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    Sociology

    The field of sociology is the study of human social behaviour, especially the study of the origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society. Sociologists typically use a macro-level lens to learn more about society and the structures it is comprised of.

    The actual term 'sociology' was coined by Auguste Comte, the father of sociology in 1838. Comte felt that science and scientific analyses and methodology could be used to study the social world and discover the laws that govern our social lives. He introduced positivism to sociology, which implies that the social world can be understood based on scientific facts.

    The three theorists from the 19th and 20th century that are most often cited in sociology are Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. All three men were originally trained in other academic disciplines but have contributed immensely to the modern academic field of sociology.

    The field of sociology has three major theoretical frameworks through which to view society:

    1. Structural Functionalism
    2. Conflict Theory
    3. Symbolic Interactionism

    To learn more about these frameworks and the popular theorists that contribute to them, please further explore this section of BrainMass.

    The traditionally popular fields of study within sociology include stratification, social class, culture, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, social mobility, secularization, law and deviance. In recent decades, sociologists have learned that basically all spheres of human activity are affected by the social structures within they operate, fields such an environment, health and military have opened up in the sociological discipline.

    Sociological methodology has also been expanding significantly in the last few decades. Social researchers now use a variety of qualitative and quantitative techniques. While the field classically had an interpretive and philosophical approach to the analysis of society, recent decades has given to the rise of mathematically analytical and positivist techniques, such as social network analysis.

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    BrainMass Categories within Sociology

    History of Sociology

    Solutions: 28

    In this section, the history of the academic field of sociology is explored.

    Research Methods

    Solutions: 142

    The methodology behind sociological research is explored in this section.

    Sociology of Culture

    Solutions: 77

    The study of sociology of culture has profound impacts in areas of the world as diverse as North America.

    Environmental Sociology

    Solutions: 16

    The field of environmental sociology studies the interaction and relationship between society and environment.

    Sociology of Education

    Solutions: 50

    The sociology of education investigates how our societal structures affect education and its outcome.

    Family & Childhood

    Solutions: 50

    Those who study the sociology of family and childhood study how the family social institution contributes to and interacts with general social structure.

    Sociology of Health and Illness

    Solutions: 47

    Sociologists who study health and illness have often studied the relationship between society and health outcomes.

    Military Sociology

    Solutions: 3

    Sociological study of the military has been influential in creating domestic and global military policy, especially in the post-war period.

    Workplace & Political

    Solutions: 115

    For most people in most societies, productive activity, or work makes up a large part of their life.

    Stratification

    Solutions: 230

    Social stratification is the process by which people are classified into groups based on shared socioeconomic conditions and is studied by all theoretical frameworks.