Understanding the Basics of Sociology

Sociology is a science focused on humans that systematically studies their behavior to find patterns, which are then used in an attempt to explain both individual and social phenomenon. The fact that it is a science separates the field of sociology from simply being a gathering of expert opinions-all studies must conform to the scientific method to ensure maximum credibility of the results. Another major difference between sociology and everyday thinking is that sociologists approach their studies with something called a 'sociological imagination.' This method of thinking involves an "awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society" (Schaefer 433). By using the sociological imagination, one is able to see that there are many connections between an individual and the cultural society that he or she lives in. Using this method, we can learn things about a society by simply observing an individual, or inversely, learn things about an individual by knowing more about the society that they live in and how it has affected their life. The sociological imagination stresses that it is important to see the bigger picture in all social events.

A major topic of sociological studies is looking into issues and problems. Issues are debatable items that usually involve at least two different views-good and bad- by opposing sides, whether groups or individuals. Problems are debatable items that have no good sides, with disagreement only on methods of a solution. Understanding how both can be social or personal requires the knowledge of two terms. The first term is 'personal efficacy', which refers to the amount of control an individual person has to correct a problem/issue, ranging from high to low. The second term is 'locus of control', which describes the level at which a problem/issue can be worked out or helped, ranging from individual to global.

A personal issue/problem has a high level of personal efficacy for correction, and the locus of control is towards the individual level. An example of this would be a smoker who is trying to quit smoking. The ability to change is completely in the smoker's control, so personal efficacy is high; and the change does not have to be global, just a personal change in habit, so the locus of control is at an individual level.

Conversely, a social issue/problem has a low level of personal efficacy for correction, and the locus of control is at a much bigger level, from citywide, to statewide, all the way to global. For example, the issue of having any job opportunities in America is a contentious subject, since the amount of outsourced jobs is always growing. A single person cannot solve this issue, it will take many people to make a change, and so personal efficacy is low. Since the change would have to affect the whole of America, the locus of control is nationwide.

For example, one social issue of rising concern to many is the fact that humans are increasingly releasing pollutants into the air. In 1980, China and the United States ranked highest in amount of CO2 emissions caused by fossil fuels, with China coming in at 397,000,000 metric tons, and the U.S.A. at 1,297,000,000 metric tons. In 2004, both were still the top two, with China now at 1,284,000,000 metric tons, and America at 1,612,000,000 metric tons (U.S. Census Bureau). This problem can be looked at based on the functionalistic sociological theory, which considers an issue with the view of seeing how major components work together to cause it (Schaefer 13). Many would point to the increase of electrical components as being a cause of increased CO2 in the air. This makes sense, because fossil fuels must be burned to create the energy for electrical plants. As a society becomes more and more dependent on electrical components for everyday living, such as the growing dependence on computers, more energy is needed and thus more fossil fuels are burned, resulting in greater CO2 levels in the air. The increased electrical component usage in our society is the independent variable in this case, and increased burning of fossil fuels for energy is the dependent variable.

Another cause of this issue is the increased use of fuel-using transportation methods. As population increases, the need for more cars, planes, buses, and ships arises. Anything burning fuel contributes to CO2 levels in the air, and unless steps are taken to make these methods of transportation more environment-friendly, as the population in a society grows, so will the pollution. This also relates to the fact that our society relies so heavily on having a large middle-class of workers, and workers need a way to get to their workplace. In this case, the independent variable is a growing population that needs more means of transport, and the dependent variable is the result of more gas emissions from planes and vehicles on the roadways of our growing society.

Cited Resources for Further Research

Schaefer, Richard T. Sociology: A Brief Introduction (7^th Edition). New York City: McGraw-Hill, 2008.

U.S. Census Bureau. "International Comparison of CO2 Emissions from Consumption of Fossil Fuels." The Statistical Abstract of the United States. Sept. 19, 2007.