Basic and Applied Sociological Research for Social Work - Literature review Example

Year of Study: Semester: A Sociological Perspective of Ms W Case Sociology,as opposed to commonsense which guesses how the universe operates, uses factual theorem to arrive at reasons behind the actions and behaviour of human beings. Giddens (2006) postulated that, social sciences relied on scientific methods to examine individuals as well as societies and social processes together with the knowledge produced by these assessments. Sociological research covers two areas. These are basic together with applied research. The knowledge that sociologists attain from basic research extends the sociologist’s understanding and grasp of the causes as well as consequences of a social problem, for instance, the behaviour exhibited by Ms W. Applied research on the other hand, as postulated by Pickering (2001), has to do with pursuing knowledge so as to enhance program application or policy assessment. In most instances, social programs are assessed on the basis of their effectiveness in diminishing an experienced problem or in enacting desirable changes. Information retrieved by way of applied research can be inculcated into social programs like the one Ms. W was signed into. It is characteristic of all sociological research to commence with a theory. As such, the research identifies a client, for our case Ms W, whereupon he attempts an explanation, ultimately offering the derived explanation for the exhibited behaviour patterns. As postulated by Frankfort-Nachmias and Leon-Guerrero (2003), the researcher identifies causal relationships between variables. Variables in sociological research are features of individuals or items that ideally can take on two or more values. As sociologists try to explain Ms W’s behaviour they may give a specific explanation regarding the relationship that characterises two variables, for instance, the husbands death and her denial to own her problems. Ms W. denial can be measured according to a variety of variables. These could be her lack of acknowledgment of having paranoid schizophrenia, her strange behaviour in public as well as her refusal to take medication. The researcher states the relationship that exists between these variables in a hypothesis as Astbury (1996) contends. A hypothesis is a tentative statement which tends to assume to know how the variables relate to each other. A researcher could assume that upon the death of Ms. W’s husband together with the frustration she received from her dealings with the government, she was overwhelmed and thus broke down into paranoiac schizophrenia. Research methods are constituted by a combination of both quantitative as well as qualitative approaches or one of the two methods. Quantitative methods in sociological research are based on the collection of statistical data. This method calls upon the researcher to carry out specification of variables as well as scales assembled through surveys and interviews together with questionnaires. On the other hand qualitative methods are formulated in a way so as to capture social life as experienced by participants, in our case Ms. W. In all methods, quantitative and qualitative, field observation as well as indepth interviews or focus groups are involved. The Functionalist Perspective of Ms W’s case One perspective to Ms W’s case is the functionalist perspective. Among the theorists that are significantly related to the functionalist perspective was a sociologist from France called Emile Durkheim. Borrowing from biology, functionalists liken society to a human body. Just like the human body has essential organs, with each organ meant for a specific function in the body system, functionalist theorised that the said society derives its own organs (Haralambos & Holborn, 2004). Society’s organs include the family institution as well as politics and economy together with religion and education. What then are the social contentions that are necessitating Miss W’s actions? Is her education a major factor that contributes to her problem? A sociologist can also ask whether Miss W’s behaviour is as a result of her legitimate or illegitimate discontent with the political establishment in the U.K that has defined a specific way of dealing with her as an immigrant (Barnes and Bowl, 2001). Alternatively, a sociologist can also state the hypothesis regarding Miss W’s behaviour in terms of her family (Ussher, 1991). As such, the researcher presumes that Miss W’s behaviour is as a result of the death of her husband. It therefore follows that Miss W’s behaviour is as a result of her disorientation after her husband’s death. Is it also possible to assume that the economic status that Miss W is in, whereupon the government has limited her ability to make a living for herself by denying her a visa could be a factor in her recent behaviour? According to functionalist, religion being a social organ whereupon religious practice in Ghana and the U.K differs, it is also possible for it to be a factor in her behaviour. According to functionalism as a theory, these organs, what the functionalists like Durkheim also referred to as social structures are meant to fulfil unique and essential functions. For