The Sociological Point of View

Key Things in Sociology People are first and foremost a social being. Live in groups Constantly exposed to social interaction with others

SOCIOLOGY Is best defined as the scientific study of social interaction

OBJECTIVES To enable people to live intelligently in their social world To deal with social problems they encounter, especially conflict and social change. Examples: survivor series, big brother

Shipwreck Activity

Situation Assume that your are part of a 10-member group that is shipwrecked on a deserted tropical island. The island has a plentiful supply of wild fruits and plants, insects birds, fish, and hardwood trees. Some fresh water can be found in small island pools, but the bulk of the water is contaminated b salt from the ocean. Your group had time to rescue the following items.

Items 2 large fishing knives 4 plastic gallon jugs of water 1 25 foot rope 1 large plastic tarp 1 set of binoculars 1 can opener 20 cans of fruit and vegetables

What to do Establish a list of rules, procedures, and task assignments that would allow the group to survive on the island indefinitely. Each group will share their list in class and explain how they came to agree on their list and whether they encountered any problems in reaching a consensus.

Remember For society to operate efficiently, members must work together toward common goals. To ensure that most people cooperate for the common good, societies establish rules of conduct and expectations for behavior.

The Sociological Point of View

Section #1: Examining Social Life

Definitions Sociology: is the science that studies human society and social behavior. Social Interaction: how people relate to one another and influence each other’s behavior. Phenomenon: is a observable fact or event

The Sociological Perspective Gain a new view or perspective for looking at ourselves and the world. Common sense vs scientific fact Sociological Perspective helps us see better (objectively) Gives us insight The world as a whole Connection between the larger world and our personal lives is called Sociological Imagination (C. Wright Mills) Read aloud page 21

Sociology’s Place in the Social Sciences Social Science: disciplines that study various aspects of human social behavior Anthropology: study of various aspects of past and present cultures. Psychology: study of the mind and the individual. Social Psychology: study of how an individual behavior and personality are affected by the social environment. Economics: study of the choices people make in an effort to satisfy their wants and needs. Political Science: study of government. History: study of past events.

Question Why is studying groups important?

Question Why is important to have a sociological imagination?

Sociology: Then and Now

What created Sociology? 19th Century Rapid social and political changes in Europe during the 17th Century (Industrial Revolution) Growth of Cities and the problems it created (SOCIAL PROBLEMS) Housing, crime, relationships, Let to the American and French Revolution Need for Study

Early Years France, Germany & England (19th Century) Several key individuals surfaced

Auguste Comte French philosopher Photo Auguste Comte French philosopher Founder of Sociology (1st to use the term) Approve life after the French Revolution Wanted to use Scientific Method to discover problems and find solutions Social Status: the society stay the same Social Dynamics: elements w/I society that created change

Karl Marx Germany Believed society is influenced by the economic. Photo Karl Marx Germany Believed society is influenced by the economic. Created the idea of “Have and Have Nots” Focus on material and production Developed the idea of Communism (Dialete Theory) Lived during the beginnings of a “Capitalistic Society”

Herbert Spencer England Influenced by Charles Darwin Photo Herbert Spencer England Influenced by Charles Darwin The idea that society was a live Believed that social change occurred through problems therefore no attempt to resolve the problem should be taken. That the best for society will survive

Photo Emile Durkheim France First to apply the methods of science to the study of society Should only study what can be seen (no study of feelings for example)

Max Weber German More interested in the study of Groups Photo Max Weber German More interested in the study of Groups How society affects the individual Verstehen: the idea of placing yourself in that person place and seeing it through their eyes.

Current Perspectives

More Definitions Theory: is a systematic explanation of the relationship among phenomena. Theorectical Perspective: is a general set of assumptions about the nature phenomena.

Three broad theorectial perspectives in modern sociology

Functionalist Perspective View society as a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system. Society lead together through consensus. What functions for example exist in a family, church, place of work. Dysfunction: is the negative consequence an element has for the stability of the social system. (crime) Manifest function: is the intended function Latent function: is the unintended function

Conflict Perspective Focus on those forces in society that promote competition and change Class Struggle Theory

Interactions Perspective Focus on how individual interact with one another in society Look at the individual and how the individual see themselves Symbol: anything that stands for something else. Symbolic Interaction: used to study topics like child development, relationships within groups and mate selection.

Applying Sociology Collecting Data (scientific information) is important to sociologist Six Methods or techniques

Six Methods Historical Method - examining any materials from the past Tools, clothes, pictures, documents, etc. Content Analysis - counting the number of times a particular word, phrase, idea, event, symbol or other element appears in a given context. TV, radio, recordings, photographs, art, newspapers, magazines, books, etc.

Six methods continued Survey Method - Random Survey (???) Two techniques used to find out information Questionnaire Interviews Observation - observe the behavior of individuals in actual social settings Controlled environment Uncontrolled environment

Six methods continued The Case Study - Observational techniques, researcher of past Statistical Analysis - using mathematical data Using Variables - (a characteristic that can differ from one individual to another).

Key to Research Analyzing the data Making ASSUMPTIONS (NOT FINDINGS) Reporting mistakes in research

Question How has Sociology evolved?