Paradigm Change in Sociology

Two paradigms of sociological research are compared. Based on classic methods of data collection such as observation, representative sample taking and experimentation sociological research preceding the Information Age was to identify laws of society and sociologists were keen to serve emancipatory interests. Social researchers were driven by the faith in “good society”. Sociological researches of the Information Age are based on log-ins of individuals which provides unlimited opportunities to store and retrieve data in data warehouses. As a consequence examination and analysis of real time data of real populations becomes possible. Due to a direct contact with real social processes profound change in the nature of sociological research and theory building is predicted. Two applications of the new type of sociological research are presented in the article.