Download NC Level 6 Revision Workshop 3 Tasks Weberian Theoryhot!

NC Level 6 Revision Workshop 4 Task List
Name:
In this revision workshop on Weberian Theory you have 7 task sheets to complete. Each
time you complete a task, take your evidence to your lecturer who will give feedback and
sign off the task. Work in pairs.
Image from causasperdidas.literatortura.com
1. Weber’s social action theory is a bridge between structure and action
theory
2. Weberianism is a conflict theory
3. Weberian Theory: Feature - Status Situation (Class, Status and Party)
4. Weberian Theory: Social Action and Verstehen (understanding)
5. Weberian Theory: Feature - Bureaucracy and Rational Action
6. Weberian Theory: Strengths
7. Weberian Theory: Weaknesses
IMPORTANT:
Use the materials available on My Learning for these workshop tasks. Everything you
need is there or has been provided for you. Do not trawl the internet for this workshop
unless you have been specifically asked to do internet research for a task. Students who
simply ‘Google’ everything instead of doing the set reading and consulting the course
materials often only confuse themselves, miss the information that IS relevant because
they are so overwhelmed and generally go off-track.
Task 1
Weberian Theory is a bridge between structure and action theory
READ:
Use the discussion of Max Weber on p. 885 in Haralambos et al, 2013 to help you to fill in
the blanks in the discussion below:
Social Action
Max Weber believed that sociology should involve the study of s _ _ _ _ _
a_____.
Weber believed that to fully understand social action sociologists must try to
understand the m_ _ _ _ _ _ _ and m_ _ _ _ _ _ behind human
b _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
To do this a sociologist must try and understand this from the actors’
perspective. Sociologist should use v_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to imagine themselves in
the position of the person displaying the behaviour and try to put themselves
‘in the actors shoes’ – for example, if I was behaving like that, what would it
mean and what would I be trying to achieve?
Structure
However, Weber also argued that bureaucracies were the dominant
institutions in industrial society.
READ: ‘Bureaucracy and Rational Action’ Haralambos et al, 2013, p.972 and
answer the following question:
What is a bureaucracy?
Because bureaucracies are systems of control that can control, direct and
restrict human behaviour Weberian theory is seen as a theory that is a bridge
between both structure and action.
Task 2
Weberian Theory is a conflict theory
Weber argued that problems within society came about as people struggled for scarce
resources: these could be economic resources, struggles for honour, prestige or status, or
struggles for political power.
Like Marx, Weber believed that those people who owned the forces of production had
better life chances and received higher economic rewards. But, like many other critics of
Marx, Weber did not think that revolution of the proletariat was inevitable because there
was no reason why those of a similar class (economic position) would necessarily form a
group and take collective action.
Status and party were also important and in society many high status groups exclude
those of a lower status – this is called social closure.
Conflict theories emphasize the role of manipulation and power in producing social
order. Weber argued that in industrialized societies, bureaucracies held such power.
Using the text above, how is human behaviour manipulated in society
according to Weber?
How is power maintained by small groups of people?
Task 3
Weberian Theory: Feature – Status Situation (Class, Status and Party)
Weber believed that groups form mainly because they have a similar s_ _ _ _ _ situation
not necessarily because they are the same c _ _ _ _ . Having a similar status is easier to
spot that having a similar e_ _ _ _ _ _ _ position. People with a common status often
share similar l _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
Often class (economic position) and status (social prestige) are connected. But, for Weber
class refers to an economic position and status refers to things like the social
p_ _ _ _ _ _ _ of lifestyle choices, manners, attitudes and t_ _ _ _ _ . The difference
between class and status is obvious if you use the example of someone who likes
drinking, smoking, eating chips, playing darts and pool and reading the Sun who suddenly
wins the lottery. Although, in Weberian terms they are now of the same class (economic
position) of the very wealthy, their tastes are likely to be considered vulgar by those
whose lifestyle have a higher status.
For Weber p_ _ _ _ _ _ are groups concerned with influencing policy and achieving goals
that are in party interests. Parties can be p_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ groups or organisations like
Greenpeace. Parties can be linked to status and class groups, for example the
Conservatives Party (rightly or wrongly) are often associated with wealthy ‘toffs’. Weber
saw d _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in society as more complex than Marx did and based on class, status
and party.
