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    Sociology Notes and Study Guide Lesson 1

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    beauty789
    This document provides an overview of the key concepts in sociology. It defines sociology as the systematic study of human society and social behavior, using the scientific method. Sociology examines social institutions, human interaction and communication, and the relationship between individuals and society. It can take both a micro-level perspective, focusing on interactions between individuals, or a macro-level perspective, looking at large-scale social structures. Research methods include quantitative analysis of numerical data and qualitative analysis of non-numerical data. The sociological perspective and imagination involve seeing the world through a sociological lens and understanding how individuals relate to broader social forces.

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    Sociology Notes and Study Guide Lesson 1

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    beauty789
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    This document provides an overview of the key concepts in sociology. It defines sociology as the systematic study of human society and social behavior, using the scientific method. Sociology examines social institutions, human interaction and communication, and the relationship between individuals and society. It can take both a micro-level perspective, focusing on interactions between individuals, or a macro-level perspective, looking at large-scale social structures. Research methods include quantitative analysis of numerical data and qualitative analysis of non-numerical data. The sociological perspective and imagination involve seeing the world through a sociological lens and understanding how individuals relate to broader social forces.

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    This document provides an overview of the key concepts in sociology. It defines sociology as the systematic study of human society and social behavior, using the scientific method. Sociology examines social institutions, human interaction and communication, and the relationship between individuals and society. It can take both a micro-level perspective, focusing on interactions between individuals, or a macro-level perspective, looking at large-scale social structures. Research methods include quantitative analysis of numerical data and qualitative analysis of non-numerical data. The sociological perspective and imagination involve seeing the world through a sociological lens and understanding how individuals relate to broader social forces.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    176 views2 pages

    Sociology Notes and Study Guide Lesson 1

    Uploaded by

    beauty789
    This document provides an overview of the key concepts in sociology. It defines sociology as the systematic study of human society and social behavior, using the scientific method. Sociology examines social institutions, human interaction and communication, and the relationship between individuals and society. It can take both a micro-level perspective, focusing on interactions between individuals, or a macro-level perspective, looking at large-scale social structures. Research methods include quantitative analysis of numerical data and qualitative analysis of non-numerical data. The sociological perspective and imagination involve seeing the world through a sociological lens and understanding how individuals relate to broader social forces.

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    Notes What is Sociology?

    The systematic or scientific study of human society and social behavior, from largescale institutions and mass culture to small groups and individual interactions. Sociology is a Social Science

    The disciplines that use the scientific method to examine the social world; in contrast to the natural sciences, which examine the physical world. Sociologys territory overlaps with that of the other social sciences, yet maintaining its own unique approach. Sociology:

    Compares the past and present to understand both; but sociology more likely focuses on contemporary society. Interested in societies at all levels of development Looks at a range of social institutions; each of which is focused on a single one Considers the relationship of people to places Examines human communication - at both the social and interpersonal level Looks at the individual in relationship to external forces Levels of Analysis: Different ways to approach the study of sociology Micro-sociology Zoom lens analogy concentrates on the interactions between individuals and the ways in which those interactions construct the larger patterns, processes, and institutions of society Macro-sociology Wide-angle lens analogy concentrates on large-scale social structures in order to determine how it affects the lives of groups and individuals Methodological Approach - gathering and analyzing data in order to establish certain facts, support certain theories, or disprove certain hypotheses about the social world. Quantitative Qualitative Quantitative Research - Numerical data - translates the social world into numbers that can then be manipulated mathematically Distills large amount of info into numbers that are more easily communicated to others. Qualitative Research - Works with non-numerical data (texts, photographs, tape recordings) Preserves the details of cases studied, rather than condensing into numerical data

    Notes May engage in participant observation; may conduct in-depth interviews, analyze transcripts of conversations, glean data from letters, diaries, and historical books, etc. Regardless of approach taken, all sociologists seek to illuminate the connection between the individual and society. The Sociological Perspective The first step to understanding the human life in society is to develop a sociological perspective This means thinking sociologically or taking a sociological approach Looking at the world in a unique way and seeing it under a whole new light The Sociological Imagination A quality of the mind that allows us to understand the relationship between our particular situation in life and what is happening at a social level. C. Wright Mills referred to sociological imagination as the intersection between biography and history, or interplay of the self and world. This is sociologys task and its promise. Culture Shock A sense of disorientation that occurs when you enter a radically new social or cultural environment. A way to gain a sociological perspective

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