Last but not least, I would like to give examples and give my point of view on the word sociology, such as what does it mean to me! First, I would like to define and explain what sociology means to me! Sociology explores people and society. It examines our social institutions; our families, the state and social relationships like gender and ethnicity, to help make sense of how we both see and interpret our rapidly changing world. Sociology examines how our behavior individually and in groups is influenced by social processes and what that means.
Marx believed that societies grew and changed due to struggles of different social classes. Durkheim believed in studying the “social facts,” which would help determine if a society was healthy or pathological. Weber’s focus on the structure of society included the elements of class, status and power. Each sociologist had a great influence in the field of sociology, but took different approaches to studying societies. Sociology enables us to understand how society functions and under which circumstances.
If you simply want to take a look into the behaviors of individuals then you will want to use qualitative research methodology. However, if you want to look at the statistics or percentage aspects of a situation then it is important that you use the quantitative research methodology. Mixed method research is actually where the use of quantitative and qualitative research method is both being used together to conduct a research and using both forms of data to come to a conclusion. It is appropriate to use both if a researcher wants to look at an issue in a 360 degree manor meaning they would like to see how many people the issue is actually affecting, as well as why it is affecting them. Scientifically sound research actually supports the function of a human service manager because the results or findings of this research is often backed up and proved successful by science laws, as well as being backed up by facts.
The social action approach, argues that individuals experience the social world by interpreting their actions and interactions with others and the meaning they assign to social phenomena. The starting point for understanding society should be the individual as they are authors of their own ideas. Emphasis should be given to how shared meanings develop and how these influence the way individuals define, act and react to their environment. Opposing the social action approach are the structural theories. Structural theories such as functionalism and Marxism are macro (large scale), and deterministic: they see society as a real thing existing over and above us, shaping our ideas and behaviour – individuals are like puppets, manipulated by society.
Positivists and functionalists such as Durkheim and Comte view sociology as a science and they argue that sociology can discover all the social problems. This theory believes that the state serves the interest of everyone and policies must be introduced that fit everyone. For that reason they like piecemeal engineering, which is the idea of tackling one social problem at a time. However Marxists criticise this vies as they argue that educational policies are aimed at equalising opportunity but not reducing poverty; therefore this weakens the view given by the functionalists that the state serves the interests of everyone. However functionalist still believe that sociology and social policy now have a strong relationship.
Sarita Brown Chapter 1 Sociology explores and analyzes the ultimate issues of our personal lives, of society and the world. It's the science dealing with social forces that shape our lives, interests, and personalities. Sociologist dig deeper into the social life and the principles to explain human behavior as a whole. It also helps us to understand why we behave as we do. This is a necessary understanding because it brings about social change.
Social facts, positivists argue, can be observed, measured, and quantified, (hence why positivism is also known as Quantitative) producing data/statistics which, when analysed can reveal correlations, patterns of behaviour, causes (cause and effect), and ultimately, laws of human behaviour. By creating data through research methods such as structured interviews, questionnaires, and social surveys using a deductive approach to the relationship between theory and results, the emphasis is placed on the testing of theories. They also believe that it is important to examine society as a whole, using a large scale (macro) methodology, and consider social facts (institutions, beliefs, norms &values of society) to have an external existence to a person, but having an influence on behaviour, and the way a person acts. Therefore, it could be said that human beings essentially are directed by social facts, by norms, values and beliefs, and are part of wider society. Durkheim’s study of suicide being an example of this, he gathered data on suicide (social fact) and members of different religious beliefs (set), by analysis of such data and found a link between Protestantism and a high rate of suicide.
First, we would like present the accepted definition of sociology, and then relate it to our lives. Sociology, according to Henslin, is the scientific study of society and human behavior. With this definition of sociology, we can now relate it to our own lives. Many people, including ourselves have been brought up and raised with a certain set of values. This upbringing is called our culture.
Susan Mckinley Compare and contrast the views of Goffman and Foucault on how social order is produced. The many theories of social order are fundamental in social science research. This essay will explore the creation of social order and why it is important. It will examine the similarities and differences between the perspectives of Erving Goffman and Michael Foucault on how social order is produced whilst reflecting on how these perspectives relate to studies of social disorder. As a human, each one of us is an individual being with feelings, thoughts and experiences, living within our own physical body, but we are also social beings who need contact, support and interaction.
The term Sociological Imagination was originated by the prominent sociologist C. Wright Mills. Through his book we understand that the phrase 'Sociological Imagination' can be defined as the ability to understand how our personal thoughts, desires and actions are ultimately connected to our society. Through further readings we understand that our personal biographies are developed in emerging societies that are eventually going to be a part of history, and to some degree, that said history will become the foundation for future societies to come. With the use of Sociological Imagination we would qualify to take into consideration past historical events and their influence on our lives today which will ultimately allow for a better understand of the structure of our individual lives as well as society as a whole. Mills interpreted the Sociological Imagination as “the vivid awareness of the relationship between experience and the wider society” (Mills, 1959).