TABLE OF CONTENT

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TABLE OF CONTENT

1.0 INTRODUCTION : WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?

1.1 MEANING & DEFINATION OF SOCIOLOGY

1.2 NATURE OF SOCIOLGY:

1.2.1 MEANING OF SCIENCE :

1.2.2 SOCIOLOGY IS A SCIENCE :

1.2.3 SOCIOLOGY IS NOT A SCIENCE:

1.3 SCOPE OF SOCIOLOGY:

1.3.1 FORMALISTIC OR SPECIALISTIC SCHOOL :

1.3.2 SYNTHETIC SCHOOL :

1.4 RELATIONSHIP & DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SOCIOLOGY

AND OTHER SOCIAL SCIENCE:

1.4.1 SOCIOLOGY AND HISTORY :

1.4.2 SOCIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY :

1.4.3 SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY

1.5 CONCLUSION:

BIBLIOGRAPHY
 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

1.0 INTRODUCTION : WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?

Sociology is a social science that studies human societies and
social behavior, their interactions, and the processes that preserve and
change them. It examines the dynamics of social groups, organizations,
and institutions, as well as the social processes that shape our lives.
Sociology also studies social status or stratification, social movements,
and social change, as well as societal disorder in the form of crime,
deviance, and revolution.

Sociology is a social science, not a natural science. This means that

it deals with human beings and social phenomena, rather than the
physical world. Sociology is also a positive science, not a normative
science. This means that sociologists are concerned with studying social
phenomena as they are, rather than as they ought to be.

Sociology is a relatively new discipline, having emerged in the

mid-19th century. However, it has quickly become one of the most
important and influential social sciences. Sociologists have made
significant contributions to our understanding of a wide range of social
issues, such as poverty, crime, education, and race relations.

The field of sociology emerged in the 19th century as a response to

the social changes brought about by industrialization and urbanization.
Sociologists study a wide range of topics, including social inequality,
social institutions, social change, culture, deviance, and socialization.

Sociology seeks to understand and explain social phenomena such

as social inequality, social institutions, social norms and values, social
movements, and the impact of social forces on individuals and societies.
It also explores the relationships between individuals and larger social
systems, and how these interactions shape and are shaped by social
structures and processes. Overall, sociology aims to provide insights into
the social world and contribute to the understanding and improvement of
society.
1.1 MEANING & DEFINATION OF SOCIOLOGY:

In the 19th century a French philosopher named Auguste Comte

(1798 – 1857) gave the name ‘Sociology’ to this new social science.
‘Sociology’ is composed of two words: Socius meaning companion or
associate, and logos meaning word. Thus, the term formed from these two
words means talking about society.

 According to Auguste Comte: Comte defines Sociology as

the science of social phenomena “subject to natural and invariable laws,
the discovery of which is the object of investigation”.
 According to Kingsley Davis: “Sociology is a general
science of society”.
 According to Morris Ginsberg: “In the broadest sense,
Sociology is the study of human interactions and inter-relations, their
conditions and consequences”.
 According to Anthony Giddens: “Sociology is the study of
human social life, groups and societies”.
 According to Emile Durkheim, one of the founding figures
of sociology, defined it as "the science of institutions, their genesis and
their functioning." He emphasized the role of social institutions, like
family, religion, and education, in shaping society.
 According to Max Weber, another influential sociologist,
described sociology as "the science which attempts the interpretive
understanding of social action in order to thereby arrive at a causal
explanation of its course and effects."
 According to H.P. Fairchild, “sociology is the study of the
relationships between man and his human environment”.
 According to J.F. Culler, “sociology may be defined as the
body of scientific knowledge about human relationships.
 According to R.E. Park and F.W. Burgess, “sociology is the
science of collective behaviour”.
 According to Kimball Young, “sociology deals with the
behaviour of men in groups”.
 According to G.Duncan Mitchell, “sociology is a science for
scientific social development”
1.2 NATURE OF SOCIOLGY:

There exists a great controversy about the exact nature of

Sociology. The root question is, whether sociology is a science?
Sociologists get divided among themselves into two opposite groups. For
one group of sociologists, sociology is a science because it adopts and
applies the methods of natural sciences for social investigation. Founding
fathers of sociology Auguste Comte, Emile Durkheim and others
subscribe to this view.

On the contrary, the other camp holds a different viewpoint that

sociology is not a science. German scholar Max Weber does not entirely
accept the mechanistic viewpoint of science as advocated by Comte.
However, sociology is a behavioural science which tries to explore and
explain social reality as objectively as possible.

