PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY

PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY

Description

Sociology is a discipline that is focused upon self-reflection. It also analyses and studies the process of social construction; through an active production and creation of the reality and social world. It is grounded upon principles that make the sociological perspective and the sociological research (Tepperman et al. 2015).

Certain principles are overlapped and govern the art of sociology. That is: social interaction is the root for the societal construction, interactions reflect what people believe as the members of the groups, all societies are made into social units, modes of behavior bring out differences in social relationships, change is crucial and essential in survival, social behaviors should be explained with evidence and scientific work is used to improve human social life (Tepperman, et al. 2015).

The mentioned aspects of sociology are used in every part of social life. The behavior of a human being is influenced majorly by society, which is made up of social interaction. As people interact, they teach and learn new things that make up their character. The society is also based upon certain modes of social interactions that have been set and used to govern and control every new person. It is also a magnification of individual behaviors (Tepperman et al. 2015).

Data collection methods

A literature review was the major method used to collect data. Different pieces of work, such as books and academic articles, were used to compile the report. A reference to Herbert Spencer was also done to bring in details in the report. Interviews in the form of open-ended questionnaires were also applied to achieve authentic answers from the public and professionals. Intellectuals and experts in sociology were also interviewed to attain a deeper understanding of the latter (Sutton, & Austin 2015).

Introduction

Sociological principles govern human interactions. It also involves the way people create their lives, change, and improve the world around them. Sociological principles are important as they explain various issues facing the current society, such as the modes of dressing, sexual orientation, technology, and many others. Through the laws, it is easy to understand what causes particular human behaviors and how to handle them.

Literature review

According to Dimitris, society consists of social relations, institutions, and structure. He describes social relations as the arrangements that are achieved through social norms. Besides, he comments that social relationships are sustained and replicated by expected social roles. In his book, he also describes the social institutions, which are a result of condensed social relations. He also describes the social structure as the social relations within an institution. Thus this book has brought out some aspect of sociological principles which make the society; making it relevant to the research (Dimitris, 2018).

The author Zerihun Doda introduces sociology. In the book, he talks about the theories of sociology. He also describes the social systems and the fathers of sociology, such as Emile Durkheim, Herbert Spencer, Karl Max, and Max Weber. These people played a significant role in the study of sociology; their contributions exist until today. The book was useful as it also had more detailed information concerning sociology. It brought in details to the research as it covered more areas and gave succinct explanations (Zerihun,2005).

Sociological theories.

Through the social conflict theory, there is an explanation for the structure of society. The theory describes influential and less powerful members of society. Through this theory, it is easy to understand the conflict, implementation, struggles, power, inequality, and exploitation that occurs in the community. It gives the reality of the widening gap between the rich and the poor. The poor try to be rich, but instead, they get poorer, while the rich get richer (Zerihun,2005).

Besides, there is also the social exchange theory, which talks of the benefits that one obtains through social interaction. Some of the benefits are such as money, goods, power, and status. Most people are believed to maximize the benefits they attain from their relationships. This instance describes matters such as trade and businesses happening presently. Due to the struggle for achieving the material things, people have ended up in such problems as a crime. The intense state of corruption and politics is also because of the trial to benefit from any forms of interaction (Zerihun,2005).

Social change

One of the most significant forms of social change is globalization. Globalization is the process through which organizations and institutions operate interdependently at an international level. Social interaction has caused globalization as people are able to operate more closely. One form of social change that pushed for the latter is technology. Through technology, there was the first creation of the transport system that made it easy to move to whichever part of the world.

Moreover, there was the use of technology to create social media that made it possible to communicate with any person from wherever. Organizations can also operate on online platforms and transact through the same. Human interaction has become more comfortable and quicker, as better results are easily attained. Dollarization has also made it easy to transact as all money is counted in terms of dollars. Transactions are made easier and smoother as one currency makes it easy to attain whatever one desires. Businesses from different continents can operate and share ideas. Hence, globalization has been boosted through technology, which causes unmanned human interaction (Sanford, 2017).

