Iqra Haroon (060)

Sociology, its Perspectives, Types, Fields, Scope and the significance

Muhammad Fahad Malik

(067)Kinza Ayub(066)Muhammad

Asad(064)Rana Aadil

Khalid(061)Muhammad

Mohsin Javed (062)Mubeena

Ghazanfar (065)

Sociology is the youngest of all social sciences. It is a social science because of four scientific methodologies: 1) Observation 2) Experimentation 3) Analysis 4) Conclusion

SociologySocious Latin word means group of

people and Logous Greek word means study

Word Sociology was first used by August

Comte (father of Sociology) in 1839.

Definitions of Sociology by different Sociologists

August ComteHe defines sociology as the science of social phenomena "subject to natural and invariable laws, the discovery of which is the object of investigation".

 Morris GinsbergHe defines sociology in the following

way: "In the broadest sense, sociology is the study of human interactions and inter-relations,

their conditions and consequences".

Emile Durkheim

"Science of social institutions". Ogburn & Nimkoff

"Sociology is the scientific study of social life".

Robert Park “The science of collective behavior".

Marshal Jones“The study of man-in-relationship to men".

Subject Matter of Sociology

The Science of Social Life

The Scientific Study of Society

The Study of Social Relationship

The Study of human behavior in

groups

The study of Social Actions

Social Perspectives

Muhammad Fahad Malik

Awan 15091624-067

Social Perspectiv

es

Sociologists study everything from specific events to the big picture.

• The micro level of analysis of small social patterns

• The macro level of analysis of large social patterns

• look at social processes throughout society

• examine the interrelationships of large-scale social structures and interrelationships (e.g., the economy, the government, and the health-care system).

Macro Perspectiv

es

• focus on patterns of individual interactions, e.g. daily interactions we have on an individual level

• Study how and why these interactions are shaped by larger society

Micro Perspectiv

es

Three Major PerspectivesFunctiona

l Perspecti

ve Symbolic Perspecti

ve

Conflict Perspecti

ve

Functional Perspective• Macro perspective: big perspectives that look at social

processes throughout society. • Each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes

to society's functioning as a whole.•  Members of the society agree upon, and work together

to achieve, what is best for society as a whole.• Functionalists believe that society is

held together by social consensus, or cohesion ( social norms, shared values and beliefs).

• Social Consensus was suggested and described by Emile Durkheim.

Family Govt FamilySchool

Neglects negative impacts of social order

by Gramsci.

Does not encourage social change of members of

society.

Criticism

Conflict Perspective• Macro perspective focuses on the negative,

conflicted, and ever‐changing nature of society.• Conflict theorists challenge the status quo, encourage social change.

• Conflict theorists find social conflict between any groups in which the potential for inequality exists: racial, gender, religious, political, economic, and so on.

• Conflict theorists note that unequal groups usually have conflicting values and agendas, causing them to compete against one another. This constant competition between groups formsthe basis for the ever‐changing nature of society.

• Karl Marx writing on class system struggle originated this perspective.

Criticis

mIt points out negative

aspects of society.

Undermines positive

aspects of society such

as, democracy and civil rights.

SymbolicPerspective

• Micro perspective considers the symbols and details of everyday life, what these symbols mean, and how people interact with each other.

• People attach meanings to symbols, and then they act according to their subjective interpretation of these symbols.

• Words are not static “things”; they require intention and interpretation. Conversation is an interaction of symbols between individuals who constantly interpret the world around them.

e.g. Wedding ceremony: Celebration, feast, Wedding ring: one of the spouses may see their circular wedding rings as symbolizing “never ending love,” while the other may see them as a mere financial expense.• American philosopher George H. Mead introduced this perspective to sociology.

Criticis

m• It neglects the

macro level of social

interpretation—the “big picture.• Symbolic integrationists miss the larger

issues of society by focusing too closely on the “trees” rather

than the “forest”.

