Introduction to Sociology Chapter 1

1. Emblem of Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women
Sociology
Chapters 1
Introduction to Sociology

2. Emblem of Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women
What is sociology?
The scientific study of social structure and
social human behavior
It assumes a group, not an individual
perspective
Sociologists look for patterns in social
relationships

3. Emblem of Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women
Perspective
A particular point of view
Sociological Perspective is a view that
looks at behavior of groups, not
individuals
Examples-fans at a Green Bay Packers
football game will sit in below
freezing temperatures, snow, wind or
sleet to watch their team play.

4. Emblem of Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women
The Social Sciences
Anthropology-the study of culture, beliefs, norms and
material traits of groups. Most like Sociology
Psychology-investigates human mental and emotional
processes
Political Science-investigates the organizations and history
of governments
History-examines the past in human history

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Patterns
Patterned relationships-looks at the same place
(school) in different states and can conclude a
patterned relationship called social structures.
Example: High Schools across the USA have a pattern
of social structure as all teachers teach from lesson
plans, students study, take notes, take a test.

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Acquiring the Sociological Imagination
• C. Wright Mills (1959) said that
“sociological imagination is the ability of
individuals to see the link between
events in their personal lives and events
in society”.

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Acquiring the Sociological Imagination (2).
An example would be the current general belief
that in the US if a couple does not have children
they are viewed as selfish.
This change in attitude has evolved from families
needing many children to help work-either in
family farms, businesses or for economic need.

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The Origins of Sociology
Sociology begins in the late
nineteenth century as a
result of the changes the
Industrial and the French
Revolutions bring to
society.
Problems in cities such as
poverty, homelessness,
abuse, child labor,
drunkenness, accidents on
the job, ect

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AUGUSTE COMTE
Called the Father of Sociology
He called the scientific observation in
the study of social behavior positivism.
it is what we can be sure of as true
Social Dynamics-the study of social
changes

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Theoretical Perspectives
A set of assumptions about the workings of society
Functionalism-approach the emphasizes the contributions
made by each part of society. Tends to seek stability,
trends
Examples-Family-cares for the reproduction and care of its
new members

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Conflict Perspective
This emphasizes conflict, change, and
constraint within a society.
Example-this group sees living as a contest-
who gets and has the most power?

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Symbolic Interaction
People’s interpretations of symbols are based on
the meanings they learn from others
Example-the American Flag-depending on which
group of people their view would be different.

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Dramaturgy
This depicts human interaction in theatrical
performances, first introduced by Erving
Goffman

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Research Methods
Surveys are a research method where people respond to
questions.
Population is a group of people with certain specified
characteristics.
Sample is a group of people that represent a larger population.
Representative sample is a sample that accurately reflects the
characteristics of the population as a whole. (Census)

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Gathering Information
Questionnaire is a written set of questions to be answered
by a research participant.
Interview is a survey method where a trained researcher
asks questions and records the answers.
Closed-ended questions are questions a person must
answer by choosing from a limited, predetermined set of
responses.

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Field Research
This is research that takes place in a natural (non
laboratory) setting.
Case study is an intensive study of a single group, incident,
or a community.
Participant observation is a case study where the
researcher becomes a member of the group being studied.