No 2 (2009)

The multidimensionality of the contemporary social process is increasingly revealing the discrepancies between the collective and the individual, the objective and the subjective. The underlying factors are rooted in history as well as in pro-reflexive levels of human activity. P. Bourdieu treats them as distinct «domains», i.e. structured realms of positions and dispositions of the activity agents. The «habitus» emerges as the objective-subjective system of group and individual attitudes, value orientations, goals of actions in the process of permanent conflict and transformations within each of the domains as well as between them.

The cyclic model of social and cultural dynamics implies a system investigation of the fundamental social and cultural characteristics of the society in terms of a range of parameters reflecting social and psychological as well as moral and ethical patterns of the society at different stages of its functioning and development. In the framework of the cyclic model of development the explanatory hypothesis of the social and cultural dynamics emerging as the principal «driving force» of the continuous evolution of the society from one stage to another is elaborated.

The significance of the problem of loneliness is stipulated by the contemporary state of society. Being the subject matter of study of the most diverse disciplines, the problem of loneliness involves various interpretations. The sociological approach to the study of loneliness implies the creation of a conceptual model which can provide the basis for the empirical study of the given phenomenon. Different versions of the models involved are analyzed in the present article.

The interaction of ethnic migrants with the local population as well as the analysis of the relations in the receiving social environment is one of the most challenging issues of contemporary sociology. More or less high potential of proneness to conflict which manifests itself in intolerance emerges in the context of interethnic interaction aggravated by migration processes entailing the escalation of social tension, latent and manifest confrontation and conflicts as well.

The analysis of a number of problems of the investigation of the electoral process viewed as a social phenomenon contributes to the overcoming of a number of theoretical and methodological obstacles in the process of its sociological cognition. The complexity and delicacy of the electoral process entails the application of a set of distinct approaches, research and description techniques. The article provides the rationale for the most complete insight into the social component of the electoral process via social and structural approach application. The given approach enables one to give concrete expression to the subject matter of electoral sociology at strategic, operational and tactical levels, define the elements of the electoral process, the outcome of the electoral practice, to reveal the invariability of the electoral conscience, psychological attitudes and values of different groups of voters as well as to analyze the evolution of the objective-transforming practice, the electoral activity of the population and to provide the extensive analysis of the results of the material and cultural assimilation of the electoral practice.

The paper examines the empirical survey research devoted to the analysis of errors and difficulties emerging in the process of the focus group method implementation in case sociological and marketing research. The possible errors hierarchical classification is provided as well as schematic guidelines are outlined which can be instrumental in preventing their rise in the process of the practical implementation of the method.

Taking into consideration the role of specific factors typical of lifestyle of different nations and ethnical groups is essential for the contemporary social and economic development in the context of traditional society. The article is devoted to the analysis of the most important of the factors involved (customs and traditions pertaining to family relations, religion and education) in the Republic of Chad.