1 Word notes SOCIOLOGY
SOCIOLOGY
SHJC
SPRING 2015
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY
SOCIOLOGY:
Is the science that makes theories about social relations
Theories are tentative explanations of the world we can see or measure
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY Sociological Theories have certain common characteristics:
1. They are always tentative, thorough and economical
2. They should be true
3. They must be tested against the world we can observe or measure
4. They should be relevant to every day life and they should not be obvious
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Sociology Contrasted With Other Disciplines:
1. Sociology is different from Journalism and History. Both Journalism and History describe real events and usually base their descriptions on a hidden theory. Sociology is different. It reveals and states its theories, in order to test them
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY
2. Sociology differs from philosophy. Both Sociology and Philosophy use logic to make and test theories by means of logical deduction. Theorizing is quite different in these two fields. Sociological theories must stand up logically, but they must also stand up to measureable reality in a way philosophical theories need not
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY
3. Sociology differs from Psychology. Psychologists study the behavior of individual humans (or, occasionally, animals) under varying experimental conditions. Sociologists study a social relationship or group relationships observed in nature: for example, the family, club, organizations or total society
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY Sociology is concerned with making scientifically valid theories about social relations. These theories should be “scientific” in the usual meaning of the word.
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Some Methodological Difficulties
1. Sociologists can rarely, if ever, experiment on groups or families, let alone societies. The Sociologist must use a large variety of research methods.
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY
2. The existence of competing paradigms. Paradigms are ways of thinking. Different paradigms
SHJC
SPRING 2015
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY
SOCIOLOGY:
Is the science that makes theories about social relations
Theories are tentative explanations of the world we can see or measure
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY Sociological Theories have certain common characteristics:
1. They are always tentative, thorough and economical
2. They should be true
3. They must be tested against the world we can observe or measure
4. They should be relevant to every day life and they should not be obvious
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Sociology Contrasted With Other Disciplines:
1. Sociology is different from Journalism and History. Both Journalism and History describe real events and usually base their descriptions on a hidden theory. Sociology is different. It reveals and states its theories, in order to test them
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY
2. Sociology differs from philosophy. Both Sociology and Philosophy use logic to make and test theories by means of logical deduction. Theorizing is quite different in these two fields. Sociological theories must stand up logically, but they must also stand up to measureable reality in a way philosophical theories need not
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY
3. Sociology differs from Psychology. Psychologists study the behavior of individual humans (or, occasionally, animals) under varying experimental conditions. Sociologists study a social relationship or group relationships observed in nature: for example, the family, club, organizations or total society
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY Sociology is concerned with making scientifically valid theories about social relations. These theories should be “scientific” in the usual meaning of the word.
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Some Methodological Difficulties
1. Sociologists can rarely, if ever, experiment on groups or families, let alone societies. The Sociologist must use a large variety of research methods.
SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIETY
2. The existence of competing paradigms. Paradigms are ways of thinking. Different paradigms