Principles of sociology [antikvár]

Unit introductionWhat this unit is aboutWelcome to this unit - Principles of sociology. Somé people worry about sociology; somé feel that it is 'too theoretical' or that it does not relate to the 'real world', others suggest that there is too much reading and that it requires great feats of memory. We hope to dispel these myths and introduce you to a subject which is interesting and which will provide a basis throughout your studies.No formai prerequisites are required to study this unit, but you do need to have an enquiring mind and be prepared to read and think. There is a health warning though - if you take this subject you will never see things in the same way again!Principles of sociology is a foundation unit and, as such, provides the essential grounding for further study in the subject and alsó provides the knowledge and critical skills which are necessary for the degrees in Management and Business. This unit is one of the most popular options in the Diploma in Economics programme as it helps students to be critical of the information they receive and encourages them to think logically and consistently.We have designed this unit to provide the necessary grounding in sociological theory and methods of social research. Students will then be required to apply this knowledge to substantive areas of sociology.You may be taking the BSc Sociology degree or a Diploma for Graduates in Sociology and this unit will be the basis upon which all the other units rest. Students in Business, Management and Information Systems will take this unit as a key 'servicing unit' that will provide you with knowledge of the social world and the key ways in which it can be researched.In all cases we hope you enjoy studying this subject.What is sociology?First we should start by attempting to define sociology. (Chapter 1 in Part A will go into much more detail as to the nature of this subject.)The most basic view of sociology is that it is about understanding relationships in humán societies, but sociologists do not agree about what societies are and how they should be studied and so no one definition will suffice. However, one of the most important things to remember is that sociology is more than commonsense! You will be introduced to the subject of sociology and will be encouraged to think how different it is from other social sciences that you may have studied. You will be introduced to different