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Transcript
First Lecture Material of the Sociology
BBA III Semester
2014
Lecture I: Introduction to
Sociology
Basu Prasad Subedi
Nobel College
3/1/2014
1
Table of Content
Major Activities (Time 2 hours 30 minutes)................................................................................... 2
Specific Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 2
Meaning of Sociology ..................................................................................................................... 3
Famous Sociologist and their Contribution .................................................................................... 5
Definition of Sociology................................................................................................................... 7
Nature of Sociology ........................................................................................................................ 9
Methods of Sociology ................................................................................................................... 13
Limitations of Scientific Method .................................................................................................. 16
Subject Matter of Sociology ......................................................................................................... 17
Sociology in Business Management ............................................................................................. 19
Some Model Questions for Assignment ....................................................................................... 20
Bibliography ................................................................................................................................. 21
2
Specific Objectives
After the completion of this lecture student will be able to
•
Share the meaning of sociology
•
Identify different sociologist with their contribution
•
Define sociology
•
Explain the nature of sociology
•
Describe the methods of studying sociology
•
List down the common subjective of sociology
Major Activities (Time 2 hours 30 minutes)
•
Power point presentation by the student in assigned content
•
Discussion on presentation of the students
•
Supplementary power point presentation by the instructor in the
same content
•
Open discussion in the class
•
APPLE technique for questioning in the class
A= Ask question in group
P = Pause for a while
P= Pick on for the answer
L = listen to him/ her
E= Evaluate him/her
•
Content discussion linking with business management
•
Constructive assignment
(More priority will be given to the student to express their views
and context based example)
3
Meaning of Sociology
The word sociology was first devised by the French author Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes
(1748 -1836) in an unpublished manuscript. The term was reinvented by August Comte (1798 1857), a Frenchman. He is considered to be the father of sociology. Sociology emerged as an
independent social science in the 19th century. At the beginning Comte used the term social
physics for this discipline. The word sociology is derived from both Latin and Greek origins. The
Latin word Socius, means “Companion” or “Associate” and Greak word Logos meaning
“science” or “study”. So, the etymological meaning of sociology is thus the science of
society.Comte first used the term sociology in print in 1839. John Stuart Mill (Social thinker and
philosopher) proposed the word Ethology for this new science.Hebert Spencer developed his
systematic study of society and adopted the word Sociology. With the contribution of Spencer
and others sociology became the permanent name of the new science. A dictionary defines
sociologyas the systematic study of society and social interaction. Sociology is actually much
more complex. It uses many different methods to study a wide range of subject matter and to
apply these studies to the real world.
Sociology is the youngest member of the social science. Its major concern is the society.
So it is popularly known as the science of the society. Before going to deep about sociology we
should know the meaning and types of science. Science is concerned with knowledge which is
systematically arranged. There are two sorts of science: Physical science and social science.
Physical science deals mostly with the natural phenomena which are regarded as more precise,
exact and less uncertain. Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Astronomy etc.
are the examples of physical science. Physical scientists create or acquire knowledge using
scientific method. In physical science experiments are conducted to verify the facts. Theories and
laws of universal validity are established more easily and accurately in physical science. The
relationship between cause and effect is relatively clearer in physical science.
In the other side of the coin social science is often loosely applied to any kind of study
which is concerned with human and entire his/her society. It refers to the “application of the
scientific methods of the study of complex network of human relationships and the forms of
organization desired to enable people to live together in societies”. Social science is that bodies
4
of knowledge complied through use of scientific method which deal with the forms and content
of the human’s interaction (Yong and Mack). There are so many kinds of social science. History,
Political Science, Economics Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology etc. are the key examples of
sociology. Social scientist studies environment in
which we live in and attempts to understand how
people interact in given set of circumstances. It is
the family member of social science. Like other
social science sociology is also concerned with the
life and activities of the human. It studies the
nature and character of human society with its
origin and development as well as structure and
function. It tries to determine the relationship and
Figure 1: People of pre-industrial society
inter dependence between different elements of
social life like moral and religious, the economic and political, the intellectual and philosophical,
and the artisticand aesthetic and technological and non-material. In fact, human is born as a
biological individual who acquires social nature and becomes a person. Without social
understanding, a person cannot be a social and it is Sociology that studies human social nature.
