sociology assignment help online

sociology assignment help online

Exploring Contemporary Social Issues: A Sociological Perspective

1. Introduction to Sociology and its Relevance in Understanding Society

In sociology, we study the structures of society and the actions of individuals, their relationships to one another, and how individuals operate within the structures. The world of values, behavior, and culture is examined along with the dynamic interdependency of factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, social class, and politics. We also give consideration to the impact of economic and political influences on social institutions and behavior. It is important that such pieces of the society puzzle be examined in varied dimensions and with an awareness of how social order is developed, maintained, and disrupted. Probability models that reveal mass expectations and human behavior based on inferred norms are helpful in trying to understand complex societal structures that can sometimes be reversed. The relevance of sociology becomes especially apparent when dealing with problems commonly occurring in society such as conformity and deviance, educational shortcomings, law and the criminal justice system, demographic trends (e.g., aging or youthful populations), health crises, welfare, international matters, and so much more – particularly understanding their implications for public policy.

People are curious and inquisitive and are driven by an insatiable desire to know more about the person sitting next to them in a bus, the person serving them food at a restaurant, the homeless person sitting on a curb, or about people in general. They need to know they can talk to and befriend those from various walks of life, whether cultural and ethnic differences notwithstanding. It is people’s search for understanding and meaning in the “society” they live in that makes sociology an intriguing and applicable science. The essence is recognizing that all of us behave and make choices within the context of society. The umbrella concept that binds sociology is society: a term that refers not so much to a specific place or people, but to us – to individuals who interact with one another, who influence each other, who are interdependent, and who can be grouped and can organize and build structures such as families, communities, schools, churches, town halls, political parties, and governments.

2. Key Sociological Concepts and Theories

Starting from what might have been an isolated hypothesis, field experiences tend to suggest that some other orthodox researchers can put to their own account a view of student ambience, and an expanded view of the university. In the highlands of Tibet, the maharani’s descriptions of Dolma make her sound like something of an oddity. Asha states that she is quite happy with her studies, finds large campus celebrations tiring, and has few close friends outside the caste circle of the students of classical languages, with whom she and other field-study students are on a first-name basis with professors. Is there a theoretical reason for such specialization in a given student lifestyle and in our generic view of student specialization? Neither Robert K. Merton’s concept of functionalist segregation nor Thomas Laqueur’s cultural logic, in such terms as “intense, pervasive specialization” or explicit strategies for “maintaining difference,” offer quite sufficient explanations to be completely convincing. But the heuristic used by one of “us” in creating a social theory based on the individual “without common living experiences” may simulate a challenging social critique. For Laqueur, the very existence of difference would remind the university and other research sites like it, now more than ever perhaps, that such stress may exclude many ordinary mortals who tend to socialize inside intense, pervasive cultures such as that inside the university fence but who find difficulty in searching for their unique field, and so tend to prefer comrades who select somewhat ordained fields.

Explaining anything involves the linking of facts to theories. Our more well-confirmed general explanations for why and how things happen as they do are commonly thought of as theories. In regard to social life and its various aspects, sociologists have been interested not only in developing ways of looking at the social world but also in developing logical and effective theories to explain social phenomena. If symbols of a wolf and an oak tree adorn the crest of two of the four graduating seniors heading for a field called “International Studies,” and a third’s crest combines symbols of the U.S. Constitution and a portcullis, what sort of theoretical basis might account for this selection of symbols, seem to point to specialization using a lens called the social?

In helping us to make sense of contemporary social problems and concerns, sociology is rooted in a number of key concepts and theories. Among the more crucial concepts (many of which have been briefly introduced in our contemporary issue discussions) are those of social structure, culture, race and ethnicity, class, gender, social institutions, socialization, and social change. These and other such basic sociological ideas form the foundation upon which criminologists, demographers, political scientists, evolutionary economists, social historians, and other researchers build their specialized knowledge and theoretical insights about others and our social universe.

