Sociologists Often Have to Decide If They Are Going to Adopt

question 94

Essay

Sociologists often have to decide if they are going to adopt a microsociological or macrosociological approach for any given project. Explain how these perspectives differ, paying special attention to the different assumptions about how society works that are contained within each perspective. In other words, what do they seek to reveal considering the starting point of each perspective?

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Definitions:

Nomothetic

Nomothetic refers to an approach in psychological and social science research that focuses on identifying general laws that apply across individuals, as opposed to studying the unique aspects of individuals.

Idiographic

An approach focusing on the unique aspects of individuals, emphasizing personal experiences and subjective perceptions.

Single-Parent Families

Describes families headed by one parent, who is responsible for raising one or more children.

Two-Parent Families

A family structure that consists of two adults who are in a committed relationship and are raising their children together.