How to Encounter Various Sociological Theories?With Reference to Theoretical Frameworks of Students’ Dissertations in Iran

In Iran’s academia and public sphere, a great deal of confusion exists concerning the adoption and application of sociological theories. On the one hand, sociological theories constitute the core of the discipline of sociology and thus any sociology student and sociologist needs to benefit from these sociological theories in order to utilize sociology. On the other hand, however, considering the multiplicity and diversity of these theories has resulted in considerable confusion, leading some to the false conclusion that all sociological theories are ‘sociological ideologies’. This paper attempts to propose a four-layered classification of sociological theories (normal theories, macro theories, sociological schools, and contemporary strands of thought) in order to argue for the ‘usefulness’ of sociological theories and to clear up some of confusion in utilization of these theories. The nature of discussions in this paper, therefore, is of the kind of ‘meta theory’. The last part of the paper classifies the students’ dissertations in Iran under two categories and attempts to answer why most theoretical frameworks in students’ dissertations are not helpful.
Key Words: Normal Theories; Macro Theories; Sociological Schools; Contemporary Strands of Thought; Helpful Theoretical Framework; Unhelpful Theoretical Framework.