Posted: September 1st, 2023

Class 6100 Assignment Social Science Paradigms

Class 6100 Assignment
Social Science Paradigms
If you have used Instagram, Photobooth, or any number of photo editing or publishing products, you may be familiar with filters that may be applied to photos. These filters can alter the mood, texture, or color of an image, thus altering how it is interpreted by others. In simple terms, social science paradigms function in the same way for research. They are like lenses that influence the perspective of a researcher. Although not theories in themselves, paradigms are fundamental frameworks of reference that underlie and give birth to theories.
How paradigms differ from simple lenses, however, is that they sometimes can lie below consciousness and are not a deliberate choice. For instance, it is possible to hold such strong beliefs about a set of issues that they are unrecognizable as a paradigm and instead seem like universal truths. By examining some well-known social science paradigms this week, you can begin to analyze your own thoughts and actions and those of others to detect where and how they fit into the current mosaic of paradigms. This also will help you recognize paradigms as a researcher and consumer of research.
PART 1:: To Prepare
Consider differences between feminist and symbolic interactionism paradigms and how they could be applied to human and social services.
Write a description of the feminist and symbolic interactionism paradigms you selected. Explain the most important similarities and differences between the two. Finally, explain how each could be applied to human and social services research. You can use my www.Chegg.com account (login:Ms.Salter07@gmail.com and password Thurston07) to access electronic book for this class to reference:

Book:
Babbie, E. (2016). Paradigms, Theory and Research. In M. Evans (Ed.). The basics of social research (30-59). Belmont, CA: Cengage.

PART 2: Respond to two classmates below:

• Provide additional resources supporting your colleague’s posting.
• Compare one of your selected paradigms with a different one selected by your colleague.
• Offer alternative viewpoints and insights on your colleague’s predictions.
• Ask for clarification.

Give a response to the two classmates discussions below:

Discussion
Two social science paradigms are symbolic interactionism and structural functionalism. Symbolic interactionism are interactions “revolved around individuals’ reaching a common understanding through language and other symbolic systems” (Babbie, 2016, p. 36). Structural functionalism or the functionalist paradigm is founded on the notion that all the components, even the negative ones, of a social entity work together for the operation of the whole (Babbie ,2016).
Both symbolic interactionism and structural functionalism paradigms can be used as a tool in understanding the structures of society.
Symbolic interactionism is a microtheory that focuses on the individuals and the interactions between them (Babbie, 2016). An example would be dating behaviors between men and women. Structural functionalism is a macrotheory, which focuses on large entities of society like class struggle or government (Babbie, 2016).
In human and social services research, symbolic interactionism can be applied through a human and social service worker and his or her client. The worker and the client will probably have many differences in culture, religion, etc. Such differences can give rise to barriers in communication. The interactions between them will allow for knowledge to unfold, providing a better understanding and concensus to what is needed for a succeesful session.
Structural functionalism can be applied in human and social services research in our criminal justice system. More specifically, criminals have various functions. Babbie (2016) states that they serve as job security for law enforcement officials (p.36). Furthermore, they serve as an avouchment of a society’s values, as well as acknowledgement of a collective respect for private property (Babbie, 2016).
Reference
Babbie, E. (2016). Paradigms, Theory and Research. In M. Evans (Ed.). The basics of social research (30-59). Belmont, CA: Cengage.

Discussion 2:
Paradigms provide us with a system of observation and learning (Babbie, 2016). When it comes to social science paradigms, people rely on their personal viewpoints about how the world works and/or why others act the way they do (Babbie, 2016). Many of these paradigms are ingrained into us from the time we are born. We learn from our environment in the form of parents, schools, religion, friends, and media. As humans age and start to explore their world, many ask why. Why do others act the way they do? Are my beliefs of the world right or wrong? Is there a God? For this discussion I chose to reflect on the conflict and feminist paradigms.

The Conflict Paradigm
If you have spent any time studying history, you know that struggles among different classes of society have been a part the human story since our beginnings. Whether it’s the struggle for power, wealth, food, or land, humans have been competing for the upper hand for all of our eternity (Babbie, 2016). The conflict paradigm does not only refer to class warfare, it can also be associated with conflicts between genders or ethnic groups (Babbie, 2016). The conflict paradigm (conflict theory) was first suggested by Karl Marx, a nineteenth century revolutionary (Kretchmar, 2019). Marx’s theory proposed that all social behavior is based on conflict in the form of dominating or being dominated (Babbie, 2016).
Feminist Paradigms
Gender roles have also been a major part of the history of humanity. Most of the societies in our history have been patriarch and have treated females as lesser than males. Feminist paradigms focus on the oppression of females throughout human history and analyze the existence of a primarily male dominated society (Babbie, 2016). Feminist can be of any gender and are champions for the equal rights of women, and all genders (Babbie, 2016).
Similarities and Differences
Conflict and feminist paradigms are very similar in their focus of pointing out the differences in roles of society. Using the conflict example of “dominating vs. being dominated” or “oppressed vs. oppressor” relates exactly to the relationship between the sexes. One difference in the two paradigms is that the conflict paradigm, when related to the views of Marx, is that the struggle among economic classes and is not always specific to gender.
Applying paradigms to research
The use of paradigms in human and social services research is vital. Understanding how and why human have behaved throughout history is essential to preventing future mistreatment of humans. Understanding the viewpoints of previous and current generations, whether good or bad, is essential to grasping why our society has developed particular ideas and beliefs. As agents for social change, HSPs use this research to protect and empower future generations of human beings.

Reference
Babbie, E. (2016). The basics of social research (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage.

Kretchmar, J. (2019). Conflict Theory. Salem Press Encyclopedia.

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