Defining Sociology

Paper Summary:

The paper explains the importance of defining sociology as a discipline. The paper looks at various attitudes towards the study of the social sciences and concludes that the idea that being in a group affects the individual is perhaps the fundamental assumption of sociology. The paper explains that this is regardless whether one takes a qualitative or quantitative approach and regardless of one's political persuasion as a theorist or researcher.

From the Paper:

"Sociology, like all of the social sciences, seems to overlap with man of its 'sister' social sciences, such as anthropology, psychology, and even history. Finding a coherent definition of sociology is something that eludes even the college textbooks that attempt to introduce undergraduate students to the discipline. While reaching an exact definition of sociology may seem less crucial than examining the specific subjects that are studied in a sociology course, explaining the theoretical underpinnings of the author of a textbook provide clues as to the author's biases and assumptions about the purpose of studying the subject."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Giddens, Anthony, Mitchell Dunier, & Richard Appelbaum. (2005). Introduction toSociology. New York: W. W. Norton.
• Henslin, James. (2007). Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach. 7th Edition. New York: Pearson.
• Hughes, Michel, Carolyn J. Kroehler, & James W. Vander Zanden. (2002). Sociology:The Core. McGraw Hill.

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