Sociological Perspective

s

Level of Analysis

Focus

Symbolic Interaction

Micro Use of symbols; Face to Face Interaction

Functionalism

Conflict Theory

Macro

Macro

Relationship b/w parts of society. How aspects of society are functional

Competition for scarce resources; How elite control poor and weak

Types of Sociology

Applied Sociology

Theoretical Sociology

Applied Sociology

Kinza Ayub 15091624-

066

Applied Sociology

Applied Sociology using Sociological

theories and methods beyond academia to

answer client questions.

Applied research is sometimes conducted within a multidisciplinary environment and in collaboration with

different organizations like community services, universities etc.

History and Application of sociological Perspectives

Harry perlstadt traces the history of applied sociology and August Comte

worked and founded the figures. Perlstadt writes that Comte divided sociology in two

parts.

1) Social Statics: The study of social order2) Social Dynamics: The study of social progress and

development.Perlstadt argued Comte leading two types by himself.3) Basic Researchers: which educate and influence public

debate.4) Social Interventions: which are political activists who are

responsible for actively enforcing social change.

Role for Practitioners

Hans Zetterberg argues that practical sociology knowledge might be

distinguished into five role.

Decision Making

Social Critic

Researcher for Clients Consultant

Educators

Decision Making:The sociologists as decision

making is someone who uses social sciences in order to

shape policy decisions.Educators:

The sociologists as an educator is a person who

teaches sociology to students typically in a

university setting although sociology is now

increasingly taught in schools as subject.

Social Critic:The sociologist as a

commentator and social critic is someone who writes for a wider public through books

and articles aimed at an elected public with a view of influencing public opinion.

Reseacher for Clients:The sociologist as researcher for clients might be someone who works with public or private

organizations such as mental health groups, banks or some

other company that commission research on very specific topic.

Consultant:The sociologist who acts as a consultant wants to answer a specific and political problem

as defined by a particular clients using their cletns language and by making specific refernce to their

client problem.

Theoretical Sociology

Muhammad Asad 15091624-

064

Theoretical Sociology

Sociologists develop theories to explain social phenomena.

A theory is a proposed relationship between two or more concepts. In

other words, a theory is explanation for why or how a

phenomenon occurs

Critical TheoryCritical theory is a type of social theory oriented toward critiquing and changing society as a whole, in contrast to traditional theory oriented only to understanding or explaining it. Critical theories aim to dig beneath the surface of social life and uncover the assumptions that keep us from a full and true understanding of how the world works. 

Feminist TheoryFeminist theory is one of the major contemporary sociological theories, which analyzes the status of women and men in society with the purpose of using that knowledge to better women's lives. Feminist theory is most concerned with giving a voice to women and highlighting the various ways women have contributed to society

Labeling TheoryLabeling theory is one of the most important approaches to understanding deviant and criminal behavior. It begins with the assumption that no act is intrinsically criminal. Definitions of criminality are established by those in power through the formulation of laws and the interpretation of those laws by police, courts, and correctional institutions. Social Learning Theory

Social learning theory is a theory that attempts to explain socialization and its effect of the development of the self. It looks at the individual learning process, the formation of self, and the influence of society in socializing individuals. Social learning theory is commonly used by sociologists to explain deviance and crime.

Structural Strain TheoryRobert K. Merton developed the structural strain theory as an extension of the functionalist perspective on deviance. This theory traces the origins of deviance to the tensions that are caused by the gap between cultural goals and the means people have available to achieve those goals

Game TheoryGame theory is a theory of social

interaction, which attempts to explain the interaction people have with one another. As the name of the theory suggests, game theory sees human

interaction as just that: a game

Rational Choice Theory:Economics plays a huge role in human

behavior. That is, people are often motivated by money and the possibility of making a profit, calculating the likely costs and benefits of any action before deciding

what to do. This way of thinking is called rational choice theory.

Fields of Sociolgy

Rana Aadil

Khalid 15091624-061

Fields of Sociology

A sociologist is one who has earned advanced degrees or pursued other advanced studies in sociology and is

engaged in teaching, research or other professional work in the field of

sociology.

