SOCIOLOGY GRADE 11

Introduction to Sociology
• Sociology has been studied as an academic
discipline for around 150 years.

• The factors such as industrialisation,

urbanisation and the growth of the nation-state
in the 19th century, provided the idea of
studying society in a detailed and systematic
way.

• Auguste Comte (1798–1857) is credited with

formulating the word ‘sociology’, from ‘socius’ –
a society (Latin) and ‘logos’ – knowledge, or
word (Greek).
• A basic definition of sociology is: ‘The
systematic study of human society,
dedicated to the understanding of social
interaction as people form groups,
communities and societies’.

• a ‘systematic study’ suggests that it is not

‘just common sense’, it is based on
sociological theories and methods.
• Sociologist tries to be objective and not let
personal opinions and prejudices influence
his or her work.

• Sociologists seek to define terms precisely

and to use appropriate methods of
investigation.

• Sociologist committed to looking beyond

commonsense explanations, in an effort to
explain why things are as they are in a
society and why they change.
 Macro & Micro Approaches

The aim of macro - There are two broad

sociological theory is to perspectives of macro
answer three basic questions theory: consensus and
about the nature of society: conflict.
• How do societies hold • Functionalism is the main
together, or what is the representative of the
basis of order in society? consensus and
• What are the sources of • Marxism is the main
conflict in society? representative of the
• How do societies change? conflict.
 Macro & Micro Approaches

Micro theories focus on the There are two main forms of

individuals who make up a micro theory:
society, rather than on the
society itself. Symbolic interactionism is
concerned with the
principles of face-to-face
interaction.
Ethnomethodology is the
study of how individuals
experience and make sense
of the society in which they
live.
 Macro & Micro Approaches

Macro theory, which Micro theory regards the

tends to view the social structure as
individual as a product of something created by
his or her society and individuals as they
tries to show the various interact in socially
ways in which the meaningful ways.
behaviour of individuals
is determined by the
social structure of which
they are a part.
 Sociological Perspectives

‘Perspective’ is when a number of similar

theories are drawn together into a single
approach.

The main perspectives in sociology:

 Functionalist,
 Marxist,
 Feminist,
 Interactionist and
 Post-modernist
 Sociological Perspectives

Perspective can be likened to glasses;

 Functionalist (consensus) glasses (the

perspective made up of various functionalist
theories) help us understand the consensus and
harmony that we find in society.

 Or the conflict (Marxist & Feminist)

perspective to understand disharmony or strife.

 The Symbolic/Interactionist perspective acts

like a magnifying glass, enabling us to
understand small-scale human interactions.
 The Sociological theory
Macro-Sociology Micro-Sociology
Study of Society as a whole Study of individual within Society

Structuralism Social Action

Relationship between individual and society
Society shapes Individual Individuals create society as they act and
Interact in socially meaningful ways

Nature of Sociology Nature of Sociology

Positivism Phenomenology
Sociology is the study of ‘social facts’ and of the ways in Sociology is the study of the ways in which individuals
which society influences the behavior of individuals interpret and create their social world

Perspectives
Perspectives
Consensus / Conflict Symbolic Interactionism

Functionalism Marxism / Feminism

Ethnomethodology