Class: Introduction
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According to a recent study by CareerCast and Jobsrated.com, being a sociologist was rated the 8th best job, based on environment, income, outlook, stress, and physical demands [link].
But what is sociology?
According to CareerCast, a sociologist "[s]tudies human behavior by examining the interaction of social groups and institutions" [here].
According to an introductory textbook, sociology is the "systematic or scientific study of human society and social behavior, from large-scale institutions and mass culture to small groups and individual interactions" [citation needed].
Sociology encompasses topics that span many academic fields, such as psychology, geography, political science, economics, and history.
Because sociology is interested in the relationship between society and individual interaction, there are two primary paths to study the relationship. First, one can look from the society down to the individual, seeing the effects of culture or social institutions on the individual, which is called "macrosociology." Second, one can look at the individual interactions, and how those interactions impact society or culture, which is called "microsociology."
Keywords: sociology, society and individual interaction, macrosociology, microsociology.
