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Sociology Anthropology
- Scientific study of human society, origin, structure, function and direction - Social science that is concerned with human culture and its physical and
- Quantitative social science’ social characteristics that create culture
- Theories: polls, statistical analysis, sampling, and large collections of life - Often compare humans to another or even compare humans with animals
histories
- Data analyzed (often used by government and market researchers alike
- Practiced by Greeks - Observed and recorded by men since civilization (Herodotus and Tacitus)
- 19th Century (sociology was recognized as an academic discipline and - 18th century (codified study of cultures began)
became part of the university curriculum) - Done by Westerners (brought forth the racist theories about advancement
of different groups)
- Socius (Latin term: companion or associate) - Study of humankind in all times and all places
- Logos (Greek term: study) - Careful systematic study of humankind using facts, hypothesis, and theories
- Concerned with other culture’s language, values, and achievement in the
art and literature
- Committed to experiencing other cultures
- “Social Order” (Robert Bierstadt) - Interested in the overall culture of a group of people (social institutions, art,
o Social science (concentrates on man: social behavior, activities, and history, mythology, common mores
life) - Study societies all over the world
o Categorical (body of knowledge about human society) - Includes archaeology
o Pure science (aims to provide knowledge about human society)
o Generalizing (general laws or principles about human interactions and
association about the nature, form, content, and structure of human
groups and societies)
o General science (concerned with human interactions and life in
general)
o Rational and empirical science
Empiricism – approach that emphasizes the experience and the
facts that result from observation and experimentation
Rationalism – stressed reason and the theories that result from
logical inference
Summary:
Sociology Anthropology
Fields of social science (study the behavior of humans within their societies)
Used to understand own society Study of culture of other people
Analyzing data from a specific study Look at the bigger picture of human culture
Hard science (hard data) Soft science (case studies)
Introduction to Sociology
- Studies the influence that society has on people’s attitude and behavior
- Begins in late 19th century Europe
- The greatest development of sociology has taken place in the US after World War II
Other sociologist
Albion Small
- Founder of department of sociology (University of Chicago)
- Established American Journal of Sociology
W.E.B. Du Bois
- Black American who researches race relations (US)
Wright Mills
- Urged sociologist to get back to social reform
Robert K. Merton
- Stressed that sociologists need to develop middle-range theories