Community

The term community is one of the most elusive and vague in sociology

and is by now largely without specific meaning. At the minimum it refers to

a collection of people in a geographical area

Characteristics of a community as follows:• Territory• Close and informal relationships• Mutuality• Common values and beliefs• Organized interaction• Strong group feeling• Cultural similarity

Medical Sociology

Medical sociology is the sociological analysis of medical organizations and institutions; the

production of knowledge and selection of methods, the actions and interactions

of healthcare professionals, and the social or cultural (rather than clinical or

bodily) effects of medical practice.

Military Sociology

Military sociology is now a well-established and respected subfield within sociology. To survey the field this collection is organized

around four major themes: (1) military organization

(2) civil-military relations (3) the experience of war(4) the use and control of force.

Political sociology is traditionally concerned with how social trends,

dynamics, and structures of domination affect formal political processes, as well as exploring how various social forces

work together to change political policies.

Political Sociology

The sociology of law (or legal sociology) is often described as a sub-discipline of sociology or an interdisciplinary

approach within legal studies.law and sociology is broadly

focused on the relationship between lawand society, both

historically and in the contemporary world

Sociology of law

Industrial sociology is generally a program that discusses the

relationships between people in industrial settings, such as the

workplace. The direction and implications of trends

in technological change, globalization, labour markets, work organization,

managerial practices and employment relations.

Industrial Sociology

Comparative Sociology is a quarterly international scholarly journal

dedicated to advancing comparative sociological analyses of societies

and cultures, institutions and organizations, groups and

collectivities, networks and interactions.

Comparative

Sociology

Scope of Sociology

Muhammad Mohsin Javeed 15091624-

062

What is Scope?

Scope means the subject matter or the areas of study.

Every science has its own field of inquiry. It becomes difficult

to study a science systematically unless its

boundary or scope is determined precisely

Scope of Sociology

Sociology as a social science has its own scope or boundaries.there are two main schools of thought regarding the scope of Sociology: Formalistic School The Synthetic School

Formalistic School

Sociology is a specific, pure

and independent social science

Scope of Sociology is

very narrow and limited

It is a specific social science and it

should deal with social relationships

from different angles.

Sociology need not study all the events connected with social science.

Sociology deals with specific

form of human relationship.

Sociology studies the

various forms of social

relationships

CriticismSociologist alone does not study the forms of social relationships. Other social scientists also do that.

The distinction between the forms of social relations and their contents is not practicable

Thirdly, the formalistic school has narrowed down the scope of Sociology.

Finally, the conception of pure Sociology is imaginary

Synthetic School

Sociology is a general and systematic

social science.

Sociology needs help from other social sciences

Scope of Sociology is very vast.

It is a synthesis of social science

Sociology is closely related

with other social sciences.

ConclusionFrom the above discussion, we come to know

that formalistic school believes in the study of the parts, which makes up the society and

synthetic school advocates the study of the whole society. However, both the schools complement to each other. They are not

opposed to each other. Thus, Sociology is a general science of society and specialized discipline. Sociology is a growing science.

Therefore, it is neither possible nor desirable to restrict its scope.

Significance of Sociology

Mubeena Ghazanfa

r 15091624-065

Significance of Sociology

Factual information from research will better understand our society and other societies .• Understanding• Broad minded• Tolerant

learn the application of scientific methods

and techniques to our daily life

problemsIt enables us to see

the connection between our

personal experiences and the social forces in the bigger social world daily which

influences life.

The results of sociological investigations provide a better background for meeting and solving problems.

It analyses the structure of society and studies the

factors that contribute to the creation of social groups

Sociology includes the study of behavioral

patterns , interactions and relationship among

the individuals of society , as well as

their ethical and moral values.

It furnishes interested people and specialized

sciences with principles and

scientific data which they can use in their

work

Results of sociological investigations are useful to government officials,

community leaders entrepreneurs ,

businessmen, etc

It can help give us a deeper understanding

of issues such as abuse and crimes and make us

sensitive enough to recognize them as

problems that need help.