SOCIOLOGY: Introduction Concept Definition Origin Purpose Methods Significance

 Introduction

You'll understand why the world today is characterized by high levels of fear, stress, and anxiety about the future, despite the fact that the future contains many promises. In actuality, tensions, societal divisions, daily confrontations, international terrorism, assassinations, and the destructive actions of modern technology on the existing natural environment characterize the world today. Despite these issues, people still have the certainty and possibilities of directing their destiny and ensuring that their lives are shaped for the better, something that previous generations may not have been able to achieve. Why is there such a clear distinction? What will the future bring in terms of change? Sociology is concerned with these and other issues. It is in Sociology best interests to guarantee that it continues to play an important role in modern times [i.e. understanding why people change from a particular way to another]. This is what causes the field of sociology to be so interested in people's actions throughout time. 

Definition of Sociology

Sociology is similar to other social sciences such as psychology, economics, geography, and political science, but its methodology, assumptions, and methods differ to some extent. 

Sociology is the systematic study of the groups and societies in which people live, how social structures and cultures are created and maintained or changed, and how they affect our behaviour.  

As previously stated, sociology is a branch of the social sciences that covers psychology, anthropology, geography, political science, and some aspects of history. Human behavior is at the heart of all social sciences. Despite the fact that they all study behavior, each Social Science focuses on a different aspect of it. For example, psychologists are most interested in the internal sources of behavior, whereas sociologists are more interested in the external sources of behavior. Psychologists research the nervous system's functions as well as the effects of neurotransmitters, hormones, and stress on individuals. Sociologists study society's inner workings and the consequences of socioeconomic class, gender roles, age, new technologies, shifting attitudes regarding hazardous behavior, and political revolutions on people. Psychologists study personality, or the traits of a person's behavior and attitudes that are present in all contexts. Sociologists study roles, or the behaviors and attitudes that are common among persons in a specific social position or scenario, regardless of their personal characteristics. Anthropology shares Sociology's concern in the impact of social structure and culture on behavior; however, anthropologists typically examine non-western societies, pre-literate societies, small groupings, or rural communities. Sociologists analyze communities and small groups as well, but they also look at modern industrial society and large-scale issues. 

Economists and political scientists focus on specific types of social activity, but sociologists study the nature of social action and how diverse types of activities interact to form society's greater pattern. 

Sociologists are particularly interested in the intersections of social structure and culture. Social institutions are one of them. The family, education, religion, political and economic systems are all examples of social institutions, which are established patterns of behavior and thought that organize major social activities. These institutions give ready-made solutions to life's recurring challenges, such as how to make communal decisions (political system), how to manufacture and distribute products and services (economic system), how to organize families and provide child care (family), and so on. 

Origin of Sociology 

When considering the roots of sociology, it's necessary to consider the contributions of a few founding fathers. Max Weber's and August Compe's contributions will be taken into account.  

Weber, Max (1864-1920) Max Weber was one of the founding fathers of sociology, and his work has had a significant impact on the field's study. Sociology, according to his definition, is a science of social action. He distinguished between personal action and communal action. To him, action encompasses all human behavior in the sense that the actor assigns a subjective meaning to it; yet, in the case of social action, the actor does not just and typically assign a subjective meaning to it; the action itself must also be seen to take into account the behavior of others (1968: 1,4).

Durkheirn, Emily (18S8 - 19l7) One of the first sociologists is this individual. Emily Durkheim addressed two sorts of social solidarity in her work. Durkheim defined 'Solidarity' as the moral attitudes and concepts that underpin social existence. Organic solidarity derived from agreement to tolerate a range of differences, conflict being moderated through a variety of institutional arrangements, such as courts, political parties, etc. Mechanical solidarity (characteristic of pre-industrial societies) was said to be based on agreement and identity between people; mechanical solidarity (characteristic of pre-industrial societies) was said to be based on agreement and identity between people. 

Sociology's Purpose 

The study of sociology encompasses a wide range of topics, from observing and analyzing interpersonal interactions to conducting scientific analyses of global social processes such as globalisation and information technology; globalisation and long-term economic development.

Sociological methods

Sociologists employ mostly scientific methods to find facts about human beings in order to comprehend human behavior. The following are the most common scientific tools used in sociological research:

• Survey
• Archival research
• Participant observation

Surveys

A survey is a way of gathering data from people about their behavior, opinions, and beliefs in a systematic manner. Subjects for surveys are carefully chosen to represent the population on which the researcher seeks to draw conclusions. A survey's subjects can be interviewed in person or over the phone, or they can complete a self-administered paper-and-pencil or computerized questionnaire. The questions in a survey are carefully prepared to generate the precise information that the investigator is looking for, regardless of the mode of data collecting. In most surveys, respondents are asked to choose from a set of response options provided by the researchers.

Archival research

Research in the Archives Some thorough nationwide surveys publish the questions and results so that other researchers who were not engaged in the study can do their own analyses of the data. Results released in this manner are referred to as archived, and study based on these findings is referred to as archival research. Archival research, on the other hand, makes use of existing documents that were initially obtained for a different purpose as data. Census data, birth records, test scores from schools, clinics, and enterprises, criminal records, and personal materials like diaries and letters might all be examined in an archival study.

Participant Observation

Eduard Linteman (1924), a sociology professor at the University of Chicago, invented the term "participant observer" to describe people who belong to a group and report on it to investigators. The phrase is still used today, but it now refers to a researcher who interacts with members of a group for the goal of researching them. The level to which participants observers are involved with their subjects, as well as the methods they utilize to get access to their subjects' environments, differs from study to study. Researchers may spend long amounts of time with the individuals they research, enjoying a variety of life experiences with them, or the data may be acquired in a very short period of time through one or a few intensive interviews. Deception has been used by some investigators to obtain entry to groups by posing as regular group members. Others identify themselves as researchers right away, expecting that the people they'll be studying will give them access to information that's generally only available to insiders.

Significance of Sociology

The following is a list of sociology's practical implications:

• It allows for a better and more complete comprehension of social circumstances.
• It has practical ramifications in terms of evaluating the outcomes of policy initiatives.
• It allows for the fostering of cultural awareness among the various groups in society.
• It encourages great self-awareness, among other things.

Sociology's Social Issues Sociology is interested in a wide range of social concerns. Some of these social difficulties do lead to problems, as listed below: Rape Robbery with a weapon Assassination AIDS/HIV Terrorism Prostitution Boys' syndrome in war-torn areas, etc.