1}.

Auguste Comete, the founding father of sociology, defines sociology as

the science of social phenomena "subject to natural and invariable laws,
the discovery of which is the object of investigation". 

2}. Kingsley Davis says that "Sociology is a general science of society". 

3}. Harry M. Johnson opines that "sociology is the science that deals with
social groups". 

4}. Emile Durkheim: "Science of social institutions". 

5}. Park regards sociology as "the science of collective behavior". 

6}. Small defines sociology as "the science of social relationships". 

7}. Marshal Jones defines sociology as "the study of man-in-relationship-
to-men". 

8}. Ogburn and Nimkoff : "Sociology is the scientific study of social life". 

9}. Franklin Henry Giddings defines sociology as "the science of social

phenomena". 

10}. Henry Fairchild: "Sociology is the study of man and his human
environment in their relations to each other". 

11}. Max Weber defines sociology as " the science which attempts the
interpretative understanding of social action in order thereby to arrive at
a casual explanation of its course and effects". 

12}. Alex Inkeles says, "Sociology is the study of systems of social action
and of their inter-relations". 

13}. Kimball Young and Raymond W. Mack say, "Sociology is the scientific
study of social aspects of human life". 

14}. Morris Ginsberg: of the various definitions of sociology the one given
by Morris Ginsberg seems to be more satisfactory and comprehensive. He
defines sociology in the following way: "In the broadest sense, sociology
is the study of human interactions and inter-relations, their conditions
and consequences". 

Seven Areas of Sociology

The term “sociology” was coined by August Comte in the nineteenth century from the Latin
word “socios” (companion with others) and the Greek word “logos” (reason) to describe the new
science of social life.

While sociology has changed a lot since Comte's day, it is still an important discipline that helps us
understand the world we live and how we live in it. Currently, there are seven major areas of
sociology. This article will briefly discuss these areas and why sociologists are interested in them.

1. Social Organization

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Social organization refers to a pattern of relationships between and among different groups and
individual people. Social organization could be said to the fundamental basis of modern society, as it
allows for the carrying out of very complex activities that other members of society either participate
in or are affected by.

Identifying and classifying different groupings of people is a crucial job for sociologists. Typically,
sociologists define a group as consisting of at least two members who:

 interact with each other,

 have a sense of identity or belonging,
 share norms or expectations that those outside the group do not.
While the larger society of a particular nation is itself an example of social organization, that society
is in turn made up of a collection of organized groups of interacting individuals. It is precisely how
those groups interact and organize that sociologists study.

Typically, when sociologists discuss social organizations, they are referring to:

 Social institutions, such as the family or school.

 Social groups, such as professional associations, or voluntary organizations like the Kiwanis
Club or neighborhood associations.
 Social inequality, which groups people according to class, such as the middle-class, working
class, underclass, upper class, etc.
 Religious groups, such as churches and affiliated charities.
 Bureaucracies, including government agencies administrative units.

2. Sociological Social Psychology

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Sociological social psychology emphasizes the relationship between individual people and the larger
social structures and processes in which they participate. While the study of social organization and
structure is the defining core of sociology, all social structure comes out of interactions between
individuals. So, to understand the significance, nature, and effects of social structure, we need to
understand the the people whose behavior constitutes that structure.

Major areas of study include deviance, socialization, group dynamics, health, race and ethnicity, and
gender. Sociologists in this field have studied some really interesting subjects, such as obedience
and disobedience during the Holocaust, the psychological consequences of work and family life, and
the attitudes of minority groups to the cultural mainstream.

3. Social Change
Source

Sociologists are interested in studying both “what is” and “what changes.” In this sense, social
change refers to any alteration in how a society is organized. Sociologists thus seek to explain the
causes and affects of these social changes.

Some theories of social change emphasize evolutionary explanations. These theories hold that
society develops from simple to increasingly complex forms of organization. Social change, then, is
linear and progressive.

Sociologists typically identify a few key factors that influence social change:

 The physical environment. Changes in the environment, such as climate change, may

require different forms of social organization in order for humans to survive. Very rapid changes
in the physical environment can cause severe disruptions to social and cultural life.
 Population changes. Migrations and conquest bring new people into new places, which in
turn can lead to forms of social change.
 Isolation and contact. Societies that are cut off from the larger world may change very
quickly once they come into contact with outside cultures and peoples.
 Technology. Advances in technology, such as the car or airplane, can dramatically change
social organization as these new technologies offer new ways for people to interact.
Major topics of study for this field include: ecological changes, population, migration, technological
change, new production techniques, culture change, political processes, social transformation,
modernization, mass communication, and the impact of natural disaster.

4. Human Ecology
Source

This is the study of the nature and behavior of a given population and its interaction with the
surrounding environment. Specifically, it focuses on how social structures adapt to the quality and
quantity of natural resources and to the existence of other human groups

Studies of this kind have shown the prevalence of mental illness, criminality, delinquency,
prostitution, and drug addiction in urban centers and other modern, developed locales.

5. Population and Demographics

This area of study is concerned with the study of population number, composition, change, and
quality and how these factors influence the larger economic, social, and political systems.
This area also focuses on things such as fertility and mortality rates, the impact of migration on the
distribution of certain populations. Examples of topics that sociologists in this field study include
trends in population growth and how those trends are affected by fertility, mortality, and migration
rates, how population is distributed over a particular area (for example, segregation), poverty and
inequality.

6. Applied Sociology

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This field is concerned with using sociological problems to solve social problems. For instance, some
of the main social problems where I live include squatters, prostitution, too-large families, nurse
shortages, and poor nutrition. An applied sociologist would bring his or her knowledge to bear on
how to solve these problems.

