Principles of sociology - University of London International ...

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21 Principles of sociology 14 Bauman, Z. Thinking sociologically. (Oxford: Blackwell, 1990). Berger, P. Invitation to sociology. (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1963). Mills, C. Wright The sociological imagination. (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1970). Websites www.sociolog.com This website gives links to a range of other sociology resources. www.sociology.org.uk This is a British sociology website, geared towards the British school syllabuses but it has a lot of good introductory material and useful links to specialist sociology websites. Video/DVD Introducing Sociology (halo vine, 2004) [www.halovine.com]. A short video/DVD giving some insights into ‘sociological thinking’ by explaining what sociology is about and showing how a sociologist might bring a very different perspective to everyday things like the mobile (or hand) phone and the security camera. Works cited Bowles, S. and H. Gintis Schooling in capitalist America. (London: Routledge, 1976) [ISBN 9780465097180 (pbk)]. Goffman, E. The presentation of the self in everyday life. (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1971) [ISBN 9780140213508 (pbk)]. Mead, G. Mind, self and society. (University of Chicago, 1934). Parsons, T. The social system. (New York: Free Press, 1951). Willis, P. Learning to labour. (Aldershot: Ashgate, 1993) [ISBN 9781857421705]. 1.1 Introduction We are living in a world of dramatic and unprecedented social change: new technologies and cultural upheavals are transforming our lives. As prosperity grows and cultural taboos break down, millions of people in modern industrialised societies are confronted by more choices than ever about how to live their lives. However, it seems that the drive for ever greater prosperity and new-found freedoms and lifestyle choices come at a price, as rates of crime, mental disorder, drug addiction and self harm continue to rise. So how did the world become this way? Why are people’s lives today so different from those of their parents and grandparents? What are the possibilities for our lives in the future? These are the questions that sociology asks and attempts to answer. Sociology is about trying to understand the social world, but it is also about trying to understand ourselves, and how societies make us who we are. This chapter is designed to help you start thinking like a sociologist. It is not about learning theories or facts and figures. It is about understanding what it means to ‘think sociologically’. It is simple and, we hope, you should find it quite easy to follow. Once you start thinking sociologically you will find the later chapters on research and theory and the topic areas covered later in this chapter and in Sections B and C easier to understand.
To make the most of this chapter, take time out regularly to stop and reflect on the points being made and attempt to answer the questions that have been set in the Activities. Do not rush the chapter, but rather ask yourself all the time, ‘What does this tell me about how a sociologist thinks about the world?’ Let’s start with an example. Before reading any further attempt the Activity below. Activity 1.1 A changing world Write down five ways that your life is different from that of your mother (if you are female) and your father (if you are male) when they were your age. If you cannot compare yourself with a parent for some reason, then choose another relative or acquaintance 20–30 years older than you. Look at your list. It doesn’t matter what you have written down. Obviously there are all sorts of possibilities. Maybe your aspirations are different from your mother or father? Maybe your values are different? Maybe you have (or hope to have) very different work from your mother or father? Now try to account for those differences. How would you explain them? Are they just individual differences, or can you relate them to wider changes in your society? For example, have educational opportunities, patterns of work or certain social values changed since your parents were young? Do you think these might have influenced some of the differences you have identified between yourself and your mother or father? By asking yourself these kinds of questions, by exploring how personal lives may be influenced by wider social changes, you are already starting to think like a sociologist. 1.2 Approaching sociology Critical thinking So how should you approach studying sociology? It’s important to make it clear from the start that sociology is not a subject you can simply learn. You also have to question things, compare different ideas and, sometimes, you have to criticise what you read. So if you find yourself simply trying to remember lists of facts you need to learn in a different way in order to do well in sociology. Lists of ‘learned’ points will not impress examiners. Sociology is primarily about understanding ideas, and examiners will be looking for evidence of this understanding. More specifically, to do well in sociology, you must be able to: • describe key sociological ideas, theories and studies • discuss and compare sociological concepts, theories and studies • apply sociological ideas, theories and studies to different aspects of social life. All these skills involve active learning and thinking. Active learning Some people may tell you that examinations are all about memory. This is wrong. Obviously, you have to recall information in all subjects, but the main emphasis in sociology is on testing your thinking abilities rather than your memory. You have to apply your knowledge to the problem, or question, that has been set. This involves actively thinking rather than passively trying to absorb information as a sponge absorbs liquids. Chapter 1: What is sociology? 15
Page 1 and 2: Principles of sociology R. Gosling
Page 3 and 4: Contents Introduction .............
Page 5 and 6: Section C .........................
Page 7 and 8: Introduction What this course is ab
Page 9 and 10: The structure of the course Section
Page 11 and 12: There may be some overlap with the
Page 13 and 14: Reading for Section C These chapter
Page 15 and 16: The examination and examination adv
Page 17 and 18: Section A: Social theory and resear
Page 19: Chapter 1: What is sociology? Writt
Page 23 and 24: • personal relationships with peo
Page 25 and 26: Now read This is a good place to st
Page 27 and 28: crime actually plays a part in main
Page 29 and 30: Most people - including most people
Page 31 and 32: Max Weber (1864-1920), another key
Page 33 and 34: Activity 1.6 Self and society Imagi
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Page 37 and 38: Sociologists use the term socialisa
Page 39 and 40: Activity 1.12 Presentation of self
Page 41 and 42: Can you identify the times in this
Page 43 and 44: Chapter 2: Sociological research Wr
Page 45 and 46: the social world. This is why under
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Page 49 and 50: Activity 2.2 Reliability and replic
Page 51 and 52: Research example: authenticity/ecol
Page 53 and 54: and this can provide a basis for ex
Page 55 and 56: Quantitative research designs: •
Page 57 and 58: Stratified random sampling is a spe
Page 59 and 60: Experimental and evaluative researc
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Page 63 and 64: est fit their theoretical views of
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way where the strengths of one meth
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Chapter 3: Theory and research Writ
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As we observed in Chapter 1, sociol
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least have shared the same kind of
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Empiricism Another characteristic o
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The same question is now being rais
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Methods The aim of interpretivist a
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Realists do not make the clear sepa
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A reminder of your learning outcome
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