Sociology Studies Quiz

Study Notes

Sociology

Overview

Sociology is a social science that deals with the study of human societies, their interactions, and the processes that preserve and change them. As a comprehensive, systematic body of knowledge that includes theories, principles, and methods, sociology offers valuable insights into various aspects of human existence. Its main focus is on understanding how individuals and groups behave, relate, and impact their environments.

Key Elements

Some of the key elements studied in sociology include:

Institutions: Economic, religious, educational, and political institutions, as well as more specialized ones like families, communities, militaries, peer groups, clubs, and volunteer associations.
Organizational structures: Basic organizational structures that affect the behavior of persons include economic, religious, educational, and political institutions.
Social status or stratification: Sociology examines how individuals are classified based on their social position and how these classifications shape society.
Social movements: The study of collective efforts by groups seeking change within society.
Social change: Examining the processes through which societies evolve over time.
Criminology: The study of crime, deviance, and rehabilitation strategies.
Media dependency theory: Investigating how communication technologies shape our relations and impact society.

Historical Development

Sociology emerged from the Western tradition of rational inquiry established by the ancient Greeks, and it is often viewed as a reaction against speculative philosophy and folklore. The discipline was coined by French philosopher Auguste Comte in the 19th century but has undergone significant changes and developments over time. It has been divided into four main periods: the establishment of the discipline from the late 19th century until World War I, interwar consolidation, explosive growth from 1945 to 1975, and the subsequent period of segmentation.

Methodology

Sociology research papers require a deep understanding of the subject and the ability to gather information from multiple sources. They typically follow the format used in reports and are based on interviews, data, and text analysis. Sociology research papers need to apply the topic of current events in at least some parts of the piece, comparing different sociologist's points of view and how/why they state certain things and data. A research paper in sociology also requires some kind of field research such as interviews, observational and participant research, and others.