Jati atroouction to sociology Sociology ical Lessons from the Titanic ll. Defining Sociology A. s it a science? and what does this mean? B. What are social facts? Why was durkheim study of suicide so important? C. What do sociologists study? What is their unit of analysis?) E Is sociology micro or macro? Do they study the big picture or the little picture? F Is sociology global? In what sense?
I. Sociological Lessons from the Titanic II. Defining Sociology A. Is it a science? And what does this mean? B. What are social facts? Why was Durkheim’s study of suicide so important? C. What do sociologists study? (What is their unit of analysis?) E. Is sociology micro or macro? Do they study the big picture or the little picture? F. Is sociology global? In what sense?
Jati atroouction to sociology What is the point of starks version of the Titanic story?
What is the point of Stark’s version of the Titanic story?
Jati atroouction to sociology Titanic survival rates Male survival rate: 20% Female/children survival rate: 71% 1st Class 2nd class 3rd class Crew Women/children 93% 81% 47%87% Men 31% 10% 14%22% 60% 42% 25%24% Absolute t dead 130 166 53685 Do these statistics tell a different story?
Titanic Survival Rates Male survival rate: 20% Female/children survival rate: 71% 1st Class 2nd Class 3rd Class Crew Women/Children 93% 81% 47% 87% Men 31% 10% 14% 22% Total 60% 42% 25% 24% Absolute # dead 130 166 536 85 Do these statistics tell a different story?
Jati atroouction to sociology TWo Recurrent Themes in Sociology Consensus: What people share(norms values, ideas, social solidarity) Conflict: how people are different (inequality, power, exploitation) Society is both of these things!
Two Recurrent Themes in Sociology Consensus: what people share (norms, values, ideas, social solidarity) Conflict: how people are different (inequality, power, exploitation) Society is both of these things!
Jati atroouction to sociology lI. Defining Sociology A Is sociology a science? Can there be a science of human behavior What is Starks view of this? .an interactive process of theory and research a goal of making generalobservations about social behavior an assumption that social behavior is patterned and predictable Comte's(and Stark's)positivism remains controversial
III. Defining Sociology A. Is sociology a science? Can there be a science of human behavior? • What is Stark’s view of this? •an interactive process of theory and research • a goal of making general observations about social behavior • an assumption that social behavior is patterned and predictable • Comte’s (and Stark’s)positivism remains controversial
Jati atroouction to sociology B. What are social facts? emile Durkheim defined them as the subject matter of sociology The example of suicide rates stability, variation, trend attributes of social groups that exist independently of individuals Social facts are explained by other social facts(not by characteristics of individuals)
• The example of suicide rates •stability, variation, trend •attributes of social groups that exist independently of individuals • Social facts are explained by other social facts (not by characteristics of individuals) B. What are social facts? Emile Durkheim defined them as the subject matter of sociology
Jati atroouction to sociology EMILE DURKHEIM High suicide rates reflect SUICIDE weaknesses in the web of relationships among members of a society, not weaknesses of character or personality in the individual. (Stark, p. 6) Attributes Society's Suicide Rate of Society
“High suicide rates reflect weaknesses in the web of relationships among members of a society, not weaknesses of character or personality in the individual.” (Stark, p. 6) Attributes of Society Society’s Suicide Rate
Jati atroouction to sociology Defining Sociology What do sociologists study? What is their unit of analysis? See graphs on pp, 10-12 Depends on the study Individuals, groups, states, nations It's what the sociologist wants to analyze and generalize about What are other possible units of analysis?
Defining Sociology What do sociologists study? What is their unit of analysis? See graphs on pp. 10-12 • Depends on the study • Individuals, groups, states, nations • It’s what the sociologist wants to analyze and generalize about • What are other possible units of analysis?
Jati atroouction to sociology Defining Sociology E Is sociology micro or macro? Both--most sociologists combine both approaches ·7 wo different research strategies to the same end: Society/social Structure understanding society and its relationship to the individual Individual/social interaction
Defining Sociology E. Is sociology micro or macro? • Both—most sociologists combine both approaches • Two different research strategies to the same end: understanding society and its relationship to the individual Society/Social Structure Individual/Social lnteraction
Jati atroouction to sociology Defining Sociology F Is sociology global? In what sense? ' global in its focus all societies are today part of a global system, and being transformed by it global in its ambitions general applicability of its theories
Defining Sociology F. Is sociology global? In what sense? •global in its focus-- all societies are today part of a global system, and being transformed by it •global in its ambitions-- general applicability of its theories
