Durkheim's belief that participation in social rituals is an important basis of social solidarity. Weber's belief that status group identity could sometimes override social class identity in shaping attitudes and behavior. Weber's belief the psychological consequences of ideas were often different from the logical consequences of ideas. These big ideas have given rise to many specific theoretical propositions, which generally can be stated in terms of a determinate relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable . The level of social integration of a region will be inversely related to its level of crime.
Race is a better predictor than class in explaining minority political party affiliation.
Your first task, then, is to review the course materials on Marx, Durkheim and Weber and to formulate one big idea from two of these theorists. I will want you to state those two big ideas and elaborate on their meaning in a short paragraph for each. After you have done this, your next task is to formulate two theoretical propositions that assert, on the basis of the theoretical perspectives of these theorists, a determinate relationship between two different variables. These propositions will constitute the hypotheses that you will test. Operationalize the Concepts.