Chapter 1

Sociological Perspectives and Social Research

Prepared by: Mr. Abd Rauf b Hj Ridzuan Faculty of Communication and Media Studies

Chapter Outline
What is Sociology? The Significance of Diversity Development of Sociological Theory

Chapter Outline
Doing Sociological Research Tools of Sociological Research Research Ethics: Is Sociology ValueFree?

What Is Sociology?
The study of human behavior in society. A scientific way to think about society and its influence on humans. Includes the study of social behavior and social change. Is the systematic study of human society and social interaction.
(Kendall)
*It is essential for media students to learn sociology as when they are working one day, they need to face with a lot of people.

What is society?
Society is a large social grouping that shares the same geographical territory and is subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations.
*In Malaysia, although we have many ethnics and races, we live as a society.

Disciplines of Sociology
Psychology analyzes human behavior. Anthropology is the study of human cultures. Political Science is the study of politics.

Economics studies the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. Social Work uses the social sciences to serve people in need.

The Sociological Perspective

C. Wright Mills wrote about sociological perspective in The Sociological Imagination. It is an ability to see societal patterns that influence life.
Also is the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society. (Kendall) Sociology can reveal/tell how society shapes our lives.

Troubles and Issues

Troubles are private problems in an individuals life. Eg: Lost someone Issues affect large numbers of people. Eg: Increase of oil price Issues shape the context within which troubles arise.

Personal troubles are private problems that affect individuals and the networks of people with whom they associate regularly. Public issues are problems that affect large numbers of people and often require solutions at the societal level. (Kendall)

The Development of Sociological Thinking

Industrialization is the process by which societies are transformed from dependence on agriculture and handmade products to an emphasis on manufacturing and related industries. Urbanization is the process by which an increasing of a population lives in cities rather than in rural areas. (Kendall)

Debunking
Studying the patterns and processes that shape behavior. Questioning actions and ideas that are usually taken for granted.

Sociology and the Enlightenment

Faith in the ability of human reason to solve societys problems. Belief that natural laws and processes in society are used for the general good.

Sociology in Europe: Auguste Comte

French philosopher Coined the term sociology (Father of Sociology Western) Believed sociology could discover laws of human social behavior and help solve societys problems For Comte, the best policies involved order and authority. Became known as positivism a belief that the world can best be understood through scientific inquiry. (Kendall) *Ibnu Khaldun is the first philosopher who studied about sociology - Islam

Sociology in Europe: Alexis Tocqueville

French citizen who traveled to the United States 1831 Wrote an analysis of U.S. democratic culture and society. In the United States the tyranny of kings was replaced by the tyranny of the majority.

Sociology in Europe: Herbert Spencer

Spencer believed that societies develop through a process of struggle and fitness. Social Darwinism the belief that those species of animals, including human beings, best adapted to their environment survive and prosper, whereas those poorly adapted die out. (Kendall)

Sociology in Europe: Harriet Martineau

British citizen who toured the United States in 1834. Wrote Society in America, an analysis of social customs she observed. She believed that a better society would emerge if women and men were treated equally, enlightened reform occurred and cooperation existed among people in all social classes. (Kendall) Wrote first sociological methods book on participant observation.

Classical Sociological Theory: Emile Durkheim

Viewed society as an entity larger than the sum of its parts. Focused on how public rituals and belief systems created social solidarity. He saw religious traditions evaporating in his society to search the stability. (Kendall) Conceptualized social facts as social patterns external to individuals. Discovered the social basis of human behavior.

Classical Sociological Theory: Karl Marx

He believed that conflict especially class conflict is necessary in order to produce social change and a better society. (Kendall) Work was devoted to explaining how capitalism shaped society. Profit is produced through the exploitation of the working class. Considered the economic organization of society the most important influence on what humans think and how they behave.

Classical Sociological Theory: Max Weber

Theorized that society had three dimensions: political, economic,and cultural. Believed that to understand social behavior one had to understand the meaning that a behavior had for social actors. He stressed that sociologists should verstehen to gain the ability to see the world as others see it. (Kendall)

Sociology in America
American sociologists believed sociology could help solve social problems. The Chicago School - concerned with the relationship of individual to society and society as a human laboratory. It is the first department of sociology in the United States was established. (Kendall)

Sociological Theory: Individual and Society

Functionalism Individuals occupy fixed social roles Individuals subordinated to society Individual and society are interdependent

Conflict Theory

Symbolic Interaction

Doing Sociological Research

Sociological research is a tool sociologists use to answer questions. The method of research used depends on the kind of question you ask.

Research Process
Develop a research question. Create a research design. Gather data. Analyze data. Reach conclusions and report results.

Qualitative and Quantitative Research

Qualitative Quantitative Does not use Uses statistical statistical methods. methods. More interpretive, Provides data to shows more calculate averages nuance. and percents.

Tools of Sociological Research

Questionnaires, Interviews Content Analysis Historical Research Evaluation Research

Validity is the extent to which a study or research instrument accurately measures what it is suppoesed to measure.

Reliability is the extent to which a study or research instrument yields consistent results when applied to different individuals at one time.
(Kendall)

Is Sociology Value-Free?
Researchers make choices throughout research that can influence results. The person surveyed is often not told the purpose of the survey or who is funding the study. Controlled experiments depend on natural responses to staged situations.