LECTURE 1

OVERVIEW OF THE SOCIOLOGY

Instructor: Dr. Nguyen Van Đang

Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics
 Course Objectives

• Sociology as a social science

• Theoretical perspectives
• Sociological research methods and techniques
• Key topics covered in sociology

Start developing a sociological lens/approach!

 Course assessment

• Class attendance and Group Presentations (10%)

• Take-home assignment for Mid-term test (30%)
• In-class writing for final exam: 60 minutes (60%)
 Group presentation

• Each group includes 5-6 students

• Select a topic that you are interested in (a social issue, a
public problem, a new behavioral pattern, a
sociological concept, a social trend…).
• Prepare a presentation that you will conduct in class.
• Each presentation should be limited between 15 and 20
slides.
• Put students’ name and numbers on the first slide
• Group presentations should be ready on May 14th
• Printed presentations are due on June 6th
 Social Sciences

Public
Governance
and Policy

Economics Politics Sociology

 When and how was the sociology born? 1838

Industrialization Urbanization
Social Revolutions
Enlightenment Era
 Three-stage historical
• Theological stage: from the beginning
development
of human history to the end of the
European Middle Ages, about 1350
C.E. - people took a religious view that
society expressed God’s will.
• Metaphysical Stage (1350 – 1800):
people saw society as a natural rather
than a supernatural system.
• Positivistic stage (after 1800): people
believe in scientific knowledge. People
apply scientific approach to study
society.

Reading: http://www.vkmaheshwari.com/WP/?p=694
Sociology as a social science
 Creating the discipline of sociology

• In 1838, A. Comte used the term “social physics’.

• The need to apply research methods in natural
sciences to study the social world.
• We can objectively study the social world
Positivism: a way of understanding based on science.
As a positivist, Comte believed that society operates
according to its own laws, much as the physical world
operates according to gravity and other laws of nature.
 A. Comte
1798 - 1857
 Sociological Imagination

• We need to consider relationships

between individuals and society (other
individuals, groups, social
structures…) in explaining social
behaviors/phenomenon.
• Individual behaviors are influenced by
social forces. To explain individual
behaviors or social facts, thus, we
need to consider factors outside. C. Wright Mills
(1916 – 1962)
 Sociological Imagination
• Individuals create society: interactions and
communications help people understand each other. They
are connected and become members of a community.
Public figures can change the world.

• Society influences individuals: behaviors, interactions,

lifestyle, values and norms…
 SOCIAL STRUCTURE

Social Status
Social Roles

Values, Beliefs
Social Groups

Social
Social Norms
Organizations

Social
Social Classes Social Networks
Institutions
What is the sociology?

• The systematic study of human society

• Seeing the “general” in the “particular” because
society shapes the lives of people in patterned ways.
• Seeing the “strange” in the “familiar”: instead of
your feelings, many other factors affect your
behaviors.
• Seeing society in everyday life
What is the sociology?

• A sociological lens helps us realizing how the

general categories shape our particular life
experiences.
• Sociological perspective: the special point of view
of sociology that sees general patterns of society in
the life of particular people.
Look at the two photos below, tell me the story?
 What are sociologists interested in?

• Social life; interactions and relationships between

individuals and society (two ways)
• Individual behaviors or social behaviors
• Individuals’ interactions and relationships with others
and how those interactions and relationships
influence individuals.
• Social processes (facts - can be observed).
 Key research topics

• Elements of culture and society

• Social structure, social behaviors, and social
interactions
• Socialization process.
• Deviance
• Sexuality, Race, and Ethnicity
• Social inequality and stratification
• Social institutions (family, education, politics….)
• Social change…
 A global perspective

• The study of the larger world and our society’s place

in it.
• Nations in the world are classified into three groups
based on living standard:
i) High income countries
ii) Middle income countries
iii) Low income countries
 A global perspective

• Where we live shapes the

live we lead.
• Societies throughout the
world are increasingly
interconnected.
• Many social problems that
we face in Vietnam/US are
far more serious elsewhere.
• Thinking globally helps us
learn more about ourselves.
 Sociology and personal growth

• The sociological perspective helps us assess the truth

of “common sense.”
• The sociological perspective helps us see the
opportunities and constraints in our lives.
• The sociological perspective empowers us to be
active participants in our society.
• The sociological perspective helps us live in a
diverse world.
 Sociology and Public policy

• Public policy: actions by governments

• Policy problems: unexpected realities that we want to
change for better conditions.
• Sociologists emphasize social aspects of policy
problems and policy process.
• Sociologists see policy problems from different social
groups’ perspectives.
• Bottom-up approach to public policy
Review

• In what context
was sociology
created?
• What is
sociology?
• Who are key
classical
sociologists?
 Assignment

• Review Chapter 1 in the Textbook for the 1st

and the 2nd weeks!