Chapter 1-3 What is Sociology?
Introduction
Introduction to Sociology
Daron R. Simpson
What is Sociology?
Sociology looks at a broad range of institutions (structures in our society, like education, economics, politics) to better understand social relationships.
Thinking like a sociologist
Sociology: the SCIENTIFIC study of human social life, groups, and societies the Sociological perspective:
(1) the sociological imagination
(2) a scientific approach
(3) debunking conventional wisdom
(4) diversity
Sociology or Common Sense/Conventional Wisdom?
The earnings of US women are about 78% of US men’s earnings.
Most people on welfare are white and would prefer to work.
Violence is lower now than a decade ago.
When talking, women maintain more eye contact than men.
The number of places to purchase alcohol does not increase alcohol related injuries and fatalities on US highways.
Couples who do not live together before they marry usually report higher satisfaction with their marriages than couples who cohabitate.
Why Study Sociology?
Gain a better understanding of ourselves and our social world.
Helps us see how behavior is shaped by the society in which we live.
Helps us look beyond personal experiences and gain insight into the larger world order.
Levels of Analysis
Sociologists can use different levels of analysis to explore social relationships:
Microsociology:
Macrosociology:
The Macro-Micro Continuum (Figure 1.3)
The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology, 2nd Edition
Copyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company
Auguste Comte
The “father of sociology”
Argued for the empirical study of society
Analyzed social statics and dynamics
Emile Durkheim,1858-1917
Durkheim:
Social facts: we can study aspects of social life in a scientific manner
(ex. Hoarders)
Suicide (1897)
Anomie
Karl Marx,1818-83
Class conflict
Economic Determinism
False consciousness
Class consciousness
Alienation
Max Weber (“Vaber”), 1864-1920
Agreed that the economy is
Introduction to Sociology
Daron R. Simpson
What is Sociology?
Sociology looks at a broad range of institutions (structures in our society, like education, economics, politics) to better understand social relationships.
Thinking like a sociologist
Sociology: the SCIENTIFIC study of human social life, groups, and societies the Sociological perspective:
(1) the sociological imagination
(2) a scientific approach
(3) debunking conventional wisdom
(4) diversity
Sociology or Common Sense/Conventional Wisdom?
The earnings of US women are about 78% of US men’s earnings.
Most people on welfare are white and would prefer to work.
Violence is lower now than a decade ago.
When talking, women maintain more eye contact than men.
The number of places to purchase alcohol does not increase alcohol related injuries and fatalities on US highways.
Couples who do not live together before they marry usually report higher satisfaction with their marriages than couples who cohabitate.
Why Study Sociology?
Gain a better understanding of ourselves and our social world.
Helps us see how behavior is shaped by the society in which we live.
Helps us look beyond personal experiences and gain insight into the larger world order.
Levels of Analysis
Sociologists can use different levels of analysis to explore social relationships:
Microsociology:
Macrosociology:
The Macro-Micro Continuum (Figure 1.3)
The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology, 2nd Edition
Copyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company
Auguste Comte
The “father of sociology”
Argued for the empirical study of society
Analyzed social statics and dynamics
Emile Durkheim,1858-1917
Durkheim:
Social facts: we can study aspects of social life in a scientific manner
(ex. Hoarders)
Suicide (1897)
Anomie
Karl Marx,1818-83
Class conflict
Economic Determinism
False consciousness
Class consciousness
Alienation
Max Weber (“Vaber”), 1864-1920
Agreed that the economy is