Reading and speaking

Pre-reading task

1. Why have you chosen sociology as the direction of your scientific work?

2. Name the most famous sociologists. What do you know about them?

3. What is the connection of sociology with other social sciences?

4. What do you know about the scientific method?

5. Read the text.

Sociology as a science

Sociology is the systematic study of the development, structure, interaction, and collective behavior of organized groups of human beings. Sociology is the youngest of social sciences. The most important names in sociology are: Auguste Comte (he was the first to use the term sociology), Herbert Spenser (he developed a theory of “social evolution”), Karl Marx (he developed theory of classes), Emile Durkheim (published Rules of Sociological Method), Max Weber (believed that methods used in natural sciences could not be applied in the social sciences). Sociology is a social science. Other social sciences include political science, economics and anthropology, including physical anthropology, and cultural or social anthropology. Psychology and social psychology are often confused with sociology. Psychology is the study of individual behavior and processes. Social psychology may have a sociological orientation and focus on social behavior as a 9-12research makes use of the scientific method, but the specific techniques of data collection and analysis differ from one sociological study to another. There are four general techniques: the case study, the experiment, the observational study, and survey. Time factors are extremely important; sociological studies may be cross-sectional, longitudinal, retrospective, or prospective.

Sociology uses the scientific method in its attempt to find answers to important questions. In this method of inquiry the following conditions must be adhered to:

1. Variable Evidence. Science inquires concrete and factual observation that can be checked for accuracy.

2. Rejection of Absolutes. Scientist must be prepared to examine new evidence.

3. Ethical Neutrally. Science may answer questions of fact but cannot prove that one value is better than another.

4. Objectivity. All observation must be recorded in unbiased terms, and stereotypes must be avoided.

5. Standardized and Stringent Study methods.

6. Professionalism. Sociological investigations, like all scientific investigations, should proceed through the following steps on the way to a conclusion: formulation of hypothesis; research design; collection of data; data analysis, drawing.

The study of sociology is important for many reasons.

•Through sociology we are able to take fresh look at the social environment, receive information about which we previously knew little or nothing.

•We may ultimately understand the social forces that influence our own behavior and behavior of those around us.

•The study of sociology may help to alleviate stereotypes and make us more flexible in adapting to novel situations.

•The insights of sociologists have been of great value to educators, community planners, medical workers, government officials, and businesses.

Answer the following questions

1. What does sociology study?

2. Why is sociology often confused with psychology?

3. Name the general techniques of data collection.

4. What conditions should be considered in the method of inquiry?

5. Speak about the importance of sociology.

6. Comment on the following statement: “Scientific progress is impossible without being concerned with the theory of knowledge”.