Sociology

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Sociology The Sociological Perspective

• David L. Strickland
• Introduction to Sociology
• East Georgia College
• (Reading Chapter 1 - Nature and Uses of
  Sociology)

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Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson the student will
be able to
1. Define sociology and identify several areas of
investigation by sociologists. 2. Identify the
components of the sociological perspective. 3. Def
ine and distinguish the macro and micro levels of
sociological analysis. 4. Examine the
relationship between sociology and popular wisdom
(common sense). 5. Define, compare, and contrast
the natural sciences and the social sciences.
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Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson the student will
be able to
6. Identify and distinguish among the various
social sciences. 7. Explain the difference
between applied and pure social science. 8. Be
able to list several of the occupational and
personal uses of sociology. 9. Explain how the
knowledge of sociology can be advantageous to
every social being. 10. Use the sociological
imagination to explain a social trend with regard
to the impact of larger social forces upon
individual behavior.
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Key Terms

• analytical studies
• anthropology
• applied social research
• clinical sociology
• descriptive studies
• economics
• evaluative studies
• geography
• history
• macrosociology
• microsociology

• political science
• psychology and social psychology
• pure and applied sciences
• social engineering
• social sciences
• social work
• sociological imagination
• sociological perspective
• sociology

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What Sociology Is NOT

• Opinion
• Journalism
• A TV Talk Show
• Common Sense

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Sociology is not just common sense!

• COMMON SENSE
• Vague
• Over-simplified
• Contradictory

• SOCIOLOGY
• Specific
• Qualify its statements
• Prove its assertions

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Sociology IS ...
Sociology is the scientific study of human
society and social interactions.

• Sociology
• uses the scientific method,
• focuses on groups, and
• looks for patterns in society.

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Sociology IS ...
Sociology is Sociology is the study of social
relationships, social institutions, and society.
Basically, the term sociology means words
about human associations or society.

• Socius - companion or associate
• Logus - word.

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Sociology IS ...
Sociologists investigate many areas, such as
racial and ethnic relationships prejudice and
discrimination power and politics jobs and
income families and family life school systems
and the educational process social control
organizations bureaucracies groups and group
dynamics leisure health-care systems military
systems womens movements and labor movements.
It is an extremely broad field.
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Sociology IS ...
Sociology is a perspective.

• The sociological perspective involves a
  conscious effort to question the obvious, to
  remove ourselves from familiar experiences, and
  to examine them critically and objectively.
• This type of empirical investigation enables
  sociologists to determine whether generalizations
  made about society are accurate.

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Macro vs Micro

• The sociological perspective operates at two
  levels
• MACROSOCIOLOGY deals with large-scale structures
  and processes, such as broad social categories,
  institutions, and social systems.
• MICROSOCIOLOGY is concerned with small-scale
  units, such as individuals in small-group
  interaction.

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The Sociological Perspective

• The sociological perspective is also called the
  sociological imagination.
• The sociological imagination is the ability to
  see our private experiences and personal
  difficulties as entwined with the structural
  arrangements of society.

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The Sociological Imagination

• The sociological imagination is the quality of
  mind that helps us understand
• the distinction between personal troubles and
  public issues.
• the relationship between individual experiences
  and larger social forces that shape our actions.
• the intersection between history and biography.

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Sociology is
Sociology is one of several disciplines in the
social sciences.

• Anthropology
• Economics
• Political Science
• Psychology

• Psychology
• History
• Geography
• Social Work

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Using the Sociological Imagination to Examine
Society

• The sociological imagination allows us to
  penetrate our social world and identify the links
  between our personal biographies and larger
  social forces to see that what is happening to
  us immediately is a minute point at which our
  personal lives and society intersect.

• How does the structure of society guide a
  persons choices?
• How does a persons relative level of power and
  wealth in society impact their personal
  experience?
• How do social arrangements and social rules
  influence the behavior of individuals and groups?

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Benefits of Sociology

• The sociological perspective
• Helps us assess the truth of common sense.
• Helps us assess both opportunities and
  constraints in our lives.
• Empowers us to be active participants in our
  society.
• Helps us live in a diverse world.

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Conclusion

• Sociology is the scientific study of society and
  human interaction. The sociological perspective
  involves the ability to see the consequences of
  both personal actions and larger social forces
  and to understand the relationships between them.
  The study of sociology has many benefits for the
  student.