Human beings have many-sided relationships with their fellow humans. Economical,
religious, reproductive etc. aspects of relationship mostly exist among them. These all
relationships are blended together into one whole, which constitutes the social life of a human
being. The pattern of the social life is not static. It
is an ever-changing phenomenon. The study of the
patterns of change can be termed as the sociology.
On the other hand, sociology studies those
elements of human society, which are static in
nature. Thus sociology takes into account in
clanging mode of society and its inherent stability.
This makes sociology different from any branch of
Figure 2: Nepalese people with their cultural dresses
social sciences. The different social sciences take
up different aspects of the life of human but it is only the sociology, which studies human's life
as a whole.
5
Famous Sociologist and their Contribution
AugusteCompte (1798 -1857) was the citizen of Paris, France.
He is popularly known as the father of Sociology. His school of
thought was “positivism”. He coined the term “Sociology”. He
developed the law of three stages.
Herbert Spencer (1820 -1903) was bornin England. His school of
thought was “Social Darwinism”. He created a lengthy volume
on sociology; applied Darwinian evolution to social life; and he
coined the phrase "survival of the fittest".
George Herbert Mead (1863 – 1931) was born in Chicago,
Illinois. His School of thought was symbolic interactionism. He
advocated pragmatism.
New Jersey Newark (1917- 2011) was born in Los Angeles,
California. His major field was sociological and social theory.
He was famous for ethno - methodological indifference,
member methods, unique adequacy requirement, and shop floor
problem.
6
Karl Marx (1818 -1883) was born in Germany. His school
of though was socialism; conflict theory. He explained the
origins and functioning of Capitalism. He also
advocated socialism; argued that the history of all societies
is rooted in class conflict.
Max Weber (1864 -1920) was born in Germany. He is well
known for several books, including The Protestant Ethic and
the Spirit of Capitalism. He is famous for Weberian
bureaucracy.
David Émile Durkheim (1858-1917) was
French sociologist. His school of thought was
functionalism; solidarism. He is famous for several books,
including: Suicide, The Elementary Forms of Religious
Life; The Division of Labor in Society. He started the first
journal of sociology.
Bourdieu, Pierre (1930-2002) was most well-known for
his cultural capital and habitus. He has contributed in
different field such as aesthetic, artistic, cultural, scientific,
social, philosophical and political.
7
Definition of Sociology
There is no single definition of sociology has been accepted as completely satisfactory.
Some key definitions of sociology are presented below:
Sociology is the science of social phenomenon subject to natural and invariable (constant) laws,
the discovery of which is the object of investigation.
-Herbert Spencer
Sociology is the general science of society.
-Kingsley Davis
Sociology is the science that deals with social groups.
- Harry M. Johnson
Sociology is the science of social institutions.
- Emile Durkheim
Sociology is the science of collective behavior.
- Park
Sociology is the science of social relations.
- Small
Sociology is the study of man- in relationship to man.
-MarchalJohens
Sociology is the scientific study of social life.
-OgburnNimkoff
Sociology is the science of social phenomenon.
-Franklin Henary Giddings
Sociology is the study of man and his human environment in their relation to each other.
-Henry Fairchild
8
Sociology is the science which attempts the interpretative understanding of social action in order
thereby to arrive at a causal explanation of its course and effects.
-Max Weber
Sociology is the scientific study of the social aspects of human life.
-Kimble Young and Raymond W. Mack
In the broadest sense sociology is the study of human interactions and inters relations, their
conditions and consequences.
-Morris Ginsberg
Sociology is a science of society.
L.F. Ward
Sociology is the study of basic structure of society and the factors that play a part in weakening
or strengthening that structure.
