ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the role of theory and method associated with the sociological perspective. The chapter introduces three main sociological theoretical perspectives: conflict theory, functionalism, and social interaction theory. The theoretical perspectives are applied to examples to demonstrate how sociological theories are applied to social life. The chapter shows that while sociological theory is substantially differentiated, its coherence lies in its reliance on a number of important philosophical assumptions that orientate how sociological theory explains a wide range of social phenomena. Key assumptions include: perspectives on human nature; perspectives on the individual and society; the nature of social change; determinism and freewill, and materialism and idealism.
