USS (700234) Week 3 – Tutorial worksheet

Activity 1 - In small groups, use the three sentences from the lecture workshop to create a definition
of sociology in a couple of sentences.

In your groups, now read the 4 definitions of Sociology on your tutorial worksheet and find 3 points
of similarity, then write a definition.

 Anthony Giddens defines Sociology as the study of human social life, groups and societies
(Giddens, 2001).

 The Australian Sociological Association defines Sociology as a perspective on the social

world that values critical thinking. Sociologists question the common sense and popular
explanations of social life and look at the dynamics of power and inequality in everyday
life.

 According to Pierre Bourdieu, “the function of Sociology, as of every science, is to reveal

that which is hidden”.

 Sociology is simply, the scientific study of social behaviour and human groups. It focuses
on social relationships; how those relationships influence people’s behaviour; and how
societies, the sum total of these relationships, develop and change. (Schaefer, 2012, p. 5)

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Activity 2 – The Sociological Imagination

The Sociological Imagination

Distinguish a social issue from personal trouble (sociological imagination vs psychological

reductionism)

Also think about what might be some of the wider social and political causes of the personal
problems and what implications the big social issues might have on individuals and families

1. Some people become unemployed because of lack of job skills and personality flaws.
2. 52% of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders people aged over 15 years reported a personal
income of less than $599 per week, compared with 32 per cent of the Australian population.
3. One teenage boy fell out with his family and ended up homeless, living on the streets and
begging.
4. 17.5% of the total marriages that took place in Australia in 2016 were classified as second
marriages for one or both partners.
5. Mary and Joe have communication problems in their marriage relationship and they are
seeking a divorce.
6. 1 in every 5 Australians, about 4 million people, suffers from a mental illness in a given year,
and almost half the
population has suffered
a mental disorder at
some time in their life.
7. My sons and several
neighbouring kids did
not prepare well before
they took HSC and
scored very low.
8. Unemployment rate in Australia is highest among people aged 16 to 24 (9.2%).
9. In 2016, around 3.1 million Australians reported using an illicit drug.
10. Several of my acquaintances have family troubles because their partners gamble online.
11. A mother who is claimed to have mental problems killed her infant daughter.
12. The patriarchal culture in Australia society is responsible for domestic violence
Activity 3 – Sociological example: Body image

What influences our body image?

The Media. Societal standards of beauty. Mental disorders i.e. depression and anxiety

Activity 4 – Capitalism and inequality

In small groups read the material from these two links and write down 4 points from each about
inequality in Australia.

https://www.acoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Inequality-in-Australia-2018_Factsheet.pdf

http://povertyandinequality.acoss.org.au/inequality/

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________