What is Sociology?

Sociology is the scientific study of society: its composition, organization, culture, and development. Sociology combines scientific methods with humanistic perspectives and integrates the findings of economics, political science, psychology, and history. The subject matter of sociology is equally diverse, ranging from crime to religion, from the family to the state, from popular culture to traditional culture, and from social stability to revolution.

 Sociology is a field of study that seeks to analyze and explain important matters that affects our everyday life, our society, and the world in which we live. At a personal level sociology investigates the causes and consequences of such things as romantic love, racial prejudice, gender identity, deviant behaviour, entrepreneurial activity, and religious experience. At a societal level, sociology examines and explains such matters as existence of poverty and wealth, the creation of law, the administration of justice, prejudice and discrimination, business enterprises and entrepreneurship, schools and education, and social movements. At the global level sociology studies such things as population growth and migration, economic development and globalization, war and peace, and policies to support the protection of the environment.