This document discusses the nature of social problems from a sociological perspective. It provides definitions of key concepts, including that sociology is the scientific study of human social relationships and groups. It outlines four criteria for something to be considered a social problem: 1) a real objective condition must exist, 2) people must subjectively perceive the condition as a problem, 3) it involves a gap between social ideals and realities, and 4) it must be seen as capable of collective solution. The sociological approach to analyzing social problems uses theory and research methods like case studies and surveys. Different theoretical perspectives like social disorganization and value conflict are also discussed.

1. SOCIAL PROBLEMS

2. SOCIOLOGY
“It is the scientific study of human social
relationships with special emphasis upon
groups and institutions.”
“The study of the origin, growth, structure and
characteristic of group, life and of associated
environmental, biological and psychological
factors”

3. THE NATURE OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Reab and Selznick
(1961)
“A problem with
human relationships
which seriously
threatens society or
impedes the
important
aspirations of many
people.”
Mckee and Robertson
(1975)“ A social problem exists
when a significant
number of people, or a
number of significant
people, perceive an
undesirable difference
between social ideas and
social realities and
believe that this
difference can be
eliminated by collective

4. THE NATURE OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS
For a social problem to exist, there must be a
real objective condition such as crime, drug
abuse or poverty.
There must be a subjective response in
people’s minds; they must perceive the
condition as presenting a problem.

5. THE NATURE OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Example:
Movements like Women’s Liberation, Pork Barrel,
Rallies, etc. these movements have attempted to
attract public attention by unusual methods, for
their adherents realize that unless the situation they
complain is widely perceived as a social problem,
no social action will be taken to solve it.
The visibility of a social problem depends, too, on
the willingness of the mass media to devote
publicity to it.

6. THE NATURE OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS
2. Social problems involve a gap between social ideals
and social reality.
The ideals of any society are based on the values and
attitudes of its people.
Values
shared ideas about what is desirable, such as a belief
in the sanctity of marriage, equal opportunity,etc.
Attitudes
are predispositions to responds favorably toward
particular people,events, or situations-

7. Such as 1. a feeling of prejudice against an
ethnic group.
2. Because social values and
attitudes are continually changing, gaisthe
gap between particular social ideals and
particular social realities also changes.
Sometimes closing, sometimes widening – it
results in the emergence of new social
problems and the disappearance of old ones.

8. THE NATURE OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Example:
The problem of environmental pollution provides an
example of how changing values and attitudes
contribute to the emergence of a new social
problem. We are now aware of environmental
pollution and take a very unfavorable attitude
toward industrial pollutants. The result is that
environmental pollution, a subject that did not
appear as a social problem a few years ago, is now
regarded as a critical social problem.

9. THE NATURE OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS
3. Social problem must be perceived as problems by a
significant number of people or by a number of
significant people.
No matter how undesirable a social condition
may seem to a few people, it cannot be regarded
as a social problem until it is subjectively
perceived as such either by a significant
proportion of the population or by a number of
people who occupy positions of power and
influence in society.

10. THE NATURE OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Example:
The problem of juvenile delinquency reveals this
importance both of significant numbers of people
and of numbers of significant people in leading
public opinion to perceive a social condition as a
social problem and then to confront that problem
collective action. Mckee and Robertson entertain
the view that a few highly significant individuals
such as a President or a Pope can place a “new”
social problem before a population in a single
speech.

11. THE NATURE OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS
4. Social problems must be regarded as capable of
solution through collective action.
All societies experience social conditions that they
recognize as undesirable, such as disease, war, or
a fume. But it is only when people believe that they
have the capacity to do something about these
conditions that the conditions are regarded as
social problems.

12. THE NATURE OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Example:
Collective action may take many forms. In
the extreme case, it can involve public
demonstrations, violence or even revolution,
but more commonly it involves the efforts of
interest groups to inform the public of the
issues at stake and to persuade those in
positions of authority to make the necessary
changes.

13. THE SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH
2 elements of sociologist employs in the
analysis of social problems.

14. THE SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH
Theory
It is a formulation of relationships or undying
principles of certain observed phenomena.
It implies considerable evidence in support of a
formulated general principle explaining the
operation of a certain phenomena.
Research
A careful, systematic investigation in some field of
knowledge, undertaken to discover facts.

