Slides of Introduction to Sociology

1. INTRODUCTION TO
SOCIOLOGYSince course is theoretical in nature Students
participation in class is expected. Participation does
not include:
Sleeping
Playing with mobile phones
Reading (even the textbook—except for note taking)
Writing anything not pertaining to this course
Talking
Etc.
Lack of participation will negatively impact on your
interest in the course.

2. WHAT IS
SOCIOLOGY?
Sociology is an academic discipline
Sociology focuses on our social
world
Sociology begins with the idea that
humans are to be understood in the
context of their social life, that we
are social animals influenced by
interaction, social patterns, and
socialization.

3. Meaning and definition of sociology
Etymologically, the term sociology is the combination of two
words
‘Socius’ (Latin) means society
‘logos’ (Greek)means study or science
sociology is the study of society or science of society.
the study of behaviours, relations, activities and interrelations
of human beings in the society and relating them to each other.
it emphasize on the study of human relations with political,
social, cultural and religious institutions
SOCIOLOGY

4. Sociology might be defined as
 a perspective
 and an academic discipline that
 examines the human being as a social being,
 who is a product of social interaction,
socialization, and social patterns.
 Sociology tries to concern itself with the nature
of the human being, the meaning and basis of
social order, and the causes and consequences of
social inequality.
 It focuses on society, social organization, social
institutions, social interaction, and social

5. Term Sociology is first time used by
French philosopher
Auguste Comte (1798-1857) in 1838 .
The Father of

6. In the development of
sociology
Herbert Spencer(British),
Max Weber(German),
Emile Durkheim(French)
and
Karl Marx(German)
played very important role,
so they are called founding

7. Sociology is the systematic study of social
behavior and human groups
It focuses primarily on the influence of social
relationships upon people’s attitudes and
behavior
how societies are established and changed
it deals with families, gangs, business firms,
computer networks, political parties, schools,
religions and labour unions
It is concerned with love, poverty, conformity,
technology, discrimination, illness, alienation,

8. DEFINITIONS:
1. “Sociology is the science of society.” – L.F.Ward
2. “Sociology is the study of human interaction and
interrelation, their conditions and consequences.” –
Ginsberg
3. “Sociology is about social relationship, the net of
relationship, we call society.”– Mac Iver& Page
4. “Sociology in its broadest sense may be said to be the
study of interactions arising from the association of living
beings.” – Gillin and Gillin
5. “Sociology deals with the behavior of man in groups.” –

9. Sociology is the science of society.
Sociology is the study of social life.
Sociology is the science of social relationships.
Sociology is the study of human behavior in
groups.
Sociology is the study of social actions.
Sociology is the study of forms of social
relationships.
Sociology is the study of social groups or
social systems.

10. HOME WORK
Develop the concept of
sociology
Learn its meaning and
definitions

11. NATURE OF SOCIOLOGY:
1. Sociology is an independent science:
2. Sociology is a social science and not a
physical science:
3. Sociology is a categorical and not a
normative discipline:
4. Sociology is pure science and not an applied
science:
. Robert Bierstadt ‘s book “Social
Order”.

12. 5. Sociology is relatively an abstract science not
a concrete science:
6. Sociology is a generalizing and not a
particularizing or individualizing science
7. Sociology is a general social science and not
a special social science:
8. Sociology is both rational and empirical
science:

13. SUBJECT MATTER OF SOCIOLOGY:
Sociology concern with the evolution of society and its historical
transformation.
Sociology has given sufficient attention to the study of primary units of social
life (social acts and social relationships, individual personality, groups of all
varieties, communities (urban, rural, tribal) associations, organizations and
populations)
concerned with the development, structure and functions of basic social
institutions such as the family and kinship religion and property, economic,
political, legal educational and scientific, recreational and welfare.
Study of social process (operation and competition, accommodation and
assimilation, social conflict including war and revolution, communication, social
stratification, socialization and indoctrination, social control and deviance
including crime, suicide, social integration and social change)
Sociology has placed high premium on method of research (Scientific method,
historical methods, analyze census data, social surveys, observations,
experiment etc.)
Sociologists are concerned with the task of formulating concepts, propositions

14. SCOPE OF SOCIOLOGY:
very broad, on expanding as time passes. no consensus among sociologist regarding
the scope of sociology.
two main schools of thought regarding the scope of sociology.
Particularistic / specialist/
formalistic school
(Max Weber, George Simmel and Ferdinand Tonnies )
Synthetic school
(Durkheim, Ginsberg, Sorokin and Hobhouse )

15. EMERGENCE OF SOCIOLOGY
It has a long past but only a short history
Factors contributed to the emergence of sociology
1. Ancient Philosopher’s contribution: (Plato’s Republic, Aristotle’s politics, kautilya’s
Arthashastra, Confucius’ Analects, cicero’s On Justice
2. Reformation movement: change the old ideas
3. Political revolutions: (French revo-1789)
4. Industrial revolution and rise of capitalism:
5. The enlightenment:
6. Religious change:
7. Inspiration form growth of natural sciences
8. Inspiration provided by the radical diverse societies and culture
of colonial empires.

16. METHODS OF SOCIOLOGY:
1. Comparative method:
2. The Historical method:
3. Statistical method:
5. Functional method:
6. Scientific method:

17. STEPS OR PROCEDURES IN
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Formulation and defining of problem
Formulation of hypothesis:
Observation and collection of data:
Analysis and synthesis:
Generalization:
Formulation of theory and law:

18. LIMITATION OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN
SOCIOLOGY:Lack of experiment:
Lack of objectivity
Problems in measurement.
Problems in reliability and validity
Lack of prediction.
Lack of universal law.
Problems in generalization.
Complexity in social facts.
Dynamism of subject of study:
Sociological theories are characterized by falsifiability

19. CONTRIBUTION OF FOUNDERS OF
SOCIOLOGY
Responsible for coining the term “sociology”
Set out to develop the “science of man” that would be based on
empirical observation
Focused on two aspects of society:
• Social Statics—forces which produce order and stability
• Social Dynamics—forces which contribute to social change
Auguste Comte (1798-
1857)
Believed that the major goal of sociology was to understand society as it
actually operates.
Comte favored positivism—a way of understanding based on science.
Comte saw sociology as the product of a three-stage historical development:
 The theological stage, in which thought was guided
by religion.
 The metaphysical stage, a transitional phase.
 The scientific stage

20. HERBERT SPENCER
(1820-1903) Authored the first sociology text, Principles
of Sociology
Most well known for proposing a doctrine
called “Social Darwinism”
•Suggested that people who could not compete
were poorly adapted to the environment and
inferior
•This is an idea commonly called survival of the
fittest