SOC 302 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Scientific Method, Human Behavior, Collective Action
Document Summary
Sociology is that science which aims at the interpretative understanding of social behavior in order to gain an explanation of its causes, course, and its effects. Microsociological: concerned with the study of everyday behavior in situations of face-to-face interaction. Why does this occur: this question is more contested. Many sociologists look at the world in terms of variables: meaningful attributes or characteristics of persons that vary from person to person. Others, however, assert that only persons can actually make decisions and act. Sociologists are out to test knowledge scientifically: both logically and empirically. Science is the use of systematic methods of empirical investigation, the analysis of data, theoretical thinking, and the logical assessment of arguments to develop a body of knowledge about a particular subject matter. We think we know why we act as we do. But there are boundaries to our self-knowledge.
