Social analysis as making sense.

1. What is Social Analysis
By M. Nadarajah
amanibana@gmail.com
(Based on a session delivered in July 2004)

3. Reading the
“Signs of the Times”

4. How does one
make sense of this?

5. How does
one
make sense
of this?

6. How does
one
make sense
of this?

7. How does
one
make sense
of this?

8. How does
one
make sense
of this?

9. Beginning the
process of
making sense
“Locate”
The Reality.
But How?

10. Knowing the Level (s)
YOU
Family
Community
National Society
Nature
Global Society

11. Examine/Explore/
Interrogate/Unpack
Context Contextual Analysis
Culture Cultural Analysis
Institutions Institutional Analysis
History Historical Analysis
Offers Explanation (causes) or Understanding (meaning).
One level primacy analysis or
multi-level integrated, inter-disciplinary analysis

12. Understand the
Deep Connections
Between
Various Realities
that Surrounds Us.

13. Making sense also means asking:
questions
questions

14. Asking “why-question” initiates theory building

15. Think about “theory” as a “map”:
It helps you “get around”. It helps
a finite mind to make sense of
the ‘infinite’ social episodes that
make society.

16. So What Is Social Analysis?
• A general social analysis is a carefully thought through
examination of a society or a situation in society.
• A general social analysis may focus on fact-finding,
but is primarily an attempt to make sense of the social.
It offers explanation or understanding. Often it involves
the consideration of alternative ways of looking at or
approaching a social situation.
• The scope of social analysis may range from an
individual to all humanity, from an act to all
institutions.

17. Hold Informed Opinions
Action
Action
Action Action
Make Decisions
Why Do We Need To Analyse?

18. All sensitive theories
come with a
“programme of action”
and leads to “praxis”.
They break through
“making sense” into
the “fields of action”.