Problems of Studying Sociology

INTRODUCTION Sociology is the science that studies human society, social behaviour and social life. Sociology as a social science has equally usefulness and limitations. This paper discusses the usefulness of sociology and outlines its major limitations as a science. To discuss the question the paper is framed around introduction major terms, the discussion of the usefulness of sociology, outline the major limitations as a science and finally conclude.
DEFINITIONS AND MEANING Sociology is the scientific study of man’s behaviour in relation to other groups and individuals with whom he interacts or the scientific study of human social life, groups and societies. Similarly, La Vern defined as the study of human society and social behaviour. However, Giddens defined sociology as the systematic study of human societies, giving special emphasis to modern and industrialized systems besides being a social science that concerns itself with understanding of human behaviour. The three social scientists have all recognised that sociology is a science. Science is the use of systematic methods of empirical investigation, the analysis of data, theoretical thinking and logical assessment of arguments to develop a body of knowledge about a particular theme. Similarly, Macionis defined science as a logical system that bases knowledge on systematic observation. Giddens definition of science endorsed sociology as a scientific endeavour for the reason that it engages systematic methods of empirical investigations, analysis of data and assessment of theories in the light of evidence and logical arguments. Sociology is one of the social sciences including economics, human geography and psychology that in the process of study attempts to explain and understand the behaviour of human beings in society. It is studied because it has usefulness as a scientific discipline.
USEFULNESS OF SOCIOLOGY Sociology arose out of the need to understand the structure, changes and development