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Lecture One: Science and the Sociological Perspective
Chapter One: Read pages 2-12
Multimedia in Blackboard: Watch videos in the link titled - What is Sociology?
Did you know that when you registered for this class you signed up for a science class?
Don’t worry - most of your colleagues in this class did not know this and if all of a
sudden you’re getting butterflies in your tummy or a froggie in your throat, science is not
as intimidating as the rocket scientists would like us to believe…
Sociology today is considered a scientific discipline. Science is divided into two branches
referred to as the physical sciences and social sciences.
The physical sciences include disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics, physical
anthropology, geology, zoology, botany, etc. What the physical sciences have in common
is that they study all aspects of nature including organisms; from animals including
humans, to plants and the universe.
The social sciences include disciplines such as sociology, psychology, political science,
economics, cultural anthropology, etc. What the social sciences have in common is that
they study all aspects related to society created by humans past and present.
What the physical and social sciences have in common is that they both use the scientific
method to study and understand nature and society. The author of our textbook defines
the scientific method as “the use of objective, systematic observations to test theories
(Henslin, 2015, pg. G-5). Another way to think about the scientific method is that to
understand nature and society, scientists undertake research by making observations
and looking for measurable patterns. Generally a pattern occurs when we observe the
same or similar phenomenon occur at least three times. This is why we say “measurable
pattern” (once it might by an anomaly or an irregularity, twice – we might be on to
something, third time is the charm; it looks as something’s going on here!)
Example:
A biologist wants to understand how breast cancer cells mutate. She uses a microscope to
observe breast cancer cells and compares them to healthy cells. Her observations lead her
to identify a measureable pattern related to how cancer cells damage normal cells.
Do not plagiarize or copy from this document without using the appropriate citations.
R. Pires, 2014-2015. Material based on Henslin, James. Essentials of Sociology. Pearson, 2015.
A psychologist wants to know more about sibling relationships and uses a survey to
interview parents who have more than one child. She finds that the majority of parents
report that siblings compete with each other for parental affection.
A sociologist is interested in sport fan behaviors. He attends numerous sporting events
and observes that males that who attend sporting events with other males are more likely
to be vocal then males who attend games with female companions.
Food for Thought: The difference between the sciences and humanities is that scientists
use the scientific method. Humanities include disciplines such as philosophy and art.
These disciplines rely on the personal interpretations of the artist and consumer about the
meaning of life. What do you feel when you look at a work of art or read a piece of
literature? Do you think the artist meant for you to have this reaction?
Food for Thought: Think about what each of the following scientists might study and
how would h/she go about identifying measurable patterns.
Chemist-Astronomer-Cultural Anthropologist-Historian
Sociology is the scientific study of societies and human behavior.
You now understand the first part of the definition of sociology – “scientific study”
(Scientists use the scientific method – observations to identify measurable patterns).
Sociology is a broad discipline. This means that sociology has a lot in common with other
social sciences. For example in this class we will be studying culture, economy, politics,
social psychology, human development and many other topics listed in your Syllabus and
textbook Table of Contents. In fact, there are numerous fields of study that got their start
in sociology, or used to be closely interrelated with sociology:
Anthropology
Criminal Justice
Gender Studies
Demographics
Epidemiology
Public Health
Ecology
Social Psychology
Sociobiology
Social Work
Study of humans past and present
Study of crime and deviance
Women’s studies
Population studies
Patterns/effects of disease in populations
Prevention of disease in populations
How people influence the environment
Small group behaviors
Influence of evolution on social life
Improve life for individuals/groups
Do not plagiarize or copy from this document without using the appropriate citations.
R. Pires, 2014-2015. Material based on Henslin, James. Essentials of Sociology. Pearson, 2015.
All scientists depending on their field of study have a particular viewpoint that is shaped
by their discipline. For example biologists are more likely to believe that humans are a
product of evolution and genetics rather than the effects of people and our social
environment. A geologist might view modern humans as the product of climate changes
over millions of years. A psychologist might think of human behavior as a function of the
chemical processes of our brains.
Food for Thought: In the United States, the first two years of higher learning (freshman
and sophomore college years or your AA community college degree) consist of students
taking general education (GE) courses to expose you to a variety of different viewpoints.
This results in a critical thinker who is able to see different sides of an issue or a
problem and work on a solution while being able to communicate effectively (verbally
and through writing) with people from diverse backgrounds. These skills are valuable in
today’s global world regardless of the type of career you are pursuing.
So what is the sociological perspective? All sociologists share this viewpoint: we are the
products of our social environments, the society that we live in, and the culture of the
society that we belong to. Think about social environments as any group of people large
or small. Our social environment influences our personality development, behavior,
communication, and here’s the kicker. The social environment even influences the
opportunities that we have or don’t have.
Example:
How has your religious upbringing or lack of affected your thinking? How do laws affect
your behaviors? Do people with a criminal history face challenges than those with clean
records? How have your peers and friends affected who you are? Do people with college
degrees have different opportunities than those that don’t? Do males and females dress,
communicate and behave similarly as their favorite celebrities, artists and sport role
models? Are you becoming your mother and/or father as you get older? Do you have
opportunities that were not available to your parents or grandparents? How have
historical and current events affected your career choices? Do you wish you had more
money or do you wish you had enough water and food just to stay alive?
Do not plagiarize or copy from this document without using the appropriate citations.
R. Pires, 2014-2015. Material based on Henslin, James. Essentials of Sociology. Pearson, 2015.
How many of your answers to these questions have something to do with your genetics
and how many of your answers have something to do with the social environment?
