The modern sociology leans on a solid experimental basis and serves as a support for the practical activities having the subject public relations. Now sociologists on the basis of the experimental data conduct a lot of work on creation of theoretical concepts.
Instruction
1. The sociology differs in a set of the directions and schools of sciences. Sociological theories can conditionally be divided into macro - and microsociological, differing from each other in the width and depth of a subject of consideration. Scientists-sociologists achieved the greatest progress in the field of the theory of the social conflict. Also in modern sociology the value of the theory of structural functionalism is high.
2. The foundation of structural functionalism was laid by the American researchers T. Parsons and R. Merton. These scientists considered society as a system which elements – individuals and groups enter. Between components of a complete social system functional connection is established. Penetration into the nature of these relations allows to make sufficient complete idea of society.
3. T. Parsons's followers tried to reveal the universal principles which are the cornerstone of functioning of social formations. According to sociologists of this school, establishment of a certain social order which is required for maintenance of balance in community is characteristic of public groups.
4. Other principle of creation of society – functionality. All social phenomena, representatives of structural functionalism consider, are directed to survival of community and its adaptation to the changing environmental conditions. Those structures which function does not answer tasks of society gradually die off, being replaced new and useful.
5. The main thesis of the theory of the social conflict is that in any group, even fight of interests exists different stability. Members of social community resist each other, defending the values and applying for higher status, resources and the power. Therefore the social conflicts in any society are inevitable, though differ from each other in sharpness. On the basis of these provisions in modern sociology the theory of conflict model of society began to be developed.
6. Within popular nowadays microsociological theories, features of behavior of the individuals included in small groups are considered. Sociologists pay the main attention to dynamics of the intra group relations and try to reveal factors which directly affect stability of social interrelations.
7. Representatives of various sociological directions agree in opinion that it is impossible to bring laws of society out of laws of the nature. Distribution of methods of natural sciences on study public the phenomena also is unjustified. The problem of modern sociology consists in development of own methodology of carrying out experiments and its fixing in theoretical models.