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Chapter 1 Thinking Sociology
Science refers to the logical,
systematic method by which
knowledge is obtained and to the
actual
body
of
knowledge
produced by these methods.
relies
on
generalization,
explanations, and predictions on
careful, systematic analysis of
verifiable evidence that is,
evidence can be checked by
others and will always yield the
same results.
2.
3.
2 Main Branch
1. Natural Science disciplines that
study physical and biological
phenomena.
- quantitative data
2. Social Science disciplines that study
various
aspects
of
human
behavior.
Sociology enables us to appreciate
viewpoints other than our own,
to
understand
how
these
viewpoints came into being, and
in
the
process,
to
better
understand
our
attitudes,
ourselves, and our lives.
- is the branch of social science
that deals with scientific study of
human social behavior.
Areas of Sociology:
1. Social Organization covers the study
of various social institutions,
social
groups,
social
stratification,
social
mobility,
bureaucracy, ethnic groups and
relations, and other similar
subjects. Topics like the family,
4.
5.
education,
politics,
religion,
economy, etc. are studied in this
area.
Social Psychology deals with the
study of human nature as an
outcome of group life social
attitudes, collective behavior,
and personality formation. It
deals with group life and
individuals
traits,
attitudes,
beliefs, etc. as influenced by
group life. It views man with
reference to group life.
Social Change and Social Organization
this include the study of
change in culture and social
relations and the disruption that
may occur in society. It deals
with the study of such current
social problems in the society as
juvenile delinquency, criminality,
drug addiction, family conflicts,
divorce, population problems,
sexual revolution, and other
similar objects.
Human Ecology studies the nature
and
behavior
of
a
given
population and its relationships
to the groups present social
institutions. For instance, studies
of
this
kind
have
shown
prevalence of mental illness,
criminality,
delinquencies,
prostitution, and drug addiction
in urban centers and other highly
developed places.
Population or demography concerns
with the study of population
number, composition, change
and quality as they influence the
economic, political and social
system.
Traces
the
evolutionary
development of man and
studies the biological variation
within the species
Concentrates on the study of
mans physical characteristics,
the processes by which the
biological changes occur, and
the resultant human variations.
2. Cultural
Anthropology
also
known as social anthropology.
it deals with one of the most
significant and revolutionary
concepts in the social sciences
the concept of culture.
Subdivision of Cultural Anthropology:
1. Ethnography deals on pure
description of the culture
of people or an ethnic
group. The ethnographer
is one type of researcher
who usually spends a year
or so living with, talking
to, and observing the
people whose customs he
or she is studying.
2. Ethnology deals on the analysis as
well as comparison and
contrast of cultures of
peoples. The ethnologists
seek to understand how
and why people today and
in the recent past differ in
their customary ways of
thinking
and
acting.
Ethnology is concerned
with patterns of kinship
organization, political and
economic
systems,
religion, folk art, music
or
Subfields of Cultural
Anthropology:
1. Archeology concern with the study of
mans culture and society
in the past, as far back in
time as prehistoric times,
that is, many million years
ago.
Main Evidence for evaluating prehistoric
society:
Fossils remnants of the pasts
that have organic life which
have withstood the test of time
and forces of nature.
Artifacts are man-made and
man-conceived
remains
of
prehistoric times
that have
endure through time. Examples
1.
2.
3.
4.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Pioneers of Sociology:
Auguste Comte
- founder of
sociology, father of sociology.
Emile
Durkheim
French
sociologist has strongly influenced
the discipline.
Dealt with the problem of the
social order and argued that
societies are held together by
shared beliefs and values of their
members, especially as these are
expressed in religious doctrine and
ritual.
Made his first real breakthrough in
sociological
research
on
his
statistical study of suicide in
various population groups. He was
able to show that suicide rates
vary consistently from one group
to another, proving that the act of
suicide is influenced by social
forces and is not simply the
individual matter that it might
appear to be.
Max
Weber
a
German
sociologist and contemporary of
Durkheim, has perhaps had a
stronger influence on Western
sociology than any other single
individual.
A man of prodigious learning
whose sociological investigations
covered such diverse fields as
politics, law, economics, music,
cities and the major world
religions.
He
regarded
trends
towards
greater
social
equality
is
inevitable,
but
he
did
not
particularly
welcome
them,
because he foresaw that such
moves would involve an increase
in power of state over the
individual.
Believed that sociologists should
aim at the goal of value
freedom the absence of personal
values or biases in their
professional work.
Jane Addams - one of the most
outstanding founders of American
sociology.
She set up and directed a center
for research and social thought
that she named Hull-House in
Chicago. Most Sociologist working
at the Hull-House were women.
The chief goal of the Hull-House
was
to
apply
sociological
knowledge
to
solving
social
problems.
With the use of a new research
technique called mapping, they
dealt with a wide array of social
ills, including poverty, worker
exploitation, child labor, juvenile
delinquency, unjust laws, and
difficulties
faced
by
working
women and the elderly.
Modern Developments
only
to
understand
social
processes and add the sum of
scientific knowledge. Others argue
that sociological knowledge should
be used to criticize and reform
existing social arrangements.
Theoretical Perspectives
Theory a crucial element in sociology
and in all science.
- is a statement that organizes a
set of concepts in a meaningful
way
by
explaining
the
relationship among them.
- makes the facts of social life
comprehensible.
- sociological theories varies
greatly in their scope and
sophistication. Some attempt to
explain only a small aspect of
reality (such as why some people
become shabu addicts).
4
their
cultures.
environment vary,
cultures.
Thus
so too
as
will
An Evaluation
Since each of these perspectives
starts from different assumptions, and
each leads to the investigator to ask
different questions, each viewpoint is
likely to produce different types of
conclusions. In many respects the
theories seem quite contradictory. But
this does not mean that one of them is
better than the others, or even that
they are always incompatible. The reason
is that each perspective focuses on a
different aspect of reality: functionalism,
primarily on social order and stability;
conflict theory, primarily on social
tension and changes, and interactionism,
primarily on the ordinary experiences of
everyday life. Each perspective has part
to play in the analysis of society.