Category: Foundations

Illustration divided into four panels around a central compass and globe, showing four ways of seeing the social world: quantitative measurement, shared meaning and ideas, hidden structures beneath the surface, and practical tools for building solutions.

Four Ways of Knowing in Sociology: Positivism, Interpretivism, Critical Realism and Pragmatism

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Sociology is not just about what we study, but how we think we can know anything about the social world. This explainer introduces four major epistemological approaches – positivism, interpretivism, critical realism and pragmatism – and shows how each one answers basic questions about reality, knowledge and methods. Aimed at undergraduate sociology students, it offers a clear map of the terrain and helps you understand why different writers disagree about what counts as good evidence or explanation.

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Durkheim Explainer

Is Durkheim Still Relevant? Social Facts, Solidarity and Culture Wars

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Durkheim never saw a social media pile-on, but he worried about what holds societies together and how they draw moral boundaries. This article introduces his ideas on social facts, solidarity, crime and anomie, and uses them to analyse contemporary “culture wars” over statues, values and offence – and to show where his framework now needs updating.

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Trading Places Meritocracy

Trading Places and the Myth of Meritocracy: A Sociological Analysis of Class, Race, and Capital

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Watching Trading Places as a Christmas comfort film, it is hard not to see a ready-made sociological case study. The Dukes’ “experiment” looks like a simple nature-versus-nurture wager, but the life swap really turns on class, race and access to capital. This article uses Bourdieu’s framework to show how the film exposes—and then neatly smooths over—the myth of meritocracy.

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Types of Capital

Understanding Bourdieu’s Forms of Capital: How Inequality Is Reproduced Through Culture, Networks, and Status

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Bourdieu’s concept of capital—economic, cultural, social, and symbolic—reveals how privilege is passed on and class boundaries maintained. This article explains each type of capital, critiques the theory, and shows its relevance in today’s educational inequalities.

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Method and Methodology

Methodology vs Method: Understanding the Difference in Sociological Research

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Many sociology students confuse methodology with method—but understanding the difference is essential for credible, coherent research. This guide explains both terms, shows how they connect to ontology and epistemology, and offers practical tips and examples for designing robust sociological studies.

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Thought Types

Thinking Like a Sociologist: A Practical Guide to Deductive, Inductive, and Abductive Reasoning

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This guide explains how deductive, inductive, and abductive reasoning function in sociological research, offering clear examples, practical applications, and advice for integrating these approaches to produce rigorous, insightful studies.

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Reclaiming Education

Understanding Gert Biesta: Reclaiming Education’s Purpose for Aspiring Educators

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Dutch philosopher Gert Biesta critiques how education has shifted from ethical formation to outcome-focused learning. His concept of subjectification offers a compelling vision for educators seeking a more human-centred, democratic practice.

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