Final answer:
True, a paradigm is a framework used for understanding the world. Paradigms in sociology, like structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism, are lenses that shape theories and guide research.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, a paradigm is indeed a framework used to construct our understanding of the world. In the field of sociology, paradigms serve as philosophical and theoretical frameworks within the discipline. They are essential in formulating theories, making generalizations, and guiding the experiments that support them.
Notable paradigms like structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism have become dominant because they offer comprehensive explanations for various aspects of social life. These paradigms are equivalent to lenses through which sociologists view and make sense of phenomena, influencing how they interpret information and act within their environments.
Moreover, paradigms also reflect worldviews or belief systems shared within societies and vary according to individual perspectives, such as gender and occupation. Changing paradigms, as described by Thomas Kuhn, can signify shifts in scientific thought when existing frameworks fail to explain new discoveries or phenomena, leading to paradigm shifts in various fields including the social sciences.