Read without ads and support Scribd by becoming a Scribd Premium Reader.
See Premium Plans
 
Introduction to Sociology
This version of the book is current as of:
April 10, 2010
. The current version of this book can be foundat http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Sociology
Table of contents
•
Authors
•
Introducing Sociology
•
Sociological Methods
•
General Sociological Theory
•
Society
•
Culture
•
Socialization
•
Groups
•
Demography
•
Aging
•
Deviance and Norms
•
Race and Ethnicity
•
Gender 
•
Stratification
•
Economy
•
Family
•
Religion
•
Health and Medicine
•
Politics
•
Collective Behavior 
•
Social Movements
•
Being a Sociologist
•
Sociological Videos
•
Famous Sociologists
 
Authors
•
RcragunRyan T. Cragun, Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Tampa
•
Contribution: Initial book layout and the development of most of the first 15 chapters
•
DeborahcragunDeborah Cragun, MS Human Genetics
•
Contribution: Developed the chapters on health care and medicine and race andethnicity.
•
PiotrusPiotr Konieczny, PhD student in sociology, University of Pittsburgh
•
Contributions: various small changes, videos, slides and downloadable tools
 
Introducing Sociology
Sociology
is the study of human social life. Sociology has many sub-sections of study, ranging fromthe analysis of conversations to the development of theories to try to understand how the entire worldworks. This chapter will introduce you to sociology and explain why it is important, how it can changeyour perspective of the world around you, and give a brief history of the discipline.
What is Sociology?
 Emile Durkheim, one of the founders of Sociology.Sociology is a branch of the social sciences that uses systematic methods of empirical investigation andcritical analysis to develop and refine a body of knowledge about human social structure and activity,sometimes with the goal of applying such knowledge to the pursuit of government policies designed to benefit the general social welfare. Its subject matter ranges from the micro level to the macro level.Microsociology involves the study of people in face-to-face interactions. Macrosociology involves thestudy of widespread social processes.Sociology is a broad discipline in terms of both methodology and subject matter. Its traditional focuseshave included social relations, social stratification, social interaction, culture and deviance, and itsapproaches have included both qualitative and quantitative research techniques. As much of whathumans do fits under the category of social structure or social activity, sociology has graduallyexpanded its focus to such far-flung subjects as the study of economic activity, health disparities, andeven the role of social activity in the creation of scientific knowledge.[1]The range of social scientificmethods has also been broadly expanded. The "cultural turn" of the 1970s and 1980s brought morehumanistic interpretive approaches to the study of culture in sociology. Conversely, the same decadessaw the rise of new mathematically rigorous approaches, such as social network analysis.The social world is changing. Some argue it is growing; others say it is shrinking.[2]The important  point to grasp is: society does not remain unchanged over time. As will be discussed in more detail
Search
Search History:
Searching...
Result 00 of 00
00 results for result for
  • p.
    • Notes
    Load more