Introduction to Sociology

Sociology is the study of society. More specifically, sociology is a social science that looks at the interconnections and interactions between individuals, groups, and institutions. Sociologists study all aspects of social life all over the world, in both the present and the past. Groups and institutions make up much of social organization, and sociologists are interested in how individuals shape institutions and groups, and conversely how the groups and institutions shape the individual.

We all belong to many groups; you’re a member of your sociology class, and you’re a member of your family; you may belong to a political party, sports team, or a chat room online; you’re a resident or citizen of a country, and you’re a part of a generation. You may have a somewhat different role in each group and as an individual, feel differently in each.

Groups vary in their sizes and formalities, as well as in the levels of attachment between group members, among other things. Within a large group, smaller groups may exist, and each group may behave differently.

At a music concert, for example, some may enjoy singing along, others prefer to sit and observe, while still others may join in a mosh pit or try crowd surfing. Why do we feel and act differently in different types of social situations? Why might people of a single group exhibit different behaviors in the same situation? Why might people acting similarly not feel connected to others exhibiting the same behavior? These are some of the many questions sociologists ask as they study people and societies.

Institutions are social structures in society. These structures help organize society as a whole. Each of these structures provides a function, often create conflict, and create and challenge meaning for members within the institutions and beyond. How do we know a structure is an institution? It needs to have a structure that is apparent to both members and non-members. This structure contains three elements:

• sense of order and organization
• sense of hierarchy and power differences
• roles for both individuals and groups

KEY INSTITUTIONS IN SOCIOLOGY:  family, economy, education, politics, religion, and media.

Of course, there are many other institutions that sociologists study, but looking across the ‘life’ of sociology as a discipline, these institutions tend to remain the most common focus of study.

Sociologists can address the interconnections between individuals, groups, and institutions on a micro  or a macro  scale. Some research includes both. Working from the micro-level entails studying small groups and individual interactions in a particular time and place with a specific culture. The macro level analysis look at trends among and between large groups and institutions on the national and/or global scale. For example, a micro-level study might look at the accepted rules of conversation in various groups such as among suburban teenagers in New England or business professionals in the tech industry in Silicon Valley. In contrast, a macro-level analysis might research the ways that language use has changed over time or in social media outlets around the globe.