instance, the family as an institution sustains socialisation and health of individuals like Miss W by creating a basic economic unit (Newnes, Holmes & Dunn, 1999). The institution of education is the basis upon which knowledge and skills are derived to enable men and women to work and live in society. There is no other institution in the society that can do what education or the family does. Durkheim postulated that society was meant to control or civilise people’s actions. He contended that, civilisation was the sole concept that had made the human person what he was. This concept alone is what differentiates man as a human being from animals. As such, the fact that man was man was attributed to his civilisation (Coppock and Hopton, 2000). The social order, according to the functionalist theory is vulnerable during periods of rapid social change. These include periods of industrialisation as well as political upheaval. In such periods, social values and norms are prone to transition. In these period characterised by the absence of norms, what Durkheim described anomie, functionalist, held that society was bound to exhibit social problems. In regards to this, solutions to social problems cannot be arrived at by simply changing the person exhibiting the problem. On the contrary, the problem ought to be resolved at the level of society. The whole structure of the society or the affected part of social structure ought to undergo reconstruction to derive a desirable norm (Sayce, 2000). Worth acknowledging in this contention with regard to functionalism as a theory relating to Miss W’s case, is that a sociologist ought to question whether it is possible to arrive at a solution to Miss W’s case by reformulating social norms that are thought to be inadequate and thus resulting into her behaviour. Are sociologists thus posited well to explain and ultimately resolve Miss W’s case by reformulating the U.K society’s laws on immigration. This hypothesis that assumes Miss W’s behaviour to be as a result of a redundant social structure is motivated by the fact that initially, she did not exhibit this behaviour before her experience with the U.K government as an institution of regulation in the U.K society. The functionalist theory, as suggested by its name, assesses the consequences or functions of societys structures. The functionalist perspective makes use of a macro point of view whereby it focuses on ways in which the society can create and at the same time maintain social order. To functionalists, social problems are not assessed on the basis of how bad they are when weighed against parts of the society. On the contrary, a functionalist sociologist asks about how social problems come up from the society. Additionally, a functionalist sociologist asks whether the existing social problem serves a function in the society. This implies that in dealing with Miss W’s case sociologists ought to question the social implications of the case. In this regard how is the society in which Miss W lives in affected by her behaviour? If the existing social structure acts to undermine the people which it serves, it therefore follows that this structure ought to be revised. Systematic study problems that are social in nature were pioneered by sociologists at the University of Chicago. Through their studies, these sociologists captured the real experiences of people who were experiencing social problems. As Ritzier (2000) observes, in their studies, the sociologists noted the negative as well as positive effects of industrialisation and urbanisation. Taking it a notch higher, sociologists Charlotte Gilman and Jane Addams studied urban life in Chicago and not only did this, but also came up with programs to help the less fortunate. Moreover, as Adams and Sydie (2001) postulate, they also lobbied for political as well as legislative reforms. Social structures, according to Merton (1957), can derive desirable benefits as well as negative effects, which Merton referred to as dysfunctions. A social problem such as exhibited by Miss W has a clear set of dysfunctions. It is also critical to note that Miss W’s problem can also derive desirable functions or consequences. One could argue that Miss W’s behaviour is clearly dysfunctional and unpleasant to her as well as those that are directly affected by her state of disillusionment. To Miss W as well as her children and husband together with her friends and the English and Ghanaian society, her behaviour can serve as a public embarrassment. Yet, a functionalist would contend that Miss W’s behaviour is of benefit for a given segment of society and were it not for this behaviour, a part of this society would cease to exist. This part could be the department in which the sociologist works in, or the field of academics that uses it as a case study. As such, the population of paranoiac schizophrenics supports the industry of social service agencies in Great Britain. In addition to this, there also are religious organisations as well as community groups together with service workers. Additionally, Miss W’s case also serves to draw attention to problems in other segments of the U.K’s social structure. The Interactionist Perspective An interactionist