M. Weinberg and Oscar
Sociology is about social relationship, the network of relationship we call society.
MacIver and Page
Sociology is the study of relationship between human beings and their human environment.
Fair Child
By all the definitions above, it can be understood that sociology is the systematic
description and explanation of society viewed as a whole. Sociology tries to get the picture of
total life of individuals in relation to his fellow individual in the human society. It observes the
social happenings, as every other social science does. But sociology does so with the help of
research techniques and tries to seek the information from various sources. Then it relates the
social facts with other social facts to obtain cause and effectrelationship. So, Sociology is
concerned with, human his/her social relations and his/her society.
9
Characteristics
Sociology is a science of society.
Sociology is a science of social institutions.
Sociology is a science of collective behavior.
Sociology is a science of social relations.
Sociology is the study of human being in relation to other human beings.
Sociology is the scientific study of social life.
Sociology is the science of social phenomena.
Sociology is the study of relationship between human beings and their human environment.
Sociology is the study of basic structure of the society.
Sociology is the scientific study of social aspects of human life.
Nature of Sociology
Some of the social scientists and social thinkers do not acknowledge sociology to be a
science because they believe that sociology does not utilize scientific methodologies. Despite
this difference of opinion, some have a vision that sociology is a science.
Sociology, a separate discipline of social sciences, is not free from controversies. As it is
described above, one group emphasizes that the nature of sociology is scientific whilst the other
group holds the opinion that sociology is not a science. In fact, 'Science' refers to an approach,
which helps us in the understanding of anything, objectivity in a precise manner or a systematic
way. Those who claim that sociology is a science argue that sociology tries to obtain precise and
systematic knowledge about social reality. They often state the following reasons to explain the
scientific nature of sociology.
Those who believe sociology can't be regarded as science state the following reasons
•
Problem of Experimentation: The term 'science' is often used for physical science.
When we consider the physical science, it is related to two processes: experiment and
10
prediction. The subject matter of sociology involves human relationship that cannot be
analyzed in laboratory. In other words, society is so complex that it is very difficult or
impossible to separate and analyze the complex components of society as can be done in
physical science. Sprott observed that if you cannot conduct an experiment, if you cannot
measure, if you cannot establish a broad unifying hypothesis and if you cannot be
confident in your social engineering, you cannot be said to be engaged in scientific study
at all.
•
Problem of Objectivity: Social relationships are complex phenomena. They are
changeable in nature. Each man shows prejudice and bias behavior. Considering these
natures of an individual, one cannot maintain complete objectivity with the objects of its
experiment, as does a physical scientist.
•
Problem of Exactivity: In physical science, observation and hypothesis are used to
under-pin certain laws. These laws are used to accurately predict results which are mostly
accurate and precise. On the other hand, the results obtained from the study of sociology
cannot be expressed in precise terms and its prediction might not be accurate. In addition
to this, the findings from sociology are limited from time to time and society to society.
•
Insufficient Terminology: Some argue that sociology does not have clear, concise and
exact terminology. In fact, sociology has not yet developed a set of scientific words. Most
of the terms are confusing and ambiguous. Words such as caste, class, religion, customs
etc are used in vague sense. Words 'class' is sometimes replaced with the word 'caste'.
Therefore, there is no consensus among sociologists on the definition of such terms.
Those who believe sociology can be regarded as science state the following reasons.
•
Use of Scientific Method: It is true that sociology does not have the laboratory, as does
physical science. However, sociology employs scientific methods for research for the
study of social animals. Questionnaires, interviews, case studies etc. are employed for the
quantitative measurements to social phenomena. For sociology, the society is the social
laboratory.
•
Concept of Lab: The arrangements for the laboratory are sometimes not applied in the
case of physical science. The heavenly bodies cannot be put in the laboratory but
11
everybody believes that astronomy is in the subject area of science. This argument leads
some social scientists to believe sociology as a science.
•
Use of Observation Technique: Observation is the scientific method to study natural
phenomena at the time it occurs. It uses eyes rather than ears. Sociologists also use
observation to find cause and effect relationships between social phenomena.
