Sociology Chapter 1

What is a theory?

A theory is a general statement about how facts are related to one another. A theory provides a conceptual framework for interpreting facts.

How do sociologists use Verstehen and social facts to study human behavior?

According to Weber, to understand why people act as they do, sociologists must try to put themselves in their shoes. He used the German verb Verstehen, "to grasp by insight," to describe this essentially subjective approach. Although not denying the importance of Verstehen, Emile Durkheim emphasized the importance of uncovering social facts, social conditions that influence how people behave. Contemporary sociologists use both approaches to understand human behavior.

What is the difference between basic (or pure) and applied sociology?

Basic sociology is the sociological research whose purpose is to make discoveries. Applied sociology is the use of sociology to solve problems.

What is science, and where does sociology fit in?

Science is the application of systematic methods to obtain knowledge and knowledge obtained by those methods. The sciences are divided into the natural sciences, which seek to explain and predict events in the natural environment, and the social sciences, which seek to understand the social world objectively by means of controlled and repeated observations. Sociology is the scientific study of society and human behavior.

Should the purpose of social research be only to advance human understanding or also to reform society?

Sociologists agree that research should be objective, that is, the researcher's values and beliefs should not influence conclusions. But sociologists do not agree on the uses and purposes of social research. Some say that its purpose to be only to advance understanding of human behavior; others that its goal should be to reform harmful social arrangements.

What was the position of women and minorities in early sociology?

Sociology developed during a historical period of deep sexism and racism, and the contributions of women and minorities were largely ignored. The few women, such as Harriet Martineau, and minorities such as W. E. B. Du Bois, who received the education necessary to become sociologists felt the sting of discrimination.

When did sociology first appear as a separate discipline?

Sociology emerged as a separate discipline in the mid 1800s in western Europe, during the onset of the Industrial Revolution. Industrialization affected all aspected of human existence- where people lived, the nature of their work, their relationships, and how they viewed life. Early sociologists who focused on these social changes include: Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, Harriet Martineau, and W. E. B. Du Bois.

What trends are likely to have impact on sociology?

Sociology has gone through three phases: the first was an emphasis on reforming society; the second had its focus on basic sociology; the third, today's phase is taking us closer to our roots and applying sociology to social change. Public sociology is the most recent example of this change. A second major trend, globalization, is likely to broaden sociological horizons, refocusing research and theory away from its concentration on US society.

What are sociology's major theoretical perspectives?

Symbolic interactions- examine how people use symbols to develop and share their values of the world. Symbolic interactionists usually focus on a micro level (face to face) Functionalists- focus on the macro level. They stress that a social system is made up of parts. When working properly; each part fulfills a function that contributes to a system's stability. Conflict theorists- focus on a large scale. They stress that society is composed of competing groups that struggle for scarce resources.

When were the first academic departments of sociology established in the USA?

The earliest departments of sociology were established in the late 1800s at the universities of Kansas, Chicago, and Atlanta.

What is the sociological perspective?

The sociological perspective stresses that people's social experiences- the groups to which they belong and their experiences within these groups- underlie their behavior. C. Wright Mills referred to this as the intersection of biography (the individual) and history (social factors that influence the individual.