perspective in sociology pays close attention to how individuals employ language as well as words and symbols in creating and maintaining social reality. The interactionist perspective draws attention to what individuals take for granted, primarily, the expectations as well as rules together with norms that the said individuals learn and practice without notice. In individuals’ interaction with other individuals, they become the products as well as creators of their own social reality. Through their interaction, social tribulations are derived and at the same time defined. The basis of this micro-level perspective was provided by the work of George Herbert Mead. Mead was a member of the School of Sociology at the University of Chicago. In understanding Miss W’s problem a sociologist is forced to undertake a scrutiny of her experiences that might have shaped her present predicament. Interactionists contend that, society is constituted by individuals patterned and organised interactions. As Mead postulated, the individual self is both a social as well as mental process. As such, it is the reflective capacity of an individual to see others in relation to themselves and at the same time see themselves in relation to others. Herbert Blumer in describing this concept coined the term symbolic interactionism in 1937. As Turner (1998) observes, in continuity with Mead, his predecessor, Blumer placed significance on how the existence of mentality and personality comes as a result of individual interaction and the use of symbols in this interaction. Of great significance to Miss W’s case is how does her sense of self emerge from interaction? A sociologist ought to consider the role that Miss W plays in her case as well as those played by others like her dead husband and the U.K government. The sociologist ought to put across the question that, as an individual, is Miss W aware of what is expected of her because ideally, a functioning individual in a functioning society is in a position to tell what is expected of him or her. Society does not go about printing posters that instruct individuals of expected standards in their behaviours. As such individuals are not taught how to dress, how to stand or whether you should take drugs so as to be well. Before performing a certain action the individual already knows how to behave. This is because present action is determined by past experiences. As such, the past experience entails norms that are embraced by individuals as conventions that are widely accepted as acceptable behaviour. In arriving at conclusions with regard to the case of Miss W. it is thus absolutely critical for the sociologist to undertake a close scrutiny of her past and how this past influences her present demeanour. This is because, past experiences shaped her understanding of the world and as such, her interactions were bereft of responsibility whereupon in this instance she refuses to take responsibility for her own health by taking the physicians prescriptions. It is also as a result of her failure to take responsibility for herself that she blames other people for her own misfortune. According to interactionists, individuals depend on each other for creating a reality. As such, Miss W’s interaction with the world acts to reaffirm her role in the society. This takes consensus between Miss W and the rest of the society. It implies that her behaviour ought to be in tandem with the rest of the society. According to the interactionist theory, Miss W was not born a schizophrenic. It therefore follows that her schizophrenic state is as a result of her interaction with the society. In conclusion, no one single theory can derive an explanation to an exhibited social problem. These theories combine to derive meaning. References Adams, B & Sydie RA 2001, Sociological theory, Thousand Oaks, CA, Pine Forge. Astbury, J 1996, Crazy for You: The making of women’s madness, Oxford, Oxford University Press. Barnes, M & Bowl, R 2001, Taking over the asylum: Empowerment and mental health, Basingstoke, Palgrave. Coppock, V & Hopton, J 2000, Critical Perspectives on mental health, London, Routledge. Frankfort-Nachmias, C & Leon-Guerrero, A 2003, Social statistics for a diverse society. Thousand Oaks, CA, Pine Forge. Giddens, A 2006, Sociology, 5th ed., Cambridge, Polity publisher. Haralambos, M & Holborn, M 2004, Sociology: Themes and perspectives, 6th ed., London, HarperCollins Publishers. Merton, R 1957, Social Theory and social structure, New York, Free Press. Newnes, C, Holmes, G & Dunn, C 1999, This is madness: A critical look at psychiatry and the future of mental health services, PCCS. Pickering, M 2001, Stereotyping: The politics of representation, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan. Pilgrim, D, & Rogers, A1999, Sociology of mental health and illness, Buckingham, Open University Press. Ritzer, G 2000, Sociological theory, Boston, McGraw-Hill. Sayce, L 2000, From psychiatric patient to citizen: Overcoming discrimination and social exclusion, Basingstoke, Macmillan. Turner, J 1999, The structure of sociological theory, 6th ed. Belmont, CA, Wadsworth. Ussher, JM 1991, Womens madness: Misogyny or mental illness, Hemel Hemp-stead, Harvester Wheatsheaf. Read More