Learning Objectives
5 objectives- Define sociology and explain its scope and significance as a social science.
- Identify and describe the key contributions of founding sociologists to the discipline.
- Analyze social institutions and their roles in shaping individual and collective experiences.
- Examine the concepts of social stratification, culture, deviance, and social change within society.
- Apply sociological research methods to investigate social phenomena and understand socialization and identity formation.
Content Outline
PreviewUnit 2484: Introduction to Sociology
1. What is Sociology?
- Definition of Sociology
- Scope of Sociology
- Study of human society
- Social behavior and interactions
- Social structures and institutions
- Importance of Sociology as a social science
- Understanding social patterns
- Informing policy and social change
2. The Founding Fathers of Sociology
- Overview of Classical Sociological Thinkers
2.1 Karl Marx
- Historical materialism
- Class conflict theory
- Influence on social theory and critique of capitalism
2.2 Emile Durkheim
- Social facts and collective conscience
- The study of social integration and suicide
- Functionalism and social cohesion
2.3 Max Weber
- Interpretive sociology and verstehen
- The Protestant Ethic and the spirit of capitalism
- Bureaucracy and rationalization
3. Sociological Imagination
- Concept introduced by C. Wright Mills
- Connecting personal troubles to public issues
- Importance in sociological thinking and analysis
4. Social Institutions
- Definition and role of social institutions
4.1 Family
- Structure and functions
- Variations across cultures
4.2 Education
- Role in socialization and social mobility
- Educational inequality
4.3 Religion
- Functions in society
- Types and influence on social norms
4.4 Government
- Political institutions and power
- Governance and social order
5. Social Stratification
- Definition and dimensions
5.1 Class Stratification
- Economic inequality and class systems
5.2 Race and Ethnicity
- Racial inequalities and discrimination
- Ethnic identity and social dynamics
5.3 Gender Stratification
- Gender roles and inequality
- Feminist perspectives
6. Culture and Society
- Components of culture
- Values, norms, symbols, language
- Cultural diversity and multiculturalism
- Culture's influence on social norms and behavior
7. Deviance and Social Control
- Definition of deviance
- Social norms and violations
- Theories of deviance
- Functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionist perspectives
- Mechanisms of social control
- Formal and informal sanctions
- Crime and punishment
8. Social Change
- Processes and causes of social change
8.1 Modernization
- Impact on traditional societies
8.2 Globalization
- Economic, cultural, and political dimensions
8.3 Social Movements
- Types and roles in promoting change
- Examples of social movements
9. Research Methods in Sociology
- Overview of sociological research
9.1 Surveys
- Design and application
9.2 Interviews
- Structured and unstructured methods
9.3 Experiments
- Controlled studies in social settings
9.4 Observational Studies
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Participant and non-participant observation
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Ethical considerations in research
10. Socialization and Identity
- Process of socialization
- Agents of socialization: family, peers, media
- Formation of social identity
- Role of culture and social context in identity construction
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