•
Cause and Effect Relationship: Sociology traces cause and effect relationship for
different social events as does physical science. Sociology attempts to find out the answer
to how and why questions of different social events. For example, it tries to trace the
relationship between family disorganization, divorce and westernization etc.
•
Scientific Study: Sociology studies its subject matter scientifically. It tries to classify
social relationships and tries to determine the relationship between different facts of
social life.
Robert Bierstedt, in his book The Social Order, has mentioned the following features of the
nature of sociology.
Sociology is independent science.
Sociology is not treated as a branch of science or philosophy. It has its own study area
and methods of study and thus it is regarded as the independent science.
Sociology is a social science not a natural science:
Natural science studies the natural phenomena whereas sociology as one of the branches
of social science studies man as a member of the society.It is the family member of social
science. As a social science it concentrates on human, his/her social behavior, social activities
and social life.Sociology deals with the Social Universe distinguish it from physics, chemistry
mathematics, and other physical science.
Sociology is a categorical science not a normative one
Sociology does not suggest normative forms i.e. what behavior is right and what is
wrong. Sociology always adopts the realistic approach towards the study of society.It does not
make any kind of value- judgment. It is ethically neutral. It makes no recommendations on
matters of social policy or legislation or program
12
Sociology is a pure science and not an applied Science
Pure science is theoretical and studies the old principles. The main aim of pure science is
the acquisition of knowledge. It does not worry about the use of knowledge.The main aim of
applied science is to apply the acquired knowledge intolife. Each pure science may have its own
applied field. For instance physics is the pure science and engineering is its applied field.
Sociology as a pure science has its applied field such as administration, diplomacy (international
relations) social work etc. Sociology, the youngest brother of social sciences, concerns with
theoretical aspects of the society. However, some scholars believe that Sociology has both
theoretical and practical aspects.
Sociology is an abstract science not a concrete one:
Sociology observes all social phenomena by the general point of view. The concept of
society is an abstract, and sociology studies society, sociology analyzes the abstract concept.
Sociology is not interested in concrete manifestation (demonstration) of human events. It is more
concerned with the form of human events and their patterns. For example, sociology is not
concerned with particular wars and revolutions but with war and revolution in general, as social
phenomenon, as types of social conflict. This proves that society is an abstract science not a
concrete one.
Sociology is a Science of generalization and not an individual science
Economics studies the social phenomena from economic point of view; political science
studies the society from the political point of view and there is the sociology, a different form of
social sciences that studies a society from a general point of view. It tries find out the general
laws or principles about human interaction and association, about the nature, form, content and
structure of human groups and societies.It does not study each and every event that take place in
the society,e.g. marriage or religion or group etc.
Sociology is both a rational and an empirical science
The word empirical is related to the approach that emphasizes experience and the facts
that result from observation and experimentation whereas rationalism focuses to the reason and
theories that result from logical interference. As theories without facts are empty and facts
without theories are blind, Sociology is regarded as both a rational and an empirical science. The
13
Empiricist collects facts; the rationalist co-ordinate and arrange them.Theories and facts are
required in the construction of knowledge. So, in sociological inquiry both are significant
Conclusion:
In a nutshell, we find two groups holding opposite views on the controversy that weather
the nature of sociology is scientific or not. Science is a way of looking at reality in a systematic
manner. Physicist obtains knowledge about physical reality and sociologists obtain a systematic
knowledge about social reality. Science always emphasizes the method and can never give an
importance on subject matter. Any subject matter can be called science if one adopts a scientific
way of looking at reality. Thus, sociology should not lose its claim to be a science since it has
scientific methodology to explain social reality.
Methods of Sociology
Sociological study in its modern form centers on society and the society of man poses
certain questions, puts up certain problems for solution and produces facts that are far away from
being well defined. On the other hand, facts are well defined and presented in clear-cut form in
natural sciences. Complicated relationship amongst various aspects of life and individuals and
those existing in the nature itself makes sociological studies different from other sciences in
many respects. However, it is wrong to assume that the methods used in Sociology are wholly
different from those used in other form of scientific studies. Sociology uses these methods and
techniques in its study in order to analyze social phenomena in a systematic way. The major
methods used by sociologists are as follows.
