What is Sociology

Sociology is a social science that studies society and the individual in perspective of Society. The origins of Sociology lie in the 19th century but the during the 1960-70s, it became a major social science subject, taught in universities and colleges, and schools. The scope of sociology has only become more scientific with time.

Simply put, sociology is the study of society. This study uses a lot of different methods in order to investigate the way society works and why humans do the things they do as a society. Sociology is a very broad term that covers a wide range of areas.

According to MacIver and Page, Sociology is about social relationship. The net of relationship we call Society

According to Giddings, Sociology is a systematic description and explanation of society viewed

Sociology is the science which attempts the interpretative understanding of social action---Max Weber

"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 behaviour 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". Anthony Giddens ("Sociology", 1989).

The various aspects of Sociology is seen as science that deals with social interactions. It studies the whole society and various types of social relations. Social interactions form part of the study of sociology.. It tries to get a picture of total life of human being in relation to others, the past as well as the future aspirations.

The American Sociological Association (2006) describes sociology as the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behaviour.
The ASA contends that sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies, and how people interact within these contexts. Sociology is the scientific study of society and human behavior. This means, when sociologists apply their trade, they use a rigorous methodology.

Sociology is the study of human society. For the examination, you need to know a number of concepts and terms used in the subject. There are three main areas you need to consider; Social structures (e.g. the family, education, social stratification, etc.)

Social systems (e.g. culture and identity, agents of social control, etc.)
Social issues (e.g. the causes of crime, the impact of unemployment, etc.)

Sociology enables us to understand the structure and dynamics of society, and their intricate connections to patterns of human behavior and individual life changes.
It examines the ways in which the forms of social structure -- groups, organizations, communities, social categories (such as class, sex, age, or race), and various social institutions (such as kinship, economic, political, or religious) affect human attitudes, actions, and opportunities.

Sociology explores how both individuals and collectivities construct, maintain, and alter social organization in various ways. Sociology asks about the sources and consequences of change in social arrangements and institutions, and about the satisfactions and difficulties of planning, accomplishing, and adapting to such change. Areas studied in examining social dynamics include: culture, values, socialization, cooperation, conflict, power, exchange, inequality, deviance, social control, violence, order and social change.

Subject areas in Sociology are as varied as society itself. Sociologists can study very small social relationships involving only a few people (such as the family). They can also explore relationships in much larger social collectivities such as organizations and institutions. Sociology may be concerned with issues revolving around social class, poverty, gender, race and ethnicity, or religion as well as social mobility and education. Other topics may include culture, socialization, conflict, power, and deviance. Very large social relationships such as those between nation states are also the domain of sociology as are the characteristics of the economy and political system. In fact, the whole topic of globalization is relevant to sociologists.

Debunking

According to Berger, it's the job of sociology to debunk commonly accepted notions about society.
Debunking is a process of questioning actions and ideas that are usually taken for granted. It refers to looking behind the facade of everyday life.

It refers to looking at the behind-the-scenes patterns and processes that shape the behaviour observed in the social world (Andersen & Taylor, 2001:6).

Benefits of Studying Sociology There are numerous reasons why one might want to study sociology even if they do not work in sociology directly. World Wide Learn (2007) points out that a background in sociology:

assists one in recognizing trends and patterns in society.

allows the development of critical thinking skills. encourages good research skills in data collection instructs in creating concise reports and essays. develops planning and organizational skills. presentation skills and interpersonal

augments oral communications.

enhances management skills and grant writing ability.

Sociology is useful in social and marketing research, sport development, psychology, law, human resources management, information science, journalism, and corporate communications, geography and environmental management, and development studies (University of Johannesburg 2007).

Topics in sociology are many. The range and scope of these topics can include things like culture, law, the economy, environment, education, gender and more. It's all about studying behaviour in different settings, comparing people of one particular group to those of another group. For example, sociology can affect the environment in various ways. Researchers study the relation between social factors and their effects on the environment. One study could investigate why people of a particular social group litter and why those in another do not. Education is also another big part of sociology. This is the study of how educational institutions play a role in social constructs. School systems usually mould people at a young age for better or for worse. Good schools usually lead to better societies while bad schools can lead to more crime in a social circle.