Introduction To Sociology WELCOME!

What is Sociology? F Doob -...is the scientific study of human behavior in groups and of the social forces that influence that behavior. F...the scientific study of human society and social behavior. F Sociology - A systematic and objective study of society and social behavior.

F What do we mean by systematic?...use of science, scientific method. F Empirical, rather than pre-science method. How do we know? The ways of establishing facts. F Pre-Science Method: F Authority F Intuition F Logic

F Positivism- F...the use of scientific method and empirical analysis to understand human behavior. F What is empiricism? F Empirical Analysis- the use of human senses or “sense perception.” F Observation- use of your senses to observe the world.

F Objective- F...unbiased, no preconceived notions....do you have any preconceived notions about people? Based on what?

Basic Postulates of Science F Definite Order of Recurrent Events F Knowledge is Superior to Ignorance F Communication is Based on Sense Perception F There are Cause and Effect Relationships Within the Physical and Social Order F Scientist/Observer Has the Capacity to Conceptually Relate and Assign Meaning

Science Is: F Theoretical F Empirical F Logical F Cumulative F Subject to Reliable Checking

Early Sociologist F Henri de Saint-Simon F Auguste Comte F Herbert Spencer F Karl Marx F Emile Durkheim F Max Weber

F Society- A comprehensive social grouping that includes all the social institutions required to meet basic human needs. F Social Institution- A process or association that is highly organized, systematized and stable. F Political F Education F Religion F Economics F Family

Theoretical Perspectives F Functionalism- F …theory stressing the contributions made by social or cultural phenomena to the system of which they are a part. F (an overriding concern with the conditions of equilibrium, stability and maximum efficiency.)

Theoretical Perspectives - Cont’d F Conflict Theory- F …a theoretical perspective that emphasizes conflict, contradiction, inequality, and injustice as permanent aspects of society and a major source of social change.