Comparative Method
In this method, different institutions are studied in various societies in the various points
of time.
After the study, analysis and comparison is drawn to discover new facts or relations.
Thus it is a method of comparing various societies or groups within the same society to show
why they are similar or different in certain respects.
Historical Method
Historical method is that approach of study that draws our attention towards details of the
past. The classical sociologists did not have modern transport and communication system to
14
visit various places and naturally they had to rely more on written records than our actual
observation of the social phenomena. Darwin’s theory of evolution and Karl Marx’s law of
economic determinism are examples of this method.
Statistical Method
Statistical method refers to the method that is used to measure social phenomena
mathematically. Statistics include collection of numerical facts relating to any field of inquiry in
a systematic matter and their analysis and interpretation.
Case Study Method
The case study is a form of qualitative analysis. It involves very careful and complete
observation of a person, situation or institution. The idea behind this method is that any case
being studied is representative of many similar cases and thus it makes generalization possible.
Functional Method
Functional method is based on an assumption that the total social system of the society is
made up of parts, which are interrelated and interdependent. It is believed that each part has the
specialized function and any one part of the social system can be understood only in its
relationships with other parts as well as with the whole system.
Scientific Method
Scientific method is the way of investigation by which scientific or other systematic
knowledge is acquired. It yields conclusions, which have far greater reliability than the counsels
of common sense do. The primary task of scientific method is to discover of causal relations in
the diverse facts under it and to predict about future with the help of the causal relations.
Natural science follows the scientific method.
In order to achieve accuracy and
precision, scientists have developed a common technical way that enables others in the same
field to understand what the researchers has measured, and makes it possible for others to check
the findings of the first by measuring the same concepts in the same way. In sociology, we
follow the scientific stages from conceptualization of the problem to the presentation of the facts
and finally to presentation of findings. The followings are the stages of scientific inquiry in
sociological researches.
15
I)
Selection/ formulation of the problems
It refers to the selection and pin-pointing of the problem (a gap in knowledge i.e. hard to
understand) to be investigated. Selection of the problem may depend on availability of relevant
tools and techniques, an individual interest of researcher, practical utility of topic and so on.
II)
Formulation of hypothesis
In our day to day life, we often come across many incidents, which occur simultaneously.
While observing such incidents, we draw some inferences that one social happening leads to the
other. In short, we try to find the causal relationships between some propositions. Hypothesis is
the proposition to be tested that is anticipated to be correct. If the facts/ propositions so gathered
prove the tentative statement, then the hypothesis becomes a theory, otherwise it becomes
invalid. In scientific studies, hypothesis formulation is regarded a very important part.
III)
Research design
Before starting any research project, the researcher needs to plan the research project. It
involves the whole process of research in which the researcher has to formulate the appropriate
method and tools of data collection.
IV)
Data collection
After preparing plan of every stages, the researcher proceeds to the field equipped with
appropriate tools or techniques, like observation, case study, interview etc. The data is collected
in the field to gather relevant information regarding the issue.
V)
Classification and tabulation of data
Once the relevant facts are observed and collected in an appropriate way, we must
classify or set them in a special arrangement in accordance with a relevant order. Statistics will
be a great help for arraying the facts or tracing the correlations.
VI)
Analysis/ generalization/ getting conclusion
After the tabulation of data, we come to certain conclusions that we try to generalize in
relation to time and space, as every finding is time and area specific.
VII)
Formulation of theory
In the above four stages, a researcher comes in a position to confirm whether a hypothesis
is valid or not. If the hypothesis is found valid, it becomes the theory. When the theory is well
established and found to be correct invariably, it is regarded as a law.
