Sociological Traditions

The purpose of this research is to examine two journal articles from the professional literature, to explain how each fits into, is a part of, reflects, or is based on one of the four sociological traditions presented by Randall Collins in Four Sociological Traditions (1994). The plan of the research will be to set forth Collins's thesis about the principal sociological frames of reference, and then to discuss the pattern of ideas in each article, to see how sociological tradition informs the means by which the ideas are elaborated. As appropriate, reference will be made to ways in which the articles both rely on and depart from sociological traditions as Collins describes them.

Collins's text sets forth four intellectual traditions that make up the discipline of sociology: the conflict tradition, which looks at processes whereby disruption or revolution might have the effect of re-forming, reinstitutionalizing, or otherwise reconstituting society; the rational/utilitarian tradition, which looks at social structure as a process of rational calculus, with self-interested individual participants or groups engaging competitively with others and arriving by way of such engagement (for good or ill) at the form that a society takes; Durkheimian tradition, which considers the mechanisms by which social rituals (whether rational or irrational) taking place in face-to-face groups produce social solidarity; and the microinteractionist tradition, which in a variety of elaborations "con

Related Essays

Marx, Engels & Weber on Capitalism .... Collins, R. (1994). Four sociological traditions: Selected readings. Revised and expanded edition of Three sociological traditions: Selected readings. .... (3571 14 )

Sociological Theory .... Collins, R. (1985). Three sociological traditions. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. Collins, R. (1988, May). Is 1980s sociology in the doldrums? .... (1794 7 )

GROWTH IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY .... Collins, R. (1985). Three sociological traditions. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. Collins, R. (1988, May). Is 1980s sociology in the doldrums? .... (1794 7 )

Robert K. Merton's Theories .... Four Sociological Traditions. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994. Collins, Randall (ed.). Four Sociological Traditions: Selected Readings. .... (2282 9 )

Merton's Contribution to Sociology .... Four Sociological Traditions. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994. Collins, Randall (ed.). Four Sociological Traditions: Selected Readings. .... (2282 9 )

the experience of those with whom ex-felons come in contact in "civilian life" (Liker, 1982, p. 281), such as co-workers, prospective employers, and the economic community more generally. Along the same lines, the content of structural relationships between ex-felons and others undoubtedly informs the ex-felons' ability to derive respectability and other "extraeconomic" benefits from even marginal employment. As Liker puts it: "if ex-felons are primarily concerned with shedding their criminal identities, a job may be particularly important as a place to meet 'straight' people" (Liker, 1982, p. 281). According to Durkheim, the larger consciousness of social ritual informs and in part determines the development of individuals within it; crime is one example of deviation, just as post-criminal activity would be an example of an attempt to redefine social loyalties or realign what Collins cites as "collective representations" (Collins, 1982, p. 191). This does not mean that society itself is necessarily static, for the changing shape of society might influence the ability of a given ex-felon to realign or redefine himself. In this regard, Liker refers to the relatively poorer prospects for employment in Georgia than in Texas and th

Category: Psychology - S