How does postmodernism explain society, and how does a sociological explanation differ from common sense?
The postmodernist view of a fragmented, media-saturated society of choice and diversity, and the difference between sociological explanations (evidence-based, theoretical) and common-sense explanations of human behaviour.
An SQA Higher Sociology answer on postmodernism and on the difference between sociological and common-sense explanations. Covers the postmodernist view of a fragmented, diverse, media-saturated society of choice, key concepts such as the decline of metanarratives, and why sociological explanations are evidence-based and theoretical while common sense is assumption-based.
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What this dot point is asking
The SQA wants you to explain the postmodernist view of society and to set out clearly how a sociological explanation differs from a common-sense one. Both are part of understanding human society: postmodernism is a newer perspective you should be able to outline, and the sociology-versus-common-sense distinction underpins why sociology is a discipline at all.
The answer
The postmodernist view
The decline of metanarratives
Sociological versus common-sense explanations
Why the distinction matters
The whole point of sociology is to go beyond common sense. By using evidence and theory and questioning assumptions, sociologists can show that "obvious" explanations are often wrong, for example that crime or poverty are simply the result of individual choices. This is why every perspective in this unit, including postmodernism, is judged against research and evidence.
Examples in context
The contrast between sociology and common sense shows up clearly with unemployment. A common-sense view might say people are unemployed because they do not try hard enough to find work. A sociological explanation, by contrast, looks for evidence and patterns: it asks whether unemployment rises in recessions, whether some regions and groups are far more affected, and whether there are simply too few jobs, and it tests these claims against data. This moves from assumption to evidence, which is exactly the move sociology is built to make. A postmodernist would add that in a fragmented, media-saturated society, identity and lifestyle have themselves become matters of choice and consumption, so explanations that rely only on older categories such as class may be too simple, which is why this perspective is offered as a contrast to the structural views.
Try this
Q1. Explain what postmodernists mean by the decline of metanarratives. [4 marks]
- Cue. Big "stories" such as class or shared values no longer explain a diverse, fast-changing society as fully, so explanations become more partial and plural.
Q2. Explain why a sociological explanation is more reliable than a common-sense one. [4 marks]
- Cue. It is based on research, evidence and theory, questions assumptions, and is open to testing, whereas common sense is taken-for-granted and untested.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA Higher specimen8 marksExplain the difference between a sociological explanation and a common-sense explanation of human behaviour.Show worked answer →
An -mark "explain" question. Markers want a clear contrast developed with an example.
A sociological explanation is based on systematic research, evidence and theory; it questions assumptions, looks for patterns and is open to being tested and revised. A common-sense explanation rests on personal experience, assumption and "what everyone knows", is often taken for granted, and is not tested against evidence.
Develop the contrast with an example: common sense might say poverty is caused by laziness, whereas a sociological explanation uses evidence on low pay, unemployment and unequal opportunity. Showing that sociology challenges common-sense assumptions earns the developed marks.
SQA Higher 20198 marksExplain the postmodernist view of society.Show worked answer →
An -mark "explain" question. Markers want an accurate account developed with concepts and an example.
Postmodernism argues modern society has become fragmented and diverse, shaped by the media, consumer choice and rapid change. Older "big stories" or metanarratives, such as class or religion, no longer explain people's lives as well, and identity is increasingly a matter of choice rather than fixed by birth.
Develop it by explaining the decline of metanarratives and the role of the media and consumption in shaping identity, with an example such as people building their identity through the brands, media and lifestyles they choose. This earns the developed marks.
Related dot points
- The functionalist (consensus) perspective: how it explains social order, the key thinkers and concepts, and its strengths and weaknesses as a way of understanding human society.
An SQA Higher Sociology answer on functionalism, the consensus perspective. Covers how functionalists explain social order through shared values and institutions, the key thinkers Durkheim and Parsons, core concepts such as value consensus and social functions, and the main criticisms from conflict and social action sociologists.
- The Marxist (conflict) perspective: how it explains society through class conflict and economic power, the key concepts of base and superstructure, ideology and false consciousness, and its strengths and weaknesses.
An SQA Higher Sociology answer on Marxism, the conflict perspective. Covers how Marxists explain society through class conflict between the bourgeoisie and proletariat, the economic base and superstructure, ideology and false consciousness, alienation, and the main criticisms from functionalists, feminists and social action sociologists.
- The interactionist (social action) perspective: how it explains society from the bottom up through meanings, labelling and the self, the key concepts, and its strengths and weaknesses compared with structural perspectives.
An SQA Higher Sociology answer on interactionism, the social action perspective. Covers how interactionists explain society from the bottom up through shared meanings, labelling and the self-fulfilling prophecy, key thinkers such as Mead and Becker, and how the perspective differs from and is criticised by structural perspectives.
- Identity and the social construction of identity: personal and social identity, how identities are formed through socialisation and interaction, and the idea that identity is increasingly chosen rather than fixed.
An SQA Higher Sociology answer on identity and its social construction. Covers personal and social identity, how identities such as class, gender and ethnic identity are formed through socialisation and interaction, the idea that identity is socially constructed rather than natural, and the view that identity is increasingly a matter of choice.
- The sociological research process and the main types of data: primary and secondary data, and quantitative and qualitative data, with their uses and limitations.
An SQA Higher Sociology answer on the research process and the types of data sociologists use. Covers the stages of a study from aim and hypothesis to conclusion, the difference between primary and secondary data and between quantitative and qualitative data, and the strengths and limitations of each type.
Sources & how we know this
- SQA Higher Sociology Course Specification (C868 76) — SQA (2019)