16
Limitations of Scientific Method
I)
Difficulty in applying experimental/ laboratory method
Each individual has its own motives, emotions, opinions, feelings, ideas etc and thus it is
very hard to investigate an individual in relation to his social relations. World of everyday living
is the laboratory of the sociology. So, it is difficult to control over the people.
II)
Interdependence of cause and effect
As we do in natural sciences, it is hard to find which cause is and which effect in most of
the social issues is. For instance poverty is due to beggary, or beggary is due to poverty, it is
very difficult to distinguish in every situation. This phenomenon limits the scientific studies of
Sociology.
III)
Intangibility of social phenomena
Social phenomena are not the things that are seen or touched. These intangible things are
really difficult to investigate scientifically as we do in natural science. We cannot see or touch
relations. How can we demonstrate values? Can we show our religion to others?
IV)
Complexibility of social data
Human behavior is influenced by many factors such as physical, social, psychological
etc. so; it is difficult to study sociology scientifically. People show prejudice and bias behavior
and the observer may confuse with complex social data. Therefore, it is very hard to make a
scientific investigation of complete social nature of human being.
V)
Unpredictability
It is very hard to predict the behaviors of human beings. There is dynamic characteristic
of society. Social phenomena are ongoing process. It is difficult to prediction. Therefore, it is
very hard and even impossible to formulate the laws of all time and place as we do in natural
science.
VI)
Problem of objectivity
While making systematic investigation of social phenomena, the researcher may have its
own idea, prejudice, opinion etc. This nature of the researcher always acts to deviate the result
of the social research. There is the subjective nature of social phenomenon. The social researcher
or observer is also a component of the society. So, in the study there is the possibility of
biasness. Hence objectivity is difficult to maintain.
17
Subject Matter of Sociology
It appears to be easy to say that what the sociologists study but when we peep into its
subject matter, it doesn't have its own subject matter and have the matter of other social sciences.
This may be a reason why some critics believe sociology as the mishmash of all social sciences
and it doesn't have its own subject matter. In fact, many of the topics, which we include in
sociology, may overlap with that of other branches of social sciences. However, sociologists
believe that sociology borrows the subject matter from other social sciences and gives this a
distinct form just as we collect different construction materials, like cement, bricks, lime iron,
sand, and wood, to construct a building. But after construction, the building is no more remain
the brick, lime, iron etc. Therefore, sociological subject matter is now distinct by its technique
although it has a similar subject matter as it has with other social sciences. We can understand
sociological subject matter with the views of some sociologists.
MacIver believes that sociology is a study of web of human relationship. This definition
delineates the subject matter of sociology. Many things can be put under the human relationships
and the social contents such as group, family community, association or the matters connected to
the human relationships, can be a subject matter. Another sociologist Johnson has a similar view.
He says that sociologists study various types of groups, their elements, as well as the factors that
bring about changes and stability in a group.
Ginsberg, the other pioneer sociologist, has put forward four major areas, which can be
included in the subject matter of sociology. The major areas are: social morphology, social
process, social control and social pathology. Social morphology is the study of the shape and
structure of a society such as the rise and fall of population, its qualitative and quantitative
aspects etc. Ginsberg has also included various types of group, institutions, associations etc
within social morphology. Within social process, interactions between individuals or groups are
described. Thus, social processes include cooperation, conflict, competition, accommodation etc.
Social control maintains the individuals by developing the customs, terms, tradition etc.
Religion, tradition, motivation, folkways, laws etc are the main subject matters of social control.
Another subject matter proposed by Ginsberg is social pathology that describes the changing
18
factors of society and causes of social problems or those behaviors which may occur in society
but are not acceptable by the society at large is the main subject matter of social pathology, such
as family disorganization, suicide, beggary, prostitution etc.
Emile Durkheim has also given some areas of sociological concern. He believes that
three types of subject matter (Social morphology, social physiology and general sociology)
should be included as the subject matters of sociology.