Analysis

Principles of sociology are used to explain the art of human interaction. Through continuous human interaction, there is the creation of society. According to the research, the community is made of complex a system that is social structure, social interaction, and social status. Findings indicate that social relations have contributed to continuous social change and events. Some of the things that have come along are such as an increase in crime as people struggle to attain money and status. Technology has also propelled the rate of globalization as communication has been enhanced and made easier. Through the sociological principles, it is easy to explain the reasons behind particular human behaviors. The adoption of new technology is proof that change is a crucial part of life as it enhances human survival. Different theories, such as the social exchange theory, have been used to show how people have created an easy way to attain goods and services through the use of money. Thus, social change is inevitable, and it comes along with principles. They explain particular forms of behavior (Sutton, & Austin, 2015).

Lesson learned from the topic (Easthope, 2017).

Through sociology, there is the opportunity to learn the societal structures and how they operate. It explains the stratification that is always present within society. There is an opportunity for any individual to move up the ladder if they work hard.

Without social relations, it is difficult for a society to exist. As people interact and share thoughts and ideas, there is the formation of a society. It is also hard for a society to exist without change due to continuous human interactions.

Through the principles of sociology, it is evident that people are because of their environment. When there is negativity within a society, people can join and interdependently remove the negative aspect of oppression. Collective action makes it possible to create social change and improve the community.

Lesson learned as a researcher (Bjuland, & Mosvold, 2015).

One of the lessons is that when conducting research, one needs to ensure they have the people skills. People management is essential as it helps in getting information from people with excellent knowledge. It also helps in bringing in the hidden details from people and using them in compiling the report.

While conducting research, there is exposure to several details that can be used in life. For instance, giving reports according to the information collected is one of the things learned. The records are for future reference.

The process of research was also learned as one can independently conduct an investigation and compile the reports. The necessary research tools were also a lesson I learned.

Lessons about sociology (Easthope, 2017).

Sociology is an aspect of life that humans require. They cannot exist without the latter. It helps to explain the issues surrounding human interaction. Critical thinking comes along with the sociological perspective as one learns to understand other people and their problems.

Summary

Sociology is an aspect of life that cannot be eliminated as it affects every part of human life. Some of the areas that are explained through the latter are such as social relations and the construction of society. Through social stratification, there is a view of social mobility, which brings along the aspect of human power. Social change also comes along as humans interact. Some of the lessons that come out in sociology are such as; the opportunity to turn around things when people within the society come together, critical thinking, and the existence of the society. Lastly, through research, there is the lesson of researchers learning people skills as they help to get more information. There is also critical thinking encouraged by sociological thinking (Easthope, 2017).

Conclusion

To wrap up, every individual makes up society and is governed by the sociological principles. Sociology teaches that society is not constant as there is the constant change that makes the survival possible. Social change also shows that one can move up the societal strata. Applying in sociology in life helps in teaching the empathetic skills to assist in understanding the other members of the society. Thus through the study of sociology, the community is improved.

Recommendations

While explaining the principles of sociology, it is essential to bring the up to date issues. Some of the problems that have been left out in the latter are sexuality and technology. These have made a significant impact on sociology, but scholars evade the topics. A more in-depth study on the same should be made.

Sociology should be made a way life just like math and sciences as it affects every aspect. It cannot be evaded; understanding the latter will make human life better and reduce the crimes occurring in the present.

References

Bjuland, R., & Mosvold, R. (2015). Lesson study in teacher education: Learning from a challenging case. Teaching and teacher education, 52, 83-90.

Dimitris Lallas, (2018). Principles of sociology: DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS ATHENS UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS.

Easthope, C., Maclean, R., & Easthope, G. (2017). The practice of teaching: A sociology of education. Routledge.

Sanford, N. (2017). Self and society: Social change and individual development. Routledge.

Sutton, J., & Austin, Z. (2015). Qualitative research: Data collection, analysis, and management. The Canadian journal of hospital pharmacy, 68(3), 226.

Tepperman, L., Albanese, P., & Curtis, J. E. (Eds.). (2015). Principles of sociology: Canadian perspectives. Langara College.

Zerihun Doda, M.A, (2005) Introduction to Sociology. Ethiopia Public Health Training Initiative. Debub University.