Subject Matter, Scope and Concerns of Sociology
The scope of sociology is extremely wide ranging, from the analysis of passing encounter between individuals on the street up to the investigation of global social processes The discipline covers an extremely broad range that includes every aspect of human social conditions; all types of human relationships and forms of social behavior (Indrani, 1998). Sociologists are
primarily interested in human beings as they appear in social interaction and the effects of this interaction on
human behavior. Such interaction can range from the first physical contacts of the new born baby with its mother to a philosophical discussion at an international conference, from a casual passing on the street to the most intimate of human relationships (World Book Encyclopedia 1994. Vol. 18, PP. 564-567). Sociologists are interested to know what processes lead to these interactions, what exactly occurs when they take place, and what their short run and long run consequences
are. The major systems or units of interaction that interest sociologists are social groups such as the family or peer
groups; social relationships, such as social roles and dyadic relationships, and social organizations such as governments, corporations and school systems to such territorial organizations as communities and schools (Broom and Selzinki, 1973). Sociologists are keen to understand, explain, and analyze the effect of social world, social environment and social interaction on our behavior, worldviews, lifestyle, personality, attitudes, decisions, etc., as creative, rational, intelligent members of society; and how we as such create the social reality.
Levels of Sociological Analysis and Fields of Specializations in Sociology
There are generally two levels of analysis in sociology, which may also be regarded as branches of sociology:
micro-sociology and macro- sociology (Henslin and Nelson, 1995). Micro-sociology is interested in small scale level of the structure and functioning of human social groups; whereas macro-sociology studies the large-scale aspects of society. Macro-sociology focuses on the broad features of society. The goal of macro-sociology is to examine the large-scale social phenomena that determine how social groups are organized and positioned within the social structure. Micro-sociological level of analysis focuses on social interaction. It analyzes interpersonal relationships, and on what people do and how they
behave when they interact. This level of analysis is usually employed by symbolic interactionist perspective.Some writers also add a third level of analysis called meso-level analysis, which analyzes human social phenomena in between the micro- and macro-levels. Reflecting their particular academic interest sociologists may prefer one form of analysis to the other; but all
levels of analysis are useful and necessary for a fuller understanding of social life in society.
Box 1.4. Levels of analysis in sociology Micro-sociology: Analyzing small scale social phenomena Macro-sociology: analyzing large-scale social phenomena Meso-sociology: analysis of social phenomena in between the micro- and macro- levels.
Within these general frameworks, sociology may be divided into specific sub-fields on the basis of certain criteria. The most important fields of sociology can be grouped into six areas (World Book Encyclopedia, 1994: Vol. 18; Pp. 564-568).
The Field of Social Organization and Theory
of Social Order: focuses on institutions and
groups, their formation and change, manner of
functioning, relation to individuals and to each
other.
• Social Control: Focuses on the ways in which
members of a society influence one another so
as to maintain social order.
• Social Change: Focuses on the way society and
institutions change over time through technical
inventions, cultural diffusion and cultural conflict,
and social movements, among others.
• Social Processes: Focuses on the pattern in
which social change takes place, and the modes
of such processes.
Social Groups: Focuses on how social groups
are formed, structured, and how they function
and change.
• Social Problems: Focuses on the social
conditions which cause difficulties for a large
number of persons and which the society is
seeking to eliminate. Some of the problems may
include: juvenile delinquency, crime, chronic
alcoholism, suicide, narcotics addiction, racial
prejudice, ethnic conflict, war, industrial conflict,
slum, areas, urban poverty, prostitution, child
abuse, problem of older persons, marital
conflicts, etc.
Currently, sociology has got quite several specific subdivisions or fields of specialization in it: some of these include the following: criminology; demography; human ecology; political sociology; medical sociology; sociology of the family; sociology of sports; sociology of development; social psychology; socio- linguistics; sociology of education; sociology of religion; sociology
of knowledge; sociology of art; sociology of science and technology; sociology of law; urban sociology; rural sociology; economic sociology; and industrial sociology.
Major Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology
Sociology as science employs perspectives or theories to understand, explain, analyze and interpret social
phenomena. To interpret social facts, they must be subjected to a theoretical framework. A theory may be
defined as a general statement about how some parts of the world fit together and how they work (Macionis,
1997). Scupin and DeCorse (1995) define a theory as a set of interconnected hypotheses that offer general
explanations for natural or social phenomena.
It should also be noted that the terms “perspectives” and “schools of thought” are often used interchangeably with the term “theory”.
There are three major theoretical perspectives in sociology that have provided an overall framework for sociological studies. These are structural functionalism, social conflict theory and symbolic interactionism. There are also theories that have emerged challenging these major ones (see below).