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Burrell and MorgansBurrell and Morgans
Sociological Paradigms andSociological Paradigms andOrganizational Analysis*Organizational Analysis*
*Heinemann, London, 1979
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Main 4 debates in SociologyMain 4 debates in Sociology
Is reality given or is it a product of theIs reality given or is it a product of the
mind?mind?
Must one experience something toMust one experience something to
understand it?understand it?
Do humans have free will or are weDo humans have free will or are we
determined by our environment?determined by our environment?
Is understanding best achieved though theIs understanding best achieved though the
scientific method or direct experience?scientific method or direct experience?
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Assumptions of the nature of socialAssumptions of the nature of social
sciencescienceOntologicalOntologicalis reality external from conscious or ais reality external from conscious or a
product of individual consciousness?product of individual consciousness?
EpistemologicalEpistemologicalhow can knowledge be acquired andhow can knowledge be acquired andhow can the truth be found?how can the truth be found?
HumanHuman naturenatureare we products of our environments orare we products of our environments ordo we create our environments?do we create our environments?
MethodologicalMethodologicalwhat methods of inquiry are appropriatewhat methods of inquiry are appropriatefor finding truth? Objectivists search for universal lawsfor finding truth? Objectivists search for universal lawsto explain reality and relationships between elements.to explain reality and relationships between elements.Subjectivists focus on how individuals create, modify andSubjectivists focus on how individuals create, modify andinterpret the world. They see nature as more relativisticinterpret the world. They see nature as more relativistic
AxiologicalAxiologicalwhat is the role of values in research? Arewhat is the role of values in research? Areresearchers valueresearchers value--free vs. valuefree vs. value--ladenladen
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Ontology: Nominalism vs. RealismOntology: Nominalism vs. Realism
NominalismNominalism assumes that society is relativeassumes that society is relativeand the social world is names, concepts andand the social world is names, concepts andlabels that make individual structure realitylabels that make individual structure reality
RealismRealism assumes that the real world hasassumes that the real world hashard, intangible structures that existhard, intangible structures that existirrespective of our labels. The social worldirrespective of our labels. The social worldexists separate from the individualsexists separate from the individualsperception of it.perception of it.
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Epistemology: Positivism vs. AntiEpistemology: Positivism vs. Anti--
PositivismPositivism
PositivismPositivism seeks to explain and predict whatseeks to explain and predict what
happens in the social world by searching forhappens in the social world by searching for
patterns and relationships. Hypotheses arepatterns and relationships. Hypotheses are
developed and testeddeveloped and tested
AntiAnti--positivismpositivism rejects that observingrejects that observing
behavior can help people understand it.behavior can help people understand it.
Social science cannot create true objectiveSocial science cannot create true objectiveknowledge of any kind.knowledge of any kind.
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Human Nature: Voluntarism vs.Human Nature: Voluntarism vs.
DeterminismDeterminism
DeterminismDeterminism sees man as being determinedsees man as being determined
by the situation and environment he is inby the situation and environment he is in
VoluntarismVoluntarism sees man is completelysees man is completely
autonomous and possessing free willautonomous and possessing free will
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Method: Ideographic vs. NomotheticMethod: Ideographic vs. Nomothetic
IdeographicIdeographic focuses on detailed observationfocuses on detailed observation
of societyof society
NomotheticNomothetic involves hypotheses testing andinvolves hypotheses testing and
employs methods such as surveys and otheremploys methods such as surveys and other
standardized research toolsstandardized research tools
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Axiological: Value free vs. ValueAxiological: Value free vs. Value
ladenladen
ValueValue--freefree contends that researchers cancontends that researchers can
conduct research without the imposition ofconduct research without the imposition of
valuesvalues
ValueValue--ladenladen contends this is simplycontends this is simply
impossibleimpossible
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Assumptions about Society*Assumptions about Society*
Two theories about society: order andTwo theories about society: order and
conflictconflict
OrderOrderor integrationist view sees society asor integrationist view sees society as
relatively stable and based on consensusrelatively stable and based on consensus
ConflictConflictor coercion view sees society asor coercion view sees society as
constantly changing and disintegratingconstantly changing and disintegrating
* Based on Dahrendorfs (1959) sociological theory
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The Emergence of ParadigmsThe Emergence of Paradigms
Kuhn defines paradigms as: universally recognized scientificKuhn defines paradigms as: universally recognized scientific
achievements that for a time provide model problems and solutions toachievements that for a time provide model problems and solutions to
a community of practitioners (Kuhn, 1970; p. viii)a community of practitioners (Kuhn, 1970; p. viii)
Burrell and Morgan use the term as a: commonality of perspectiveBurrell and Morgan use the term as a: commonality of perspective
which binds the work of a group of theorists together (Burrell andwhich binds the work of a group of theorists together (Burrell andMorgan, 1979; p. 23)Morgan, 1979; p. 23)
Burrell and Morgan define four paradigms:Burrell and Morgan define four paradigms: functionalism,functionalism,
interpretivism, radical structuralisminterpretivism, radical structuralism andand radical humanismradical humanism. Others,. Others,
such as Chua (1986), prefer three primary alternatives:such as Chua (1986), prefer three primary alternatives:positivismpositivism (and(and
its various forms neofuncitonalism, postpostivism, etc.),its various forms neofuncitonalism, postpostivism, etc.), interpretivisminterpretivism
(hermeneutics, phenomenology, ethnomethodology, etc.), and(hermeneutics, phenomenology, ethnomethodology, etc.), and criticalcritical
(Marxism, Critical Social Theory, etc.)(Marxism, Critical Social Theory, etc.)