1.2.1 MEANING OF SCIENCE :

Science is a body of systematic knowledge. Science is based on

reason and evidences. A science is “a branch of knowledge or study
dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and
showing the operation of general laws.” Science collects facts and links
them together in their casual sequence to draw valid inferences. Science
adopts scientific method. Scientific knowledge is acquired through
observation, experimentation, generalization etc. Science has the
following characteristics such as objectivity, observation, accurate
prediction, experimentation, accurate measurement, generalization and
cause-effect relationships.

1.2.2 SOCIOLOGY IS A SCIENCE :

According to Comte and Durkheim, “Sociology is a science

because it adopts and applies the scientific method. Sociology does make
use of scientific methods in the study of its subject matter. Hence
Sociology is a science. It is a science because of the following reasons.

(i) Sociology pursues scientific method: Sociology studies social

reality with the application of scientific method. It believes that
human action can be subject to scientific investigation like natural
phenomenon.
(ii) Sociology uses observation as a tool: Sociologist studies
social world as a social observer. The whole world is the laboratory
of sociology. The sociologist applies fieldwork method in the
understanding and interpretation of the human world.

(iii) Objectivity is possible in Sociology: Like natural sciences,

Sociology engages itself in objective analysis. Sociological insights
are based on facts emerging from field investigation.

(iv) Sociology describes cause-effect relationship: Like natural

sciences, sociology also traces the cause and finds answers to it.
While studying family or population growth, sociology traces the
relationship between family disorganization and divorce and
population growth and poverty. Family disorganization is the cause
of divorce and population growth is the cause of poverty. Thus,
sociology describes cause-effect relationship in social
disorganization and population explosion. Hence sociology is a
science.

(v) Sociology makes accurate measurement: Sociology, like

natural sciences also accurately measures social phenomena or
relationships. By using statistical method, socio-metric scale,
scales of measurement sociology effectively and accurately
measures social relationships. Hence Sociology is a science.

(vi) Prediction is possible: Like natural sciences, sociology does

frame laws and attempts to predict more accurately. On the basis of
cause-effect relationship, sociology can accurately predict about
future. If there will be dowry in society then it will lead to suicide,
poverty. Cuvier opines that this predictive value of sociology is
improved day by day. As Sociology matures day by day, it predicts
more accurately.

(vii) Generalization is possible: The notion that generalisation

drawn by social sciences is not universal is proved wrong. Like
natural sciences, sociology draws generalizations based fieldwork
which is universally applicable. The concept of incest taboo-
prohibited sex relationship among blood relatives is a universal
truth.
1.2.3 SOCIOLOGY IS NOT A SCIENCE:

There are some scholars like Max-Weber who deny the status of
science to Sociology. He said Sociology can’t be an objective Science.
However, those who deny the status of science to Sociology they put
forth following arguments:

(i) Lack of Objectively: Sociology cannot be called a science

because it cannot maintain complete objectivity with social
phenomena. Sociologist has his own prejudice and bias hence he
cannot observe his subject with complete detachment. Complete
objectivity in the study of human behaviour is impossible.
Sociology deals with social relationships which cannot be studied
like physical objects. Hence, objectivity is not possible in
Sociology.

(ii) Lack of Experimentation: Sociology is not a science because

it can’t make experimentation. Sociology deals with human
relationships which cannot be put to laboratory test. We can’t see
or weigh human relationship because it is abstract in nature. We
can’t do experiment with abstract things.

(iii) Lack of Prediction: Like natural sciences, Sociology can’t

accurately make prediction. Natural Sciences make prediction on
the basis of certain data. But Sociology deals with social
relationships and human behaviour which are so uncertain and
peculiar that we can’t make any accurate predication about it. We
can’t predict what will be one’s behaviour at a certain point of time
nor can we predict about the trends or speed of social change.
Hence sociology is not a science.

(iv) Lack of accurate measurement: Sociology can’t make

accurate measurement like natural sciences. There are definite
standards of measurement like kilogram or meter by which it is
possible to measure things. But in Sociology we have no such
measuring instruments. Besides sociology deals with social
relationships which are qualitative in nature and which can’t be
measured accurately in any yardstick. Hence Sociology is not a
science.
 (v) Lack of Generalisation: Sociology can’t make generalizations
like natural sciences which is universally applicable. Sociology
deals with human behaviour and no two individual are alike. Hence
the conclusions drawn by Sociology can’t be uniform or
universally applicable. Social Phenomena is so complex and
complicated and is governed by so many factors that it is really
difficult to draw a conclusion which will be universally applicable.

