2. Sociology Unit One: What is Sociology??

3. Unit Objectives Gain a thorough understanding of the meaning of sociology Understand the research process Complete accurately your own research project

4. Today’s Objectives: Define Sociology, social facts, and socialization What does sociology teach us?

5. Sociology The study of a society’s values, beliefs, material objects, language and rules of conduct Sociology examines groups How do groups form? How do the groups change? How do individuals act w/in those groups?

6. Basic Sociology Definitions Social Facts: facts surrounding you, which influence your personal beliefs EX: geography, parents’ religion, school, etc Socialization: the process by which we learn to become a member of our society

7. Durkheim’s Suicide Study Results Suicide is more likely among divorced than married people, in protestants than catholics, in people undergoing economic change than those in a stable economic condition, even poverty This is important because suicide is an INDIVIDUAL act, but is strongly influenced by various social facts!

8. Sociology teaches us to question our beliefs by using scientific methods and by considering different points of view