15. THE SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH
Relationship between Theory and Research
“Theory can point the areas in which
research is likely to be fruitful and can
provide a basis for explanation and
prediction. Research findings, on the other
hand, can test theories which have been
worked out, can clarify theoretical concepts,
and can suggests new theoretical
formulations.”
Selltiz et. at. (1959)

16.  Research findings on the other hand, can
test theories which have been worked out,
can clarify theoretical concepts, and can
suggest new theoretical formulations or
extend old ones.
 To conduct research without theoretical
interpretation or to theorize without research
is to ignore the essential function of theory as
a tool for achieving economy of thought.

17. THE SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH
Research on Social Problems
The sociologist uses research both in gathering of
facts and testing of hypothesis to determine
whether they fit the facts..
Research on sociology generally uses one of
three methods. Each methods has it’s own
advantages and disadvantages and each is more
appropriate for some problems.
The three research methods are The Case Study,
The Sample Survey and The Experiment.
(Mckee and Robertson 1975)

18. THE SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH
Research on Social Problems
The Case Study
Sometimes called the Case History Technique, involves a comprehensive and
extensive examination of a particular individual , group or situation over a
period of time.
In making case studies the researcher often as a participant
observer,observes action and facts and maintains careful records of
significant events and observation
The Sample Surve,
A type of investigation where in only a
representative of group is chosen from a
particular “population” which may be a
school, an occupational group, ethnic
group or even a whole nation.
The Experimental
Method
Provides a given set of
conditions that prevails,
if one does this, that
will follow.

19. PERSPECTIVE IN SOCIAL PROBLEMS
A sociologist attempting to analyze and
interpret a social problem will use one or
more of the following perspective:
Social Disorganization
Value-Conflict
Deviance

20. PERSPECTIVE IN SOCIAL PROBLEMS
 Social Disorganization
The disruption or breakdown of a social system.
ex.social problems arise due to change in some
areas accompanied by failure in change in others
 Value-Conflict
A society which is rapidly changing because of
modern technology is expected to be composed of
many groups having different values and attitudes.
 Deviance
A product of both organization and disorganization.
ex .any conduct that violate social expectations

21. SOCIO LOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY

22.  Sociology-from Latin word-socius-society in
interaction.from Greek word-logos-means
society
 What are Sociology and Anthropology?
 Sociology is the science of society and the
social interaction taking place among
individuals in a social group.

23.  Focuses on all kinds of interaction:
 1.social acts
 2.social relationships
 3.social organizations
 4.social processes
 It is concerned with the recurrent and
repetitive forms of behavior,attitudes, beliefs,
values,norms,and social institutions which
make up the social order.

24.  Areas of concern of Sociology-(Hauser
1962:909-914)
 1.Social Organizations-it involves the study
of social groups,social institutions,ethnic
relations,social stratification,social
mobility,bureaucracy, family,law,
economy,work, agriculture,industry,
religion,politics, education etc.

25.  2. Social Psychology-This area studies
human nature and personality as the product
of group of life.It is also touches on the study
of social attitudes and collective behavior.
 3.Social Change and Social
disorganizationThis area is concerned with
change in culture and social relations nad the
attendant disruption that may occur.Social
reorganization is considered.

26.  4. Population-This analyzes population
number,compositions,change,and quality as
they influenced by the social,economic,and
political order.
 5.Human Ecology-deals with the human
behavior of a given population in relation to
its environment and emergence of the spatial
relations between the people and the
environment.

27.  6.Sociological theory and methods-includes
theory building and testing the applicability
of the principles of group life as the bases
for the prediction and controlof the
individuals social environment.
 7.Applied Sociology-makes us a of the
findings of pure sociological research on the
various aspects and problems of daily life,
as in criminology,community
development,family counseling,squatters

28.  What is Anthropology?
 Science of humanity and its society.Studies
the biological ,social and cultural
development of human kind and seeks
answers to why people are different and how
they are similar.

29. SUBDIVISIONS OF ANTHRO LINKED BY UNIFYING
THEMES (HOWARD AND HATTIS 1992:4-6)
 1. universalism-all people are fully and
equally human whether they belong to
indigenious groups such as aetas,mangyans
or are urbanized such as living in metro
manila cities.All people on earth belong to
one species,HOMO SAPIENS

30.  2. integration-view the various aspects of
life,like kinship and family,economy, arts,
politics as interwoven to form a social
whole.the influence of global markets on
small island societies as well as the strategic
concerns of foreign powers is also studied.

31.  3. Adaptation-study how humans are affected
by the surroundings or environment and what
adjustments they make.
 4.Holism-getting the whole picture of a
phenomenon and the application of
knowledge from different fields in order to
understand an aspect of behavior. Study
many aspects of human existence,both past
and present in all levels of complexity.
(ember and Ember)