4.1 Position and Phenomenology 4.2 Evolutionary Model
4.3 The Functional Model 4.4 The Conflict Model 3.5 The Consensus Model 4.0 Conclusion
5.0 Summary
6.0 Tutor-Marked Assignment 7.0 References/Further Reading
1.0 INTRODUCTION
You will learn in this unit about theoretical models, which refer to a broad system of explanation, founded not so much on prior research findings, but largely on untested and possibly on assumptions that have no proves about realities. All theoretical models in sociology have interest in explaining ways in which social life is organised and ordered as well as the ways in which change comes into the society (Ekong 1988). You will therefore be exposed to the different theoretical models of social relationships.
2.0 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this unit, you should be able to:
define theoretical models
explain at least five types of theoretical models.
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3.0 MAIN CONTENT
In trying to explain social relationships, the social scientists of various schools of thought have approached the subject matter in a common way but arrived at different responses. Though these responses are not necessarily mutually exclusive but have succeeded in classifying them into different camps predicated on the differences in emphasis.
3.1 Positivism and Phenomenology
According to the school of thought of positivism as propounded by August Counte (1798 – 1857), human behaviour, like the behaviour of other matter in the natural, is subject to stipulated natural laws and can therefore be investigated and explained through systematic observation and experimentation. This thought implies that only what can be observed and measured in the environment are acceptable as data for research. In other words, one’s attitude, feelings and mental state are not acceptable since they cannot be measured. As supported by Emile Durkheim (1858 – 1917), the school of thought, according to him,
“collective ways of acting or thinking has a reality outside the individuals”. In other words, it is social facts that determine individual behaviour (Ekong, 1988).
Contrary to the view held by the positivists, the school of thought known as phenomenology, stresses that researchers must, so to say, get inside the skin of those they are studying in order to find meaning to the individual’s social situation. To the proponents of this theory, understanding rather than accurate prediction is considered the primary goal of social research. One of the proponent was Max Weber.
3.2 Evolutionary Model
Evolutionary theory is one of the oldest and most influential perspectives on man’s destiny. Social evolution supports the idea that societies like organism can grow. This belief is that they grow from simpler form to more complex form. While revolution is concerned with a total change from what was obtained before through intervention, evolution is a naturally gradual and continuous change without any intervention. Important adherents of this theory in the 19th century were Karl Max, Herbert Spencer and August Conte.
3.3 The Functional Model
This model says that the society is made up of many parts each of which is performing the function for the society. Proponents of this theory were Emile Durkheim, Talcoft Parsons and Raddiffe Brown among
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others. According to the theorists, to understand any organism, we have to look at the functions being performed by the parts of that organism.
By so doing, the importance of the parts of the organism can only be understood by knowing its functions.
There are two types of functions. These are manifest function and latent function. While manifest function has to do with the expected consequences of an organism, latent function refers to the unexpected consequences of action of the organism.
3.4 The Conflict Model
Conflict orientation is another theoretical perspective and essentially it says that all societies experience conflict at all times and that it is these conflicts which result to change. The three main theorists of this model were Karl Max, Ralf Dahrendeof and Lewis Coser.
Karl Max said that, the basic idea is that the model of economic production is the main cause of change. It is said that, the means of economic production tend to determine the social organisation in the society. For example, he said that social classes are determined by their relationship to the means of production that is, who owns the means of production and who works in the production process. According to him, social inequality is the major source of social conflict.
Dawendof Ralf sees unequal distribution of power and authority as the fundamental source of conflict in the society. To him, those persons or groups with power want to preserve the status quo. This puts them in conflict with the subordinate group whose interest is to change the status quo. In the process, organised interest group emerges and the struggle over numerous issues ensues. These conflicts can lead to various changes in the society.
For Lewis Coser, functional conflict can be very positive in its consequences upon the society. He said conflict is not necessarily and always destructive but can serve to maintain the vitality and flexibility of the society. Lewis emphasises the positive functions of conflict in maintaining social systems.
3.5 The Consensus Model
The consensus model (evolutionary and functional modes) assumes that social interests are generally shared and therefore have a uniting effect on society. Based on this model it is deduced that:
social relations are on the final analysis advantageous to all units or parts of the society
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the society is united by a consensus on those things they share
man is naturally bad and requires restraining institutions to make him conform
social inequality is inevitable
the state exists to promote common good (Ekong op cit).
4.0 CONCLUSION
Having gone through this unit, you have been adequately informed of the various models of social relationship which include positivism and phenomenology, evolutionary, functional, conflict and the consensus model. The views of the prominent theorists have been stressed.
5.0 SUMMARY
In this unit, we have learnt that:
theoretical models refer to a broad system of explanation which is founded not so on research findings but on untested and unproved assumptions
human behaviour like the other behaviour of other matter in natural, is subject to stipulated natural laws and can therefore be investigated and explained.
the society like an organism can grow.
the society is made of parts with each part performing the functions of the society.
the society experiences conflict at all times and it is these conflicts that lead to change.
social interests are generally shared in the society and it is interests that unite the society.
6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT
i. Explain the main assumptions of evolutionary model.
ii. Discuss the varying emphasis of the theorists of conflict model.
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING
Ekong, E. E. (1988). An Introduction to Rural Sociology. Ibadan:
Jumak Publishers.
Max, Weber (1958). “Politics as a Vocation”. In Max Weber: Essays in Sociology (Translated by H.H. Gerth and C.W. Mills). New York: Oxford University Press.
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