SOCI 1002 - Introduction to Sociology I Lecture 1 PDF

SOCI 1002 – Introduction to Sociology I Lecture 1 04th September 2024 Today’s class: Introduction and overview of the course Course policies Coursework assessments Tutorials Introduction to Sociology Main concepts Note to Students: Exemptions with credit 1) All stu...

SOCI 1002 – Introduction to Sociology I Lecture 1 04th September 2024 Today’s class: Introduction and overview of the course Course policies Coursework assessments Tutorials Introduction to Sociology Main concepts Note to Students: Exemptions with credit 1) All students who have a Grade 1 or II in CAPE Unit 1 Sociology should apply to Student Admissions for an exemption with credit, i.e. they do not have to take this course. Course Assessments: 30% Coursework 1 multiple choice quiz – 20% 1 oral presentation – 10% 70% Final examination Notices and important dates 1) Always read the course outline on Myelearning 2) Tutorials will begin on Monday 16th September 2024 3) The MCQ will be taken through Myelearning 4) Tutors will set the MCQ quiz (due on Thursday 14th November from 6.00pm-11.55pm) 5) Oral presentations and class attendance assessments for course work marks will take place in the tutorial sessions 6) Tutors are responsible for marking oral presentations and class attendance Main Readings Haralambos, Michael and Martin Holborn. 2013. Sociology: Themes and Perspectives Mustapha, Nasser. 2013. Sociology for Caribbean Students 2nd ed. Kingston: Ian Randle Publishers. Reddock, Rhoda and Christine Barrow. 2001. Caribbean Sociology: Introductory Readings. Kingston: Ian Randle Publishers. Course structure and content Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Nature of sociology Definitions and origins Sociological research- Branches of of sociology primary and secondary sociology methods Characteristics of Development of society sociology/sociologi cal perspectives Social institutions Class Guidelines and policies  Respect your lecturers, tutors and peers at all times  Refrain from eating, drinking and chewing gum during lectures and tutorials.  Take away all personal material (including refuse) after class  Avoid leaving class early unless absolutely necessary  Cell calls and texting are not allowed during lectures and tutorials Class Guidelines (continued)  Attend all tutorials (a minimum of 75%) (Attendance of less than 75% may lead to debarment from the final examination)  Be punctual at all times  Avoid plagiarism (this means you must acknowledge the source/s or author/s of information, avoid using AI materials in any course assignment)  Seek assistance from Student Admissions, The Faculty Office, Department of Behavioural Sciences or responsible departments for administrative, financial and other non-teaching related matters Communication policy Please use your student email addresses for all correspondences Depending on the issue, please identify the course and tutorial times you belong to in the body of the email Email address: [email protected] (Main campus students) Email address: [email protected] (Nursing students)  What is Sociology? “The study of human behaviour in society” (Anderson and Taylor 2004) “The study of human behaviour as shaped by collective life” (Hues, Markson and Stein 1993). Collective life – groups/institutionalized practices “The study of human social life, groups and societies” (Giddens 1986) “The scientific analysis of the origin and development of human societies” (Mustapha 2018) Keywords: Study; human behaviour, human social life; societies ORIGINS French philosopher who AUGUSTE COMTE was trying to study the (1798-1857) changes in society occurring around him Studying society would lead to an understanding Social physics – Coined the term sociology of human behaviour, and attempted to apply (1834); a combination of eventually to predicting Positivism scientific principles to the ‘socio’ and ‘logos’ human behaviour and study of society societal change in the future Scientific rigour of the Empirical evidence; cause natural sciences applied “Truth” and effect  Empiricism to the study of society ORIGINS How societies were organized Behaviour and actions 17th, 18th The Scientific Drastic Institutions in society Revolution and the Roles and functions and 19th Age of changes of people and Enlightenment century French Revolution in institutions Culture; ways of Europe Industrial Revolution society: living; ways of interacting For example: Urbanization; secularization  Some key concepts: Society - Morris Ginsberg defines society as a collection of individuals united by certain relations or mode of behavior, which mark them off from others who do not enter into these relations, or who differ from them in behavior Sociology Socialization – the processes through which we (as individuals) learn to be members of a groups and the wider society Learn the norms, values, beliefs, traditions of the groups they belong to, as well as the wider society Two types of socialization  Primary socialization  Secondary socialization  Some key concepts: Social stratification – A form of social inequality. The presence of distinct social groups which are ranked one above the other in terms of factors such as wealth and prestige. Social Structure – How society is organized; the positioning of roles, institutions; groups; cultures of the society in relation to each other  Some key concepts: Research philosophy – belief systems or assumptions around research, how data is collected, analyzed and interpreted; how they contribute to knowledge Positivism – the use of scientific methods for the study of human behaviour Interpretivism - Social life is explained in terms of meanings people use to make sense of their experiences; reality and truth is subjective  Some key concepts: Methodology - the general approach in conducting research on your topic and determines what research method you will use Quantitative Qualitative Research Design – the blueprint for research