What is sociology?

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CHCCLD514A Analyse sociological impacts of sociological factors on

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Broadly speaking, sociology is a study of how a society operates or of social relationships

Sociology is based on the idea that an individual’s life journey is not just shaped on a series of individual choices, but that our life chances are influenced by a variety of forces outside the control of the individual

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Sociology often claims that the beliefs of a society and the knowledges of society are connected to power. Some sociologists claim that the ideas in a society will benefit some groups and individuals and at the same time disadvantage others.

Sociologists analyse how and why societies operate in certain ways and offer understanding and sometimes solutions to a variety of social issues and problems

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Sociologists are particularly interested in the issue of social power. How does power operate in society? Is power a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ thing? Does power lead to social inequalities? Is inequality a problem in Australian society?

Sociology is not simple and straightforward. It involves a range of competing theories and ideas. No theory is perfect and no theory can capture the exact nature of ‘reality’.

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C. Wright Mills considers sociology to raise three main questions:

What is the structure of this particular society and how do the parts relate to one another and to the whole?

Where does it stand in human history and the development of humanity as a whole?

What categories of people dominate in society at this particular time and how is it changing?

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This means looking beyond ourselves and considering the bigger picture of social organisation.

We need to consider the invisible forces which shape our own and other people’s lives.

Most sociologists would agree that this is important but they disagree on how to get there.

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Generally, the sociological imagination involves:

Questioning

Gathering information

Comparing different situations

Understanding history

Deciding on the value of

different theories

Ref: Bessant & Watts, 1999, Sociology Australia

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