3. Contemporary Social Issues: Inequality, Discrimination, and Social Change

Many different factors contribute to inequality and social problems. Historical events have left a profound mark and can be seen in more contemporary practices and social structures. Persistent, institutionalized racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination and accommodation support and foster inequality. Economically depressed communities and the shortage of capital goods intrinsic to capitalism contribute to the stability of social arrangements that enhance the lives of some and prevent opportunity for others. In order to eliminate or reduce social inequality and associated social problems identified in this chapter, social change is necessary. Social change involves not only individuals but also the methods by which social issues may be ameliorated. Not only must individual perspectives on social inequality be changed, but also the structure itself. An examination of the various forms of social change, including social movements and collective behavior with their components of technology, demographics, and media, are in order. And, as the history of social change has shown, social movements and collective behavior, both historically and in contemporary society, often involve conflict.

This chapter’s discussion of social issues centers on a sociological analysis of inequality, discrimination, and social change, emphasizing the interconnection among the many facets of social life and the social structure as well as the individuals belonging to it. At this point in history, communities remain segregated, discrimination in housing and employment practices seems to be on the rise, and quality education seems to be increasingly hard to obtain for people living in poverty. To a great extent, these and other social problems can be traced back to the persistence of social inequality. Poverty and wealth, privilege and oppression are all present in society. There are gender gaps, racial and ethnic disparities, and a growing division between the rich and the poor.

4. Research Methods in Sociology: Approaches and Techniques

The scientific method, in conjunction with the aim to collect relevant and accurate data, produces research findings that have a good chance of being both reliable and valid, the two basic qualifications of good theory. Reliability refers to how closely the data resemble the real world and are both consistent and repeatable. Validity refers to how well-found data and theories correspond with the real world. Since social issues are often complex, both in their origin and in their consequences, it is very easy to come to at least one of these conclusions, but impossible to come to both with full certainty. Maintaining validity, by taking into account context, boundaries, patterns, and probabilities, is an essential component of reliable theory. At times, the use of qualitative techniques dominated and overshadowed the quantitatively oriented. However, recent developments once again support the view that sociological research may, and could, should be supplemented by both. While qualitative and quantitative research approaches should be regarded as complementary components of the total research enterprise, they differ from one another in that each approach generates and uses distinct forms of data.

As practiced by sociologists, the scientific method entails the systematic gathering of information in order to test theories and hypotheses. In sociology, investigations might try to find answers to questions such as “Are men or women generally nicer to other people?”, “Are married people happier than single people?”, “Does age make any difference in how much television a person watches?”, “Do the American or Swedish systems of government spend more money per person on health care?”, and “What is the relationship between newborn mortality and GNP in different nations?”. Common stages in the research process are the identification of the problem, hypotheses formation, data collection, data analysis, drawing conclusions, and sharing the findings with others. The researchers may use such methods as survey research, analysis of existing data, field research (participant observation, direct observation, or ethnography), experimental research, or the use of computational techniques and the Internet and can work in a laboratory or more natural settings.

5. Conclusion: Applying Sociological Knowledge to Address Real-World Challenges

Finally, building awareness of social issues and critically analyzing the information presented are important steps towards making a difference, and you have already taken the first steps on your journey by reading this textbook. With knowledge comes the power to make informed decisions and take meaningful actions towards successful change. The power of each and every individual to bring about positive solutions, that is a cornerstone premise in sociology. Let us know what you find in your journey towards finding areas of the world that need to be changed. Sociology is a science committed to improving social well-being. With scientific inquiry and effort, we can fashion a society that actively values and protects all of its members, a society that is rich in knowledge and consistent with our best understandings of the human world. Thank you for using this text, but more importantly, we appreciate your efforts with sociological inquiry and your strong commitment to building a better world.

In our complex and ever-changing society, issues of social justice and social change are at the heart of sociological inquiry. Sociological knowledge and scientific findings about social issues are instrumental for generating change and social policy. Sociological research can help us to identify which social problems have the greatest priority, as well as which social policies are the most beneficial. As you reflect on the social issues discussed in this textbook, we urge you to not only think about the ways that sociological knowledge can help to solve social problems, but also the ways that you can use your sociological knowledge to bring about positive social change. Whether it is by actively participating in solutions-oriented research, engaging in community service or volunteer efforts, writing to elected officials, or maybe even running for political office, it is important to remember the power of each and every individual to make a meaningful difference in the world.