(vi) Terminological Inadequacy: Sociology has yet to develop

adequate sets of concepts and terminologies that can sufficiently
equip the scholars in theorization and explanation of social reality.
There is growing tendency among scholar to use commonsense
vocabularies in sociological discourses.

In Additions, Famous Sociologist Robert Bierstedt in his book “The social

order” clearly explains the nature of Sociology in the following way:

i. Sociology is a social and not a natural science.

ii. Sociology is a positive and a normative science.

iii. Sociology is a pure science and not an applied science.

iv. Sociology is an abstract science and not a concrete science.

v. Sociology is a generalizing science and not a particularizing science.

vi. Sociology is both a rational and an empirical science.

1.3 SCOPE OF SOCIOLOGY:

Every subject has its own scope and subject matter. Sociologists
differ among themselves regarding the scope of sociology. As a result,
there is no unanimity of opinion amongst scholars about the scope of
sociology. Some sociologists opine that sociology studies everything and
any- thing under the sun, whereas, others opine that the scope of
sociology is very limited as it studies only those things which are not
studied by other social sciences.

V.F. Calberton opines “since sociology is so elastic a science, it is

difficult to determine just where its boundaries begin and end, where
sociology becomes social psychology and where social psychology
becomes sociology or where economic theory becomes sociological
theory, something which is impossible to decide”. However, an attempt
has been made to demarcate the exact scope of sociology.

There are two main schools of thought among sociologists on the

issue of scope and subject matter of sociology: Formal school or
specialistic school of thought and synthetic school of thought.

1.3.1 FORMALISTIC OR SPECIALISTIC SCHOOL :

This school of thought is headed by German sociologist George

Simmel. Alfred Vierkandt, Leopold Vonwiese, Max-Weber, Albion
Small, Ferdinand Tonnies, E.A. Ross, Park and Burgess are other
important supporters of this school.

According to this school of thought the subject matter of sociology

consists of this school opine that sociology cannot study social life as a
whole. Hence, the scope of sociology is very limited. They want to keep
the scope of sociology distinct from other social sciences. They consider
sociology as a pure and independent science. However, the views of the
supporters of this school of thought regarding the scope of sociology are
discussed below:
(i) George Simmel: Formalistic school is headed by German
sociologist George Simmel. According to Simmel sociology should
confine its study to formal behaviour instead of studying actual
behaviour. Sociology comprehends the forms of social science
which describes analyses, classifies and delineates the forms of
social relationships, the process of socialization and social
organization etc. Simmel makes a distinction between the forms of
social relationships and their contents and opines that sociology
should confine itself in explaining different forms of social
relationships and study them in abstraction where as their contents
are dealt with by other social sciences. Co-operation, competition,
sub-ordination, division of labour etc. are different forms of social
relationships. As sociology confines itself in studying forms of
social relationships, its scope is very limited.

(ii) Alfred Vierkandt: Another leading supporter of formal

school Vierkandt opines that sociology is a special branch of study
which deals with the ultimate forms of mental or psychic
relationships. These mental relationships consist in love, hate, Co-
operation etc. which shape particular types of social relationships.
He maintains that sociology can be a definite science only when it
abstains from a historic study of concrete societies. Thus, in his
opinion the scope of sociology is very limited as it deals with the
ultimate forms of mental or psychic relationships like love, hatred,
co-operation, competition etc.

(iii) Leopold Vonwiese: Another main advocate of formal

school Vonwiese opined that the scope of sociology is very limited
as it only studies the form of social relationships and forms of
social processes. He has divided these social relationships and
social processes into many types. He has indentified more than 650
forms of human relationships. Similarly there are two types of
social processes in society such as associative and dissociative
which includes cooperation and conflict respectively.
 (iv) Max Weber: Another supporter of formalistic school Max-
Weber opines that the aim of sociology is to attempt an
interpretative understanding of social action and social and
classification of social action and social behavior. It should
confine itself in the analysis and classification of social action and
social behaviors. Social behavior is that which is related to the
behavior of others. As social behavior does not include the whole
of human relations, hence the scope of sociology is very limited.

(v) Albion Small: Another advocate of formal school A. Small

opined that the scope of sociology is much limed as it does not
study all the activities of society but only confine itself in studying
the genetic forms of social relationships, behavior and activities.

