Understanding Sociology

• Sociology examines human society and social behavior.
• It studies social structures, interactions, and institutions.
• Sociology seeks to understand societal organization and the causes/consequences of social phenomena.

Core Concepts

• Social structure includes culture, class, institutions, and social roles.
• Social structure influences and limits available choices.
• Social interaction involves people acting and reacting to each other.
• Social interaction forms the basis for social structures.
• Social institutions are norms and subsystems supporting societal survival.
• The economy, government, family, education, and religion are social institutions.
• Culture includes shared beliefs, values, norms, symbols, and objects.
• Culture is transmitted through learning.

Major Theoretical Perspectives

• Functionalism emphasizes the interconnectedness of society's parts.
• Solidarity and stability are promoted via the parts working together in a complex system.
• Émile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons, and Robert Merton are key figures in functionalism.
• Manifest functions are the recognized and intended consequences of social patterns.
• Latent functions are the unrecognized and unintended consequences of social patterns.
• Conflict theory focuses on social inequalities and power struggles.
• Conflict theory examines how dominant groups maintain privilege.
• Karl Marx, Max Weber, and W.E.B. Du Bois are key figures in conflict theory.
• Class, race, and gender are highlighted in issues of social stratification.
• Symbolic interactionism examines how people create meaning through interaction.
• Micro-level interactions and symbols are key to understanding and interpreting the world.
• George Herbert Mead, Charles Cooley, and Erving Goffman are key figures.
• Symbols, language, and nonverbal communication shape social reality.

Research Methods

• Surveys collect data through questionnaires or interviews.
• Attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are researched through the use of surveys.
• Surveys can be quantitative (numerical) or qualitative (descriptive).
• Experiments investigate cause-and-effect relationships.
• One or more variables are manipulated.
• Experiments are often conducted in a lab.
• Observational studies record behavior in natural settings.
• Participant observation involves the researcher joining the group being studied.
• Non-participant observation means the researcher observes from a distance.
• Interviews involve direct conversations to gather in-depth data.
• Structured interviews follow predetermined questions.
• Unstructured interviews allow for open-ended discussion.
• Content analysis systematically analyzes communication content.
• Patterns, themes, and meanings within texts or media are found through content analysis.

Key Sociological Topics

• Socialization is the process of learning norms, values, and behaviors.
• Socialization occurs throughout life.
• Agents of socialization include family, school, peers, and media.
• Deviance violates social norms and elicits negative reactions.
• Theories of deviance include strain, labeling, and social control theory.
• Social stratification is a hierarchical arrangement based on wealth, power, and prestige.
• Social stratification creates inequality and affects access to resources.
• Class, caste, and slavery are systems of stratification.
• Social change transforms social structures, institutions, and culture.
• Technological innovation, social movements, and economic shifts drive social change.
• Globalization is the increasing interconnectedness of societies.
• Advancements in communication, transportation, and technology facilitate globalization.
• Globalization has positive and negative consequences.

Applications of Sociology

• Sociological research informs public policy development and evaluation.
• Insights are provided into social problems and potential solutions for public policy.
• Social work uses sociological concepts to understand and address needs.
• Sociology of education examines education's role and impact.
• Education practices and policies are informed by the sociology of education.
• Organizational sociology studies the structure and functioning of organizations.
• Workplace dynamics, leadership, and management are better understood.
• Criminology uses sociological theories of crime and deviance.
• Criminology helps to understand the causes of crime and develop prevention strategies.

Emerging Trends

• Digital sociology explores the impact of digital technologies and social media.
• Environmental sociology examines the relationship between humans and the environment.
• Medical sociology studies the social factors influencing health and illness.
• Urban sociology focuses on the social, economic, and political aspects of urban life.
• Social network analysis investigates social structures using networks and graph theory.
• Nodes and links characterize networked structures.