chapter 1 sociology: a unique way to view the world © pine forge press, an imprint of sage...
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Chapter 1Chapter 1Sociology:Sociology:
A Unique Way to A Unique Way to View the WorldView the World
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Why is the social world important?
Humans are fundamentally social beingsThe social world is not just outside us; we also carry it within usWe take social patterns for granted as routine, ordinary, and expected Without socially shared expectations, life would be chaoticIndividuals and the social world mutually influence one another
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
What is sociology?
Sociology: the scientific study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior Sociologists ask questions such as:
Why and how do people and groups interact with one another? How are different groups or societies organized? How do they deal with conflict and change?How do changes in one society affect other societies?
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Sociologists study groups of all sizesDyads (e.g., a romantic couple)
Small groups (e.g., a family)
Large groups (e.g., the auto industry)
Nations (e.g., the U.S.)
The global society (the world as an interdependent entity)
What is sociology?
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Underlying assumptions of sociologyPeople are social by nature
People live most of their lives in groups
Interactions between people and groups are reciprocal: each influences the other
Groups feature recurrent social patterns, ordered behavior, shared expectations, and common understandings
Conflict and change are inevitable
What is sociology?
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Sociology vs. Common SenseCommon sense ideas seem sensible to any reasonable person; they are taken for granted and rarely questioned
Sociology uses scientific methods to test ideas, including common sense assumptions
Scientific methods involve analyzing evidence in a way that is planned, objective, systematic, and repeatableMany common sense ideas are challenged by scientific evidence
What is sociology?
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
The sociological imaginationDefined by C. Wright Mills as understanding individual problems to be rooted in broader social or public issuesFor example …
How do social factors influence layoff rates and personal experiences of unemployment? How have social factors shaped the causes and rates of divorce?
What is sociology?
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Questions sociologists do and don’t askSociologists don’t ask questions that require philosophical or moral judgments
Sociologists do ask questions that can be studied objectively and scientifically
e.g., sociologists may study a group’s religious beliefs, but they do not make judgments about whether the beliefs are right or wrong
Applied sociologists conduct research to create change, for instance through social policy or by helping organizations solve problems
What is sociology?
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Comparing the social sciencesAll study aspects of human behavior and social life, but each has a different focus:
Cultural anthropology: the culture or way of life of a society
Psychology: individual behavior and mental processes
Political Science: government systems and power
Economics: economic conditions and how people organize, produce, and distribute goods
Sociology: human interaction, groups, and social structure
What is sociology?
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
What Do Sociologists Do—and Why?
Essential ingredients in sociological study:
Ability to observe what is happening in the social world
Desire to understand and explain why it is happening
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
What Do Sociologists Do—and Why?
Some practical rewards of sociological study:
Self-awareness and self-improvement
Better understanding of social situations
Objective, systematic understanding of problems
Understanding of diverse cultural perspectives
Ability to assess the impact of social policies
Appreciation of the complexities of social life
Useful skills
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
What sociologists doWork in colleges and universities
Teach, conduct research
Work in social service organizationsAddress interpersonal relations or deviant behavior
Work in businessAddress organizational needs or human resources
Work in government Provide data for policy and planning
What Do Sociologists Do—and Why?
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Useful skills honed in sociological trainingCommunication & interpersonal
Analysis and research
Computer/technical
Flexibility
Leadership
Sensitivity to diversity
Organizing and planning
Conceptual, problem-solving
Personal values
What Do Sociologists Do—and Why?
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
The Social World Model
Levels of analysis: size of the social groups being considered, from the smallest to the largest
Understanding sociology requires understanding multiple levels of analysis
The social world model allows us to picture levels of analysis in our social environment as an interconnected series of small groups, organizations, institutions, and societies
Important question: How do the levels connect or conflict with one another?
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
The Social World Model
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Social StructuresSocial units: interconnected parts of the social worldSocial structure: a particular combination of social units that orders our livesSocial institutions: provide the rules, roles, and relationships to meet human needs and guide human behaviorNational society: a population of people living in a specified area with a common political authority, many common ideas, and a social structure and institutions
The Social World Model
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Social ProcessesSocial processes: actions taken by people in social units. For example,
Process of socialization: how we learn to be productive members of society
Process of stratification: process of layering people on the basis of birth, income, or other factors
Process of change: every social unit is continually changing, and change in each unit affects others
The Social World Model
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
The EnvironmentThe environment: the setting that surrounds and influences each social unit
e.g., physical, organizational, or technological setting
Each unit has its own distinctive environment, to which it must adjustTo understand a social unit, we must consider not only the structure and processes within the unit, but also its interaction with the surrounding environment
The Social World Model
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Studying the Social World: Levels of AnalysisThe social world can be studied at many levels:
Micro-level (individuals and small groups)• Importance: micro interactions form the basis of
all social organizations
Meso-level (intermediate size units)• Importance: helps explain relations among
institutions, organizations, and large groups
Macro-level (nations, global & international trends)• Importance: helps explain how larger social forces
shape everyday life
Each level adds depth to a topic
The Social World Model
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Levels of Analysis
The Social World Model
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Which level of analysis would you use to examine each of the following questions?
How do couples divide housework responsibilities?
Which factors determine the percentage of women in political power in a certain country?
Does the size of a school’s sports stadium matter for students who are choosing a college?
The Social World Model
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Answer: All three questions could be studied from any of the levels, or from a combination of levels
The Social World Model