(vi) Ferdinand Tonnies: Tonnies has supported the formal

school and the idea of pure sociology. On the basis of forms of
social relationships he has differentiated between ‘Gemeinschaft’
(society) and ‘Gesellschaft’ (community) and opined that the main
aim of sociology is to study the different forms of social
relationship that comes under these two categories.

1.3.2 SYNTHETIC SCHOOL :

It came into existence in reaction to the formalistic school of

thought. It tries to make sociology a synthesis of the social sciences or a
general science and encyclopedic. According to this school of thought,
the scope of sociology is very wide and all inclusive. According to this
school of thought, different aspects of social life are inter-related. We
can’t understand society with the study of one aspect only; hence
sociology should attempt to study social life as a whole. Sociology
studies the whole of social life; hence its scope is very wide. The main
advocates of this school of thought are Emile Durkheim, L.T. Hobhouse,
P.A. Sorokin, Morris Ginsberg, Karl Mannheim, Alex inkles and many
others. Opinions of supporters of this school of thought regarding the
scope of sociology are described below.
(i) Emile Durkheim: The main advocates of synthetic school
Durkheim opines that the scope of sociology has three main
divisions or field of study i.e (a) social Morphology (b) Social
Physiology and (c) General Sociology.

a) Social Morphology: It includes all those subjects

which are fundamentally geographic, such as, population, its size,
density, distribution, mobility etc. This comprehends two studies.
First, analysis of the size and quality of the population in as much
as it affects the qualities of social relationships and social groups.
Second, study of the social structure, or a description of the main
forms of social groups of institutions as well as their classification.

b) Social Physiology: Social physiology is inclusive of

all those subjects that are studied by particular social sciences, such
as religion, economy, language, morals, law etc. In other words,
social physiology has different branches, such as sociology of law,
sociology of religion etc. which are regarded as special aspects of
sociology.

c) General Sociology: General sociology is the

philosophical part of sociology. Its function is to discover the
general character of these social facts and to formulate general
social laws.

(ii) L.T. Hothouse: Famous English sociologist L.T. Hothouse

holds similar opinion like Durkheim about the scope of sociology.
He represents the philosophical side of sociology. According to
him, sociology is a science which shows social life of man as its
sphere. He opines that it is possible to have a fuller comprehension
of the whole from the study of its parts. Hence, sociologist should
interpret social life as a whole. Keeping in mind the
interrelatedness of social relations, sociologists should try to
interconnect the results arrived at by social science. While studying
the parts, sociologists have to correlate the results of the study with
an eye to the whole of society. Then only the study of part
contributes to a fuller comprehension of the whole.
(iii) P.A. Sorokin: Sociology studies various aspects of the social
relationships hence can’t be called as a special science. He also
subscribes the view that sociology is a synthesis of the social
sciences or a general science. According to him, the scope of
sociology includes the study of general features of social
phenomena and the study of relationship between the different
aspects of social phenomena.

(iv) Morris Ginsberg: According to Ginsberg, Sociology studies

and classifies all forms of social relationship, studies the
relationship between individual and society and the relationship
among different aspects of social life such as economic, political,
religious, etc. He divides the scope of sociology into four main
divisions such as social morphology, social control, social process
and social pathology. Social morphology studies the quality and
quantity of population, social group, social structure, and social
institutions. Social control studies the mechanisms i.e. both formal
and informal by which society controls the behaviour of its
members. Social process studies different types of interaction like
cooperation and conflict. Social pathology studies social problems
of poverty, population, crime etc. According to him the main
functions of sociology is to discover sociological Principles of
social life and tries to determine the relation between different
parts of social life.

(v) Karl Mannheim: Another supporter of synthetic school of

thought Karl Mannheim opines that the scope of sociology is very
wide. He divides sociology into two categories such as systematic
and general sociology and historical sociology. Systematic and
general sociology deals with main factors of living together found
in different kinds of society where as historical sociology deals
with the historical variety and general forms of society. Historical
sociology has two divisions such as comparative sociology and
social dynamics. Comparative sociology is concerned with
historical of features. On the other hand, social dynamics is
concerned with the interrelations between social factors and
institutions in a particular society.
(vi) Alex Inkles: Another protagonist of synthetic school of
thought Alex Inkles opines that the scope of sociology includes
social analysis, Primary concepts of social life, Basic social
institutions and social processes.