Food for Thought: Think about why you’re taking this course at Valley College. What
societal forces such as the changing economy, cost of education, gas prices, time, etc.
have influenced your decision to attend Valley College? Do you see these societal forces
as limiting you or encouraging you?
Today both physical and social scientists believe that who we are is a combination of the
effects of evolution, genetics, and the social environment. Sociologists focus on
understanding the social environment, psychologists focus on understanding the brain,
biologists focus on understanding the effects of nature on who we are as humans, etc.
So in this class in order for you to receive a passing grade, you are required to
demonstrate your understanding of the sociological perspective. Get it? Good!
On pages 2-12 you will read about the history of sociology and the early sociologists that
put sociology on the map. Sociology as a scientific field of study began when the early
sociologists desired to study sociology objectively just as biologists and physicists were
studying the human body and nature.
Since sociologists study the effects of the social environment on our individuality we
mainly focus on understanding large and small groups. Using the scientific method we
seek to identify measurable patterns of groups. The patterns of groups are referred to as
social facts.
Example: This is an image of civil unrest in
Egypt. Think about other images of civil
unrest that have transcended different issues,
countries, and times. What commonalities can
you think of? How do people express their
anger and frustrations in public groups
regardless of culture? How do these social
facts (group patterns) effect individuals, for
example the individual in this image who has
decided to chain himself to a fence and risk
being arrested or worse!
(Image Source: Yahoo.com)
Do not plagiarize or copy from this document without using the appropriate citations.
R. Pires, 2014-2015. Material based on Henslin, James. Essentials of Sociology. Pearson, 2015.
Food for Thought: Read about Emile Durkheim and his classic study on suicide on
pages 6-7. We tend to think of suicide as one of the most individualistic acts a person can
do; the taking of one’s own life. But Durkheim found that there are group patterns or
social facts to suicide. Ahh…what are those social facts? You’ve got to read about it on
pages 6-7!
While sociologists study social facts, another influential sociologist by the name of Max
Weber (pages 7-8 in your textbook) made it clear that sociologists must practice value
free research when studying social life. Values are beliefs about how things ought to be
or beliefs about the differences between right and wrong. When sociologists observe
social life and since we are part of social life we have thoughts that may affect the
outcomes of our research studies and therefore as social scientists we have to work hard
not to have our personal values get in the way of our pursuit of knowledge.
People are complex beings and also have their own beliefs about how things ought to be.
When studying social life, not only do we have to strive to be value free but we have to
practice verstehen (German) translated “to understand.” We have to remove our own
values in an attempt to verstehen or understand social life.
Example: Do you think it is truly possible for females to understand (verstehen) the
American male experience? How about vice versa? Could a female explain to a male the
American female experience? In order for sociologists to study social life we have to
attempt to understand the experience of others and this can only occur if we put ourselves
into their shoes…you know the saying – “to know me is to walk a mile in my shoes”…
Food for Thought: Think about how your sex, race, sexual orientation, social class,
religious affiliation, age, marital status, culture, abilities, family and personal experiences
all affect your thinking. Now attempt to become a “blank slate” next time you have a
conversation with another person. Pay attention how your interpretations of the other
person are affected by your background.
Once scientists have identified measurable patterns through observations they explain
why these patterns occur. Explanations in science are called theories. Theories also spur
scientists to conduct more scientific research studies. If we can understand nature and
social life, we can make predictions about future scenarios.
Theory
Identifying Measurable Patterns
Food for Thought: Sociologists are valuable to policy makers and legislators. Through
scientific research we have theories that help us to understand social life and therefore
Do not plagiarize or copy from this document without using the appropriate citations.
R. Pires, 2014-2015. Material based on Henslin, James. Essentials of Sociology. Pearson, 2015.
make predictions. Read about the tensions between basic, applied and public sociology
on pages 11-12.
Sociologists use three main theories to explain social life. These theories are called
sociological perspectives because they have in common the sociological perspective.
Quick – what is the sociological perspective? Two of the theories are referred to as
macroanalysis theories (macrosociology) and one theory is referred to as a
microanalysis theory (microsociology). Let’s go back to the definition of sociology.
Sociology is the scientific study of societies and human behavior.
The study of societies refers to us using the two macroanalysis sociological perspectives
of structural functionalism (functional analysis in your textbook) and conflict theory.
These two sociological perspectives examine very large groups such societies and
systems for example the criminal justice system, education system or the military, etc.
The study of human behavior refers to us using the microanalysis sociological
perspective of symbolic interactionism. This sociological perspective examines small
groups such as your family, neighborhood, and workplace, etc.
Food for Thought: Psychologists also study small groups and so symbolic interaction is
the intersection between sociology and psychology and is also known as social
psychology. Our campus does not offer a social psychology course, but this class is a
requirement for sociology majors in universities. Sociology majors at the university level
will also need to take one or two courses in theory.
Pop Quiz: Lecture and Textbook pgs. 2-12
What is the scientific method? (Lecture)
What is the difference between physical and social sciences? (Lecture)
What is the sociological perspective? (Pg. 2 and Lecture)
What is meant by social facts? (Lecture)
What is verstehen? (Lecture)
What is the definition of sociology? (Lecture)
What is theory? (Pg. 12 and Lecture)
What is the difference between macrosociology and microsociology? (Lecture)
What is the definition of society? (Pg. 2)
What is meant by social location? (Pg. 2)
How did sociology become a field of study? (Pg. 4)
Who was Karl Marx? (Pg. 5)
What is social integration? (Pg. 6)
Do not plagiarize or copy from this document without using the appropriate citations.
R. Pires, 2014-2015. Material based on Henslin, James. Essentials of Sociology. Pearson, 2015.