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Sociology of regulation
Sociology of radical change
Subjective Objective
Radical Humanism Radical Structuralism
Interpretivism Functionalism
French existentialismFrench existentialismAnarchistic individualismAnarchistic individualismCritical theoryCritical theory
Contemporary Mediterranean MarxismContemporary Mediterranean MarxismRussian Social TheoryRussian Social TheoryCritical theoryCritical theory
PhenomenologyPhenomenologyHermeneuticsHermeneuticsPhenomenological sociologyPhenomenological sociologyInterpretive sociologyInterpretive sociology
Integrative theoryIntegrative theorySocial system theorySocial system theoryObjectivismObjectivismInteractionism and social action theoryInteractionism and social action theoryFunctionalist sociologyFunctionalist sociology
The Burrell and Morgan Framework (1979)
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The 4 paradigms of social scienceThe 4 paradigms of social science
Functionalist paradigmFunctionalist paradigmobjective/regulationobjective/regulation
Interpretive paradigmInterpretive paradigmsubjective/regulationsubjective/regulation
Radical humanist paradigmRadical humanist paradigmsubjective /subjective /radical changeradical change
Radical structuralist paradigmRadical structuralist paradigmobjective /objective /
radical changeradical change
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Functionalist paradigmFunctionalist paradigm
Primary paradigm for organizational studyPrimary paradigm for organizational study
Assumes rational human action and believesAssumes rational human action and believes
one can understand behavior throughone can understand behavior through
hypothesis testinghypothesis testing
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Interpretive paradigmInterpretive paradigm
Seeks to explain the stability of behaviorSeeks to explain the stability of behavior
from the individual's viewpointfrom the individual's viewpoint
Researchers attempt to observe onResearchers attempt to observe on--goinggoing
processes to better understand individualprocesses to better understand individual
behavior and the spiritual nature of thebehavior and the spiritual nature of the
worldworld
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Radical humanist paradigmRadical humanist paradigm
Concerned with releasing social constraintsConcerned with releasing social constraints
that limit human potentialthat limit human potential
They see the current dominant ideologies asThey see the current dominant ideologies as
separating people from their true selvesseparating people from their true selves
This paradigm is used to justify radicalThis paradigm is used to justify radical
changechange
It is antiIt is anti--organizational in scopeorganizational in scope
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Radical structuralist paradigmRadical structuralist paradigm
Theorists see inherent structural conflictsTheorists see inherent structural conflicts
within society that generate constant changewithin society that generate constant change
through political and economic crisisthrough political and economic crisis
This is the fundamental paradigm of Marx,This is the fundamental paradigm of Marx,
Engles and LeninEngles and Lenin
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Sociological Positivism vs. GermanSociological Positivism vs. German
IdealismIdealism
Sociological positivism applies models andSociological positivism applies models and
methods from the natural sciences to themethods from the natural sciences to the
social sciencessocial sciences
German idealism sees reality in the spiritGerman idealism sees reality in the spirit
or idea and rejects the scientific methodor idea and rejects the scientific method
to understanding behaviorto understanding behavior
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Classification Criteria Positivist Interpretivist Critical
Beliefs about physical
and social reality
There is a single, tangible, fragment-
able phenomenon of interest and there
is a unique best description of any
aspect of that phenomenon.
(Orlikowski & Baroudi, 1991)
Social world is not given. It is produced
and reinforced through human actions and
interactions. Interpretations of reality
change with time, circumstances, objectives
and constituencies.
Humans become
alienated from their
potential by prevailing
economic, political and
cultural authority. Socialreality is produced by
humans, but also exists
objectively and
dominates human
experience.
Beliefs about the
notion of knowledge
Deductive logic to discover unilateral,
causal generalized relationships,
predict patterns of behavior across
situations (Orlikowski & Baroudi,
1991).
Involves getting inside the world of those
generating the social process. The models
are not unidirectional, but are circular or
reciprocally interacting models of causality.
No a priori researcher-imposed
formulations of structure, function and
attribution are assumed.
What it has been, what
it is becoming and what
it is not (Chua, 1986).
Interpretation of social
world is not enough.
Objective analysis of
circumstances is
possible through the
lenses of theoretical
framework.
Beliefs about the
relationship between
knowledge and
empirical world
If the appropriate general laws are
known and the relevant initial
conditions can be manipulated, we can
produce a desired state of affairs,
natural or social. (McCarthy, 1978)
Research is value free.
Knowledge is never value-free. Weak
constructionist view, the researcher merely
describes the phenomenon in words of the
actors. In the strong view, the researchers
interpretations intervene with the actual
meaning of the world, thus the researcher is
in part, enacting the social reality of the
actors.
Can transform both the
actor and the researcher.
Role of theory is to
initiate change in social
relations eliminating
domination.
P di Cl ifi ti C it i d t d f O lik ki d B di (1991)