Second week posting_Summary : Sungheum Cho

What is sociology?

Summary

#1

First article talk about progress of sociological research, two kinds of sociological research method, and the ethics of sociologist. The progress of sociological research which suggested by this article is divided by 4 steps like bottom.
1. collection of scientific evidence
2. formulate a hypothesis
3. predict the result
4. test
In sociological research, sociologists ingeminate and appraisal this 4 step till they get a proper result.
 We can split up sociological research by method of research : Quantitative and Qualitative research. Quantitative research is a method that researcher access social phenomena by scientific measurement however, Qualitative research is a method that researcher access the phenomena directly. For example, Researcher experience the phenomena himself for researching, it is Qualitative research.
 Finally, very important thing for sociologist is 'be honest.' If sociologist not be honest in research, everything we advert before are became meaningless.

picture source:www.greenbookblog.org

#2

 Second article suggest the importance of theory, introduce a world-famous theories, and explain the relationship between those theories. Existing of theory is very important at sociological research. Because, we can't interpret or analyze social phenomena with only simple scientific data. Theory can take researcher's course clearly when researchers analyze the data.
 A world-famous theories are dependable and solid then other theories. Because, they have been coming under criticism, and they have been making up for their faults. In this article, four typical theories are suggested. Those are functionalism, latent functions, conflict, and symbolic interactionism.
 Functionalism theory and Conflict theory are competing each other. In this situation, we should not protect one theory and attack another theory. When we accept the competing complementary, we can develop sociologically.

picture source:news.softpedia.com