Thus, it may be concluded that there is no conflict between

two schools of thought about the scope of sociology. Sociology is
both a general science and a special science. It synthesizes all
special science. Hence the scope of sociology is very wide. One
school studies the part and other studies the whole. Both part and
whole are interrelated we can’t study the part without studying the
whole and vice-versa.
1.4 RELATIONSHIP & DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SOCIOLOGY
AND OTHER SOCIAL SCIENCE:

Sociology is a science of society. It endeavours to study the social

life as a whole. But Social life is a complex one. Life of man is many
sided, like economic, political, religious and so many aspects. So, in order
to understand social life as a whole, there is needed help from other social
sciences. It clearly shows that Sociology cannot have an existence
independent of other social sciences. It is note worthy that no aspect of
human life can be detached from its social aspect. The various social
sciences are very much dependent on Sociology. So it may be imagine
that Social Science is a unity, but it is not a fictitious unity. It is a
dynamic unity of operating parts, and each part is indispensable to each
and all of the other.

However, Sociologist continue to emphasize their attempts to

explain the autonomy of the field of Sociology and connection and
distinction between Sociology and some of the more important social
sciences.

1.4.1 SOCIOLOGY AND HISTORY :

Sociology and History are intimately related social science.

According to C.E. Howard, “History is Past Sociology and Sociology is
Present history.”

The relationships of these two social sciences are as follows:

(i) History is the record of the life of societies of men, of the

changes which the societies have gone through, of ideas
which have determined the actions of these societies and of
the material conditions which have helped or hindered their
development.
Sociology is connected with the study of the historical
development of the societies. It studies the various stage of
life, and their various forms of social institutions.
(ii) History supplies facts which are interpreted and co-ordinated
by the sociologist. In the same way Sociology gives the
social background for the study of history.
(iii) It is rightly said that the study of history would be
meaningless without the appreciation of social significance.
 If history is to be useful to understand the present and to
serve as a guide for the future, Sociology interpretation of
facts is absolute essential.

But inspite of these connection or relation ,it can be also

distinguished from each other from the following aspects:

(i) History is concrete and Sociology is abstract science of

human experience and human nature.
(ii) The Primary interest of the Sociologist is to find the general
laws of the society. But that of the historian to narrate the
historical events in their chronological order.
(iii) Both the history and Sociology have different attitudes.
History deals with events in all their aspects while Sociology
study them from the view point of social relationship
involved.

1.4.2 SOCIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY :

Sociology is a science of society. Hence it is closely related to

other social sciences and so also with psychology. Sociology and
Psychology are very closely interlinked, interrelated and interdependent.
Relationship between the two is so close and intimate that Psychologist
like Karl Pearson refuses to accept both as special science. Both depend
on each other for their own comprehension.

Their relationship will be clear if we analyze their interrelationship

and mutual dependency.

(i) Sociology is a science of social phenomena and social

relationship. It is a science of social group and social
institutions. It is a science of collective behaviour. It studies
human behaviour in groups. But psychology is a science of
mind or mental processes. It is a science of human
behaviour. It analyses attitudes, emotions, perception,
process of learning and values of individuals and process of
perception, process of personality formation in society. In
the words of Thouless, ‘Psychology is the positive science of
human experience and behaviour.’
 (ii) But both the sciences are closely related to each other which
can be known from the following. Sociology receives help
from Psychology. Psychology is a part of sociology hence
without the help from Psychology; Sociology can’t
understand itself fully and properly.
(iii) There are many psychologists like Freud, Mac Dugal and
others who have enriched Sociology in many respects. They
opine that the whole social life could be reduced finally to
psychological forces. Each and every social problems and
social phenomenon must have a psychological basis for the
solution of which sociology requires the help form
psychology.
(iv) A new branch of knowledge has developed with the
combination of sociology and psychology which is known as
social psychology. Similarly, psychology depends on
Sociology to comprehend itself fully. Psychology also
requires help from sociology in many cases. As human mind
and personality is being influenced by social environment,
culture, customs and traditions hence psychology takes the
help form Sociology to understand this.
(v) To understand human nature and behaviour properly
psychology depends on sociology. There are many
Psychological problems which must have a social cause.
Psychology requires the help from Sociology to understand
these social problems.

Thus, Sociology and Psychology are mutually dependent on each

other. One can’t comprehend itself without the help form others.

Differences: However, in spite of the mutual relationship and

dependence both the sciences differ from each other in the following
ways.

(1) Sociology is a science of society but Psychology is a science of

mind.

(2) Scope of Sociology is wide whereas scope of Psychology is

limited.
 (3) Society is the unit of study in sociology but individual is the
unit of study in case of Psychology.

(4) Sociology studies social processes whereas Psychology studies

mental processes.