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complete the text
above.
Task 4
Weberian Theory: Key Feature: Social Action and Verstehen
Before the behaviour of an actor (person) can be fully understood it is
necessary to understand the meaning attached to that behaviour by the actor.
Use the discussion of ‘Social Action and Verstehen’ on p.972 of Harlambos et
al, 2013 and answer the following question:
Briefly describe the two types of understanding distinguished by Weber:
Now imagine you were doing some non-participant observational research in
a lecture at college. You observe one student nudging the person sitting next
to them with their elbow: this is your direct observational understanding of the
behaviour.
Now, apply erklärendes Verstehen and write down the possible meanings and
motives behind this behaviour in the following contexts.
Person next to them is asleep:
Someone has just walked past with toilet paper stuck to their shoe:
Lecturer has just said that the person who was nudged did very well in their
essay:
Person sitting next to them is talking loudly:
Now write down as many explanations for winking at someone as you can:
Task 5
Weberian Theory: Key Feature - Bureaucracy and Rational Action
For Weber, bureaucratic organisations were the dominant institutions of industrialised
society. They are organisation with hierarchies of paid officials who form a chain of
command. They control, manage and co-ordinate. This is the more structurally orientated
part of this theory.
However, Weber also focused on social actions and believed that there were different
types of action. Use Haralambos et al, 2013 p.972-973 to identify and describe these
three different types of action:
Which of these three actions is the ‘dominant mode of action in modern industrialised
society’?:
NOTE: The thing that makes Weberian theory also sound like a structural theory (instead
of one entirely focused on the meaning behind social actions) is its focus on the control
bureaucracies have over people and society.
An interesting development:
Ration actions in industrial society often try to maximise profit and ideas like speed,
efficiency, predictability and control seem like sensible ideas. However, rational ideas can
be questioned. Not everyone enjoys the fast, impersonal, conveyor belt, no cutlery, clear
your own table, ‘same-everywhere’ experience of eating at McDonalds – a company
focused on efficiency. McDonalds have had to make culture concessions in many parts of
the world.
Many people now reject cheaper options in favour of supporting small local businesses or
like to shop organically at Farmers Market rather than buying cheaper goods which are
produced more cost effectively at major retailers.
Task 7
Weberian Theory: Strengths
 The theory considers both social structures (in particular the power of
bureaucracies) and social actions.
 Weber’s ideas on bureaucracies have been very influential and have
shaped much of the sociological debate about organizations.
 His claims about rationalization have been influential in debates about
modernity and postmodernity.
Some key terms explained:
Rationalization: Organizations seek to cost cut and provide fast, efficient
services to maximise profit. However, this can be impersonal and sometimes
inhumane. Can you give an example where workers are treated inhumanely in
an attempt to maximise profit?
Modernity: The industrial era which is characterised by rationalization and the
rise of scientific thinking (instead of superstitious beliefs).
Postmodernity: A contemporary idea which argues that society is so diverse
and interpreted so differently by people that no one theory could hope to
adequately explain society.
Read the above text carefully. If you wish to do further reading see ‘Weber – a
critique’- on p.975 -976 of Haralambos et al, 2013.
Now go to your lecture who will ask you questions to check your
understanding of the strengths of Weberian theory and of the key ideas listed
above.
Task 8
Weberian Theory: Weaknesses
Structural theorists are critical of Weber’s focus on the meanings behind
social action because…. (finish this sentence using the words ‘behaviour’,
‘subjective’ and ‘misinterpret’ in your response)….
Note: it is of course okay to change the words slightly, for example
‘misinterpreted’ instead of ‘misinterpret’ or ‘subjectivity’ instead of
‘subjective’.
Weber’s social action perspective does not always sit very easily with his ideas
about bureaucracies and social institutions restricting social freedom. Can you
expand on this statement in your own words?....
Weber’s idea that society is made up of individuals behaving according to
their own motives does not sit well with his idea that society is divided into
class, status and party groups.
A criticism of any action theory is that individual social actions are difficult to
g _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to the wider population.