Let's take a look and see what that might look like:

Squatters
Squatters are usually newcomers to urban areas who live on land or in buildings that don't belong to
them. An applied sociologist would wonder why squatters came to the city in the first place. The
research variables to analyze would include the squatters' background, their employment and
educational history, their occupation and sources of income.

The sociologist might discover that squatters migrate to the city to find gainful employment but can't
find a job that suits their educational qualifications. They are usually farmers, fishermen, laborers on
unskilled workers. Lack of income is the primary reason squatters can't afford to buy their own house
and land.

Prostitution
 An applied sociologist might learn that prostitution and squatting have many of the same causes.
Usually, squatter areas are breeding grounds for prostitution, drug abuse, and illegal gambling. The
research variables may still focus on low income and unemployment.

Migration of Nurses
Why might nurses prefer to work in other countries? Likely because of the high salary that nurses
can earn in the US, Europe, and Canada. Compared to a staff nurse in a government hospital,
nurses working abroad can make 10 times as much.

The research variables to study the migration of nurses include salary, overtime pay, the exchange
rate, and the country that they want to work.

Poor Nutrition
Since children are typically the ones most affected by poor nutrition, the research variables for this
social problem would include: the family income, food intake, and family employment. Low income
and unemployment is usually the cause of poor nutrition.

7. Sociological Methods & Research

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This field is concerned with the applicability of sociological principles and insights to study and
regulate peoples' social environment. It represents an effort to build and develop theories that can
explain people's actions and behaviors.

 Macrosociology allows observation of large-scale patterns and trends, but runs

the risk of seeing these trends as abstract entities that exist outside of the individuals
who enact them on the ground.
 Microsociology allows for this on-the-ground analysis, but can fail to consider
the larger forces that influenceindividual behavior.
 Importance Of Sociology
Prior to the emergence of sociology the study of society was carried on in an unscientific
manner and society had never been the central concern of any science. It is through the
study of sociology that the truly scientific study of the society has been possible. Sociology
because of its bearing upon many of the problems of the present world has assumed such a
great importance that it is considered to be the best approach to all the social sciences.

Sociology studies role of the institutions in the development of the individuals

It is through sociology that scientific study of the great social institutions and the relation of
the individual to each is being made. The home and family ,the school and educaton,the
church and religion, the state and government ,industry and work ,the community and
association, these are institutions through which society functions. Sociology studies these
institutions and their role in the development of the individual and suggests suitable
measures for restrengthening them with a view to enable them to serve the individual
better.

Study of sociology is indispensable for understanding and planning of society

Society is a complex phenomenon with a multitude of intricacies. It is impossible to
understand and solve its numerous problems without support of sociology. It is rightly said
that we cannot understand and mend society without any knowledge of its mechanism and
construction. Without the investigation carried out by sociology no real effective social
planning would be possible. It helps us to determine the most efficient means for reaching
the goals agreed upon. A certain amount of knowledge about society is necessary before
any social policies can be carried out.

Sociology is of great importance in the solution of social problems

The present world is suffering from many problems which can be solved through scientific
study of the society. It is the task of sociology to study the social problems through the
methods of scientific research and to find out solution to them. The scientific study of
human affairs will ultimately provide the body of knowledge and principles that will enable
us to control the conditions of social life and improve them.

Sociology has drawn our attention to the intrinsic worth and dignity of man
Sociology has been instrumental in changing our attitude towards human beings. In a
specialized society we are all limited as to the amount of the whole organization and culture
that we can experience directly. We can hardly know the people of other areas intimately.
In order to have insight into and appreciation of the motives by which others live and the
conditions under which they exist a knowledge of sociology is essential.

Sociology has changed our outlook with regard to the problems of crime
It is through the study of sociology that our whole outlook on various aspects of crime has
change. The criminals are now treated as human beings suffering from mental deficiencies
and efforts are accordingly made to rehabilitate them as useful members of the society.

Sociology has made great contribution to enrich human culture

Human culture has been made richer by the contribution of sociology. The social
phenomenon is now understood in the light of scientific knowledge and enquiry. According
to Lowie most of us harbor the comfortable delusion that our way of doing things is the only
sensible if not only possible one. Sociology has given us training to have rational approach
to questions concerning oneself, one's religion,customs,morals and institutions. It has
further taught us to be objective, critical and dispassionate. It enables man to have better
understanding both of himself and of others. By comparative study of societies and groups
other than his existence ,his life becomes richer and fuller than it would otherwise be.
Sociology also impresses upon us the necessity of overcoming narrow personal prejudices,
ambitions and class hatred.

Sociology is of great importance in the solution of international problems

The progress made by physical sciences has brought the nations of the world nearer to each
other. But in the social field the world has been left behind by the revolutionary progress of
the science. The world is divided politically giving rise to stress and conflict. Men have failed
to bring in peace. Sociology can help us in understanding the underlying causes and
tensions.

The value of sociology lies in the fact that it keeps us update on modern
situations
It contributes to making good citizens and finding solutions to the community problems. It
adds to the knowledge of the society. It helps the individual find his relation to society. The
study of social phenomena and of the ways and means of promoting what Giddens calls
social adequacy is one of the most urgent needs of the modern society. Sociology has a
strong appeal to all types of mind through its direct bearing upon many of the initial
problems of the present world.

References:

http://www.sociologyguide.com/introduction-to-sociology/importance-of-sociology.php

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120920011203AAkLvkh

https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/sociology-1/the-
sociological-approach-25/levels-of-analysis-micro-and-macro-161-2417/

https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/Areas-of-Sociology