Thus, there are various views regarding the subject matter of sociology. In fact, sociology
borrows its subject matter from other social sciences and gives a completely new form by using
its own tools and techniques. This has made that there is no any limitations of the subject matter
of sociology. Therefore, American Sociological Association and some leaders of sociological
profession got an agreement about the topics that have constituted the subject matters of
sociology.
Inkeles, Alex (1999: 12), What is Sociology, Prentice Hall of India Private
Limited, Delhi
The general outline of the subject matter as which almost everyone would agree can be presented
as below.
I)
II)
III)
Sociological Analysis
-
Human culture and society
-
Sociological perspective
-
Scientific method in social life
Primary units of social life
-
Social acts and social relationships
-
The individual personality
-
Groups (including, ethic and class)
-
Communities (urban and rural)
-
Association and organization
-
Population
-
Society
Basic social institution
-
The family and kinship
-
Economic
19
IV)
-
Political and legal
-
Religions
-
Educational and scientific
-
Recreational and welfare
-
Expressive
Fundamental social processes
-
Differentiation and stratification
-
Co-operation, accommodation, assimilation
-
Social conflict (including opinion formation, expression and change)
-
Socialization and indoctrination
-
Social evaluation (the study of values)
-
Social control
-
Social deviance (crime, suicide etc.)
-
Social integration
-
Social change
Sociology in Business Management
There is inter- relationship between sociology and business. Sociology, with its focus on
groups, organizations, and human interaction is a natural complement to business. And, it is a
degree that is increasingly well received in the business world. Without a good understanding of
others, co-workers, superiors and subordinates, customers, competitors, and all of the roles that
each play, it is nearly impossible to succeed at business. Sociology is a discipline that enhances a
business person’s ability to manage these relations.
The sociology provides a comprehensive grounding in key business and economics
subjects and equips you with the knowledge and analytical tools to understand today's market
economy in its broader historical and social context.
By the actual knowledge of sociology you can learn to read the interests of those
important to the business before they actually tell you. This means you are always in a
learning/researching mode, constantly observing and making notes of the patterns of these
20
people. Sociology provides you with the tools and perspectives necessary to do this part of the
work.
There are many possibilities in the business world for those with a sociology degree.
Depending on your experience and skills, jobs could range from sales associate to business
analyst to human resources to marketing. Students interested in business careers with private or
non-profit firms can emphasize courses in law, occupations and professions, corporate sociology,
or the sociology of work.
Some Model Questions for Assignment
Write Short answer of the following questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What do you meant by sociology?
Explain brief about the evolution of sociology.
List down any five name of the sociologist with their contribution.
What is the meaning of nature of sociology?
Make a list of the methods which are used for acquiring the knowledge of
the sociology.
Write the elongated answer of the following questions
6. “Sociology is a categorical science but not normative”. Explain this
statement with proper examples.
7. Explain the scientific method of studying of sociology with its limitations.
8. What are the common subject matters of the sociology? Make a tentative
list of the common contents of the sociology.
9. Why is it necessary to study sociology for the students of business
management?
10. Write short notes on: a. Formulation of hypothesis
b. Problem of objectivity in social phenomenon
b. formulation of hypothesis
(Proper rubrics will be prepared to evaluate the quality of the answer written by
the students)
21
Bibliography
Bhushan, V. &Sachdeva, D. R. (2011).An introduction to sociology. New Delhi:KitabMahal.
Calhoum, C.Light, D. Keller, S. (1949). Sociology (6thEd.). New York:McGroaw Hill.
Haralambos, M. &Heald, R. M. (2000).Sociology: Themes and perspective. New Delhi:
Cambridge University Press.
Inkeles, A. (1999).What is Sociology.New Delhi: Prentice Hall of India Private Limited
MacIver, R. M. & Page, C. H. (1981).Society: An introductory analysis. New Delhi: Macmillan
India Limited.
Regmi, R. R. (2003). The essentials of sociology. Kathmandu: Buddha Academic Publishers.
Shankar Rao, C.N. (2000). Sociology: Primary principles (3rd edition). New Delhi: S. Chanda&
Company