AN OVERVIEW OF PERSPECTIVES AND THEORIES IN SOCIOLOGY

Abstract

This study which is on perspectives and theories in Sociology, discussed the various paradigms and theories in the sociological enterprise and affirmed that perspectives and theories are nets neatly cast to catch what people perceive as the real world: to rationalize, explain, embellish and master it. It argued that theories also create a clear picture of the real world, to make it finer. Sociology, theory, sociological theory, sociological perspective and models were some of the related concepts examined in the study. Macro, middle-range and micro sociological theories were also clearly distinguished. The study majorly engaged in a critical analysis of various perspectives and theories such as evolutionism, functionalism, structuralism, conflict (Marxism), ethnomethodology and phenomenology, among others. Theories and perspectives and their various points of convergent and divergence were further interrogated. The study concludes that different perspectives and theoretical debates should be encouraged in academic sociology, as such divergent views and debates have the capacity to enhance the growth of scientific sociology.