Question

Angela, a sociologist, is conducting a study on divorce and the factors that affect it. She personally believes that modern couples do not take relationships seriously and is of the opinion that married couples should stick together through thick and thin. However, she knows that she should be objective in her study and, therefore, employs an approach that allows her to gain the ability to see the world from the perspective of others. Which of the following approaches is Angela most likely using?

A. verstehen
B. positivism
C. social Darwinism
D. gesellschaft

Answer 1

The correct answer is option a. Angela is using the verstehen approach to study divorce, allowing her to understand social phenomena from the insider's perspective and thus conduct her sociological research more effectively, taking into account cultural influences and biases.

Step-by-step explanation:

Angela, a sociologist studying divorce, appears to be using the verstehen approach. Max Weber, a prominent sociologist, along with Wilhelm Dilthey, introduced the concept of verstehen, which means to understand in a deep way. In her research, Angela is striving to comprehend the world from the perspective of others, especially when examining social factors such as divorce. This method is integral to Weber's belief that culture influences human behavior, which can affect sociological research, thus necessitating the need for researchers to view situations from the inside rather than solely from an external, objective standpoint.

Sociologists often apply major theoretical perspectives such as functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory to understand societal issues. The verstehen approach allows for a deeper comprehension of social practices and interactions from the insider's perspective, which is essential for avoiding cultural biases and reification in the study of complex social phenomena like marriage and family structures.