Introduction to Social

Science and Sociology

Science
Field of Science
Types of Science
Social Science
Sociology as Science
Nature scope and Subject Matter
Science
The word science comes from the Latin "scientia,"
meaning knowledge

Definition of Science

Study of the physical and natural world using
theoretical models and data from experiments or
observation
Ability to produce solutions in some problem
domain
Research into questions posed by scientific theories
and hypotheses
Field of Science
Science relies on testing ideas with evidence
gathered from the natural world
Science is both a body of knowledge and a
process
Science is exciting
Science is useful
Science is ongoing
Types of Science
Natural science
o Physical science
o Physics
o Chemistry
o Earth science
Life science
o Biology
o Zoology
o Human Biology
Types of Science
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Social sciences

Decision theory
o 4.1 Logic
o 4.2 Mathematics
o 4.3 Statistics
o 4.4 Systems theory
o 4.5 Theoretical computer science
Applied science

Social Sciences
Anthropology
Archaeology
Business Administration
Communication
Criminology
Economics
Education
Linguistics
International Relations
Social Sciences
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Political Science,
Sociology
Geography
History,
Law
Psychology

Social Science
The study of human society and of individual
relationships in and to society
A scholarly or scientific discipline that deals with
such study, generally regarded as including
sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics,
political science history and etc
Social science is, in its broadest sense, the study of
society and the manner in which people behave
and influence the world around us

Sociology
Auguste Comte (French Philosopher) 1798-1857 Founder
of Sociology
Sociology is the combination of Laten and Greek
words, Socius means Relationship or Group and
Logos means Knowledge or Study
The study of the development, structure, and functioning
of human society
The study of social problems
Anthony Giddens (Sociology, 1989)
Sociology is the study of human social life, groups and
societies. It is a dazzling and compelling enterprise, having
as its subject matter our own behavior as social beings


Sociology
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Sociology is the Systematic Study of Social
Behavior and Human Groups. It Focuses Primarily on
the Influence of Social Relationship on People's
Attitudes and Behavior and on How Societies are
Established and Change
Sociology as Science
Robert Biersteadt 'The Social Order'
It is social not a natural science
It is categorical or positive and not a normative
science
It is pure or theoretical science and not an Applied
science
It is an abstract science and not a concrete one
It is a generalizing and not particularizing science
It is both a rational and an empirical science

Nature
Use of scientific method
Impartial observation
Classification and interpretation of data
Description of What is?
Relationship between cause and consequence
Generalization
Predictability
Scope
Field of Knowledge
Society is the web of social institution and all these
institutions are interrelated and interlinked with each
other.
Sociologists have the basic and primary objective
to build up knowledge about the society and social
interaction.
Sociologist are required to gain know-how about
the social problems and their solutions
The specialized fields of sociology which gives
knowledge to the students of sociology about
different aspects of human social life

Subject Matter of
Sociology
Rural Sociology
Urban Sociology
Industrial Sociology
Medical Sociology
Criminology
Social Psychology
Economic Sociology
Sociology of Religion


Subject Matter of
Sociology
Sociology of Social Problems,
Sociology of Education,
Political Sociology,
Sociology of the Family