(5) Sociology studies and analyzes human behaviour from

Sociological angle whereas psychology studies and analyses human
behaviour form Psychological angles.

1.4.3 SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY :

Sociology is the mother of all social sciences. Hence it has close

and intimate relationship with Anthropology. The relationship is so close
that Anthropologists like A.L. Kroeber consider Sociology and
Anthropology as twin sisters. They often appear as two names for the
same subject. R. Redfield recognizes the closeness between these two
social sciences. Sociology is a science of society. It studies behaviour of
man in groups. The term Sociology has been derived from the Latin word
‘Socius’ means society, companion or association and the Greek word
‘logos’ means study or science. Hence Sociology is concerned with the
association of human beings. It is a science that deals with social groups.

Similarly the term Anthropology is derived from tow Greek words

‘anthropos’ meaning man and ‘logos’ meaning study or science.
Accordingly anthropology means study of man. As a science of man it
deals with man, his works and behaviour. Anthropology studies the
biological and cultural development of man. Anthropology has a wide
field of study which can be broadly divided into four main divisions such
as physical anthropology, archeology, cultural anthropology and social
anthropology.

There exists a very close and intimate relationship between

Sociology and Anthropology are as follows:

(i) Anthropology studies primitive man in a pre-literate society

whereas sociology studies man in modern complex societies.
(ii) Anthropology contributes to the growth of Sociology.
Without the help of anthropology the study of Sociology
 can’t be complete. It is a part of Sociology. Anthropology
provides knowledge about ancient societies. To have a
comprehensive understanding of present society Sociology
takes the help of anthropology.
(iii) Both study human society and both are concerned with all
kinds of social groups like families, friends, tribes etc. Many
of the ideas and concepts are used in both the discipline.
Hence both are interrelated and interdependent.

Differences:

(i) Sociology is a science of society whereas anthropology is a

science of man and his behaviour.
(ii) The scope of Sociology is very wide whereas the scope of
Anthropology is very limited.
(iii) Sociology studies society as a whole whereas anthropology
studies man as a part of society.
(iv) Sociology studies civilizations which are vast and dynamic
on the other hand Anthropology studies cultures which are
simple and primitive.
(v) Sociology studies modern, civilized and complex societies
whereas Anthropology studies ancient and pre-literate
societies.
(vi) Sociology is concerned with social planning whereas
anthropology is not concerned with social planning. On the
basis of social planning sociology make suggestion for future
but anthropology do not make any suggestion for future.
(vii) In the words of Kluckhon, “The Sociological attitude has
tended towards the Practical and Present, the anthropological
towards pure understanding of the past.”
1.5 CONCLUSION:

Sociology is a vast and ever-evolving discipline that seeks to

understand the social world around us. It is a social science that examines
the dynamics of social groups, organizations, and institutions, as well as
the social processes that shape our lives. Sociologists use a variety of
methods to study social phenomena, including surveys, interviews, focus
groups, and participant observation. They also analyze existing data, such
as census records and crime statistics.

The nature of sociology is both scientific and critical. On the one

hand, sociologists are committed to the rigorous study of social
phenomena using scientific methods. On the other hand, sociologists are
also interested in using their knowledge to challenge the status quo and
promote social justice.

The scope of sociology is broad and diverse. Sociologists study a

wide range of topics, including social stratification, race and ethnicity,
gender and sexuality, family and kinship, education, work and the
economy, religion and politics, and culture and social change.

Sociology is closely related to other social sciences, such as

history, anthropology, and psychology. Sociology and history are both
concerned with the study of human societies, but sociology is more
focused on the present day, while history is more focused on the past.
Sociology and anthropology are both concerned with the study of human
behavior, but sociology is more focused on large-scale social patterns,
while anthropology is more focused on small-scale societies and cultures.
Sociology and psychology are both concerned with the study of the
human mind, but sociology is more focused on the social factors that
influence human behavior, while psychology is more focused on the
individual factors that influence human behavior.

In conclusion, sociology is a valuable discipline because it can help

us to understand the social world around us, including our own behavior
and the behavior of others. It can also help us to identify and address
social problems. Sociology is a broad and diverse discipline, but it is
united by its commitment to the scientific study of human societies and
social behavior.
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3. https://www.preservearticles.com/sociology/what-is-the-
relationship-between-sociology-and-psychology/2515
4. https://ddceutkal.ac.in/Syllabus/MA_SOCIOLOGY/Paper-1.pdf
5. https://www.achieveriasclasses.com/relationship-between-
sociology-and-history/