S O C I O LO GY A S A D I S C I P L I N E

WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?
Some definitions of sociology, of which there are many, include the following:
1. A systematic study of social relations
2. The study of human behavior and interaction of people in wider society.
3. An objective study of human social interaction
4. The scientific study of social life.
5. The science of human companionship
6. Sociology is a study of social structure
7. The study of interaction among people and of the effect of this interaction
on human behavior
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIOLOGY
SOCIOLOGY IS NOT COMMON SENSE

Common sense is subjective!

Common sense reasoning leads to

conclusions that are contradictory and contrary to objective facts.

Sociology

makes a systematic search for facts by gathering knowledge, categorizing and

keeping record of observations
SOCIOLOGY IS SCIENTIFIC

Sociology is scientific in its method in that it employs the scientific

approach to investigations. Scientific Approach:
a. Takes sample [rigorously chosen]

b. Carefully observes the sample through techniques of observation [e.g.

participant observation]
c. Sets up hypothesis
d. Tests hypothesis [accepts or reject]
e. Looks at relationships between variables
f. Arrives at conclusions and makes generalizations
SOCIOLOGY IS ABOUT HUMAN INTERACTION

Sociology is about human interaction in social settings. This interaction

may take place at a variety of levels of complexity. At the level of the individual
the following types of interaction are possible: (see diagram 1)
a. Individual interacts with individual
b. Individual interacts with group [interaction within groups and among
groups]
c. Individual interacts with social institution
d. Individual interacts with society.
Society is a web of social interaction. It may be viewed as an aggregate
of individuals, groups and institutions among whom social relationships exist.
These institutions constitute social practices that are regular, repeated and
predictable.

FIGURE 1:SOCIOLOGY AND HUMAN INTERACTION

2. Recreation

1.Legal
system

3.Family

Sociology and
human
interaction

5. Church
(religion)

4.Education

IMPORTANCE OF SOCIOLOGY
Sociology provides a systematic and rigorous analysis of society with a
view to explain social reality. It proclaims need for order and continuity just as it
demonstrates the need for change and progress.
Sociologists can contribute to social development as
1. Advisors to government on social and welfare policy, rural and urban
development programs, housing programs, family law, education, and
population policy.
2. Providing the theoretical tools and sociological imagination to identify
fundamental problems of society and those policies, which may lead to an
increase in social justice.

3. Initiators of dialogue in society about both social problems and appropriate

social action to be taken.
4. Agents of sociological imagination [a tool of analysis], which helps one to
analyze social issues confronting the world.

Sociological Imagination

gives us the ability to understand the process by which men and women
are treated in society.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOLOGY AS A DISCIPLINE.
NATURE OF SOCIOLOGY, SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE

French Sociologist Auguste Comte [1798 1847] who did most of his
writing in the 1830s and the 1840s gave sociology its name and purpose. The
word is derived from the Latin word Socius meaning companion or comrade
and the Greek word Logos - meaning science, knowledge or discourse. Comte
noted that the sciences of physical matter and of animal and plant life had
already been founded and he therefore felt that the time was ripe for applying
the scientific method

to the realm of

social phenomena to create a social

science which he dubbed Sociology. Sociology emerged as a discipline at the

end of the 19th century almost simultaneously in Europe [France, Germany, and
Italy] and the USA. [When was it introduced to Universities] Sociology is a
discipline with an international character since it was developed in different parts
of the world [Europe and USA] at the same time.
Sociology, is studied to develop knowledge of the ways in which people
interact with each other. It offers perspectives on human behavior. It looks at the
social influences what shape our lives. It gives a richer awareness of our own
character and those of people around us.
Sociology is rooted in Social Philosophy, which is not a science in modern
terms. Sociology attempts to offer a better understanding of social behavior
through the application of scientific procedures. [What is the procedure followed
by Scientist?]

Hence sociologists look beyond the generally accepted explanation for social
behaviors and seek scientific evidence.

THE STUDY OF SOCIOLOGY CAROLINE B. ROSE

[1965]
Sociology is about group life and its consequences. Sociologists want to
know what makes groups persist over time. How does group living effect the
behaviour of its members. Sociologists are also interested in why groups change
or fall apart. Sociologists study relationships among group members and among
groups.

Sociology is a science. It is one of a group of social sciences.

Anthropology, economics, political science, [history] and geography are other

social sciences. Social Psychology and ecology also have links to Sociology.
Sociology is distinguishable by its research techniques, for example, the
use of questionnaires, interviews, content analysis, historical analysis, case study
[e.g. life history], participant and non participant observation.
TRANSPLANTED SOCIAL SCIENCES
Caribbean Sociology was initiated and nourish form outside the region
particularly Europe.

When foreigners and foreign trained Social Scientists

introduced Social Sciences to the Caribbean there was no resistance as no one

was trained to do so.Social thought in the Caribbean therefore must be
understood as a process of 'indiginisation', adaptation and 'contextualisation' of
what was developed elsewhere. Scientific disciplines do not pre-exist but are
generated in the social development of a particular setting. After emancipation,
Caribbean people created new ideologies that played a significant role in the
indiginisation of the sociology.
Social thought could not remain divorced from the social reality in the Caribbean.
It had to be adjusted to deal with Caribbean issues and problems. The drastic
change from colonial to independent nations in two decades saw an equally

drastic development of

the Social Sciences and Sociology in the region.

[Sankatsing]
IDEOLOGICAL CURRENTS
Belief Systems Colonial ideology was the traditional belief system but
this was challenged by
1. an anti-colonial ideology and postcolonial nationalism emerging from
decolonisation 2. the Black power movement and
3. the Marxist views of society.
These challenges to the traditional belief system came about as a result of
the political mobilization and education of the masses. A national ideology was
therefore the logical culmination.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SOCIOLOGY.
1. Sociology is a kind of reform movement. Sociology is a science and
not a movement.
2. Sociology is confused with socialism as a specific way of changing
society.
3. Sociology is sometimes confused with social

work perhaps

because both deal with social problems.

4. Some mistakenly think that sociology deals simply with people and
define it as the study of man.
5. Sociology is confused with social science

In the words of Comte the Statical study of sociology consists in the

investigation of the laws of action and reaction of the different parts of the social

system. The parts of the society he argued, cannot be understood separately as

if they had an independent existence. Instead they must be seen as in mutual
relation forming a whole which compels us to treat them in combination