Introduction to Sociology

Introduction

What is science? It is “systematical” and “rational” study of knowledge, which is obtained and tested through scientific method.
Purpose of Science

Types of Science

• Natural Sciences
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology

Social Sciences

• Sociology
• Psychology
• Political Science
• Economics

What is Sociology?

•The systematic study of society and its institutions (Macionis)

•The science  of society (Sumner)
•The study of social action (Weber)
•The science of collective behavior (Park)
•The scientific study of human relationship (Simmel)
•The scientific study of structure and function of social group (Parson)
•Systematic study of social relationships, patterns of behavior and experiences that characterize and make up human society.
•Sociology is the study of human social life, groups and societies. It is a dazzling and compelling enterprise, having as its subject matter our own behavior as social beings. The scope of sociology is extremely wide, ranging from the analysis of passing encounters between individuals in the street up to the investigation of world-wide social processes. (Giddens)

Why Study Sociology?

•To make sense of the rapidly changing world that we live in.

•To understand our place within this world.

•To distinguish between personal problems or public issues.

•To understand the social problems

•To understand and explain the world we live in

Nature of Sociology

•Sociology is an independent science

•Sociology is the social science and not a physical science

•Sociology is both pure and applied science

•Sociology is the relatively an abstract science and not a concrete science

•Sociology is both rational and an empirical science

•Sociology is the general science not a special science: The area of inquiry of sociology is general not specialized. It is concerned with human interaction and human life in general. 

Fields of Sociology

•Historical Sociology: Study records pertaining to the events that have happened or have been observed.

•Political Sociology: Observes how political phenomena influences and get influences by the rest of the social structure and culture.

•Sociology of Crime/Deviant Behavior

•Industrial Sociology

•Sociology of Work

•Sociology of Culture

•Sociology of Aging

•Sociology of Media

•Sociology of Medicine

•Rural Sociology

•Urban Sociology

•Sociology of Development

Importance of Sociology

•Explains the problems of society and suggest the solutions for them

•Studies role of the institutions in the development of the individuals

•It is necessary for understanding and planning of society

•Helps us to understand the world in which we live

Significance of Sociology

•Research based argumentations

•Utilization of basic methods to draw an inference in different kind of social issues

•Cultural exploration and its documentation

•Policy Construction and Implementation

•Development Projects Identification

•Conflict Resolutions

Sociology and Other Social Sciences

•Sociology and Economics

•Sociology and Political Science

•Sociology and Psychology

•Sociology and Social Anthropology

Sociological Perspectives