sociology

Sociology is the systematic study of society, social interactions, and social institutions. It analyzes how people organize themselves, form communities, and create shared meanings, as well as how institutions such as the family, education systems, religion, the economy, and the state shape behavior. The field seeks to describe social patterns, explain social processes, and assess how power, inequality, culture, and social change affect daily life.

Researchers use a range of methods, combining quantitative techniques such as surveys and statistical analysis with qualitative approaches such as interviews, ethnography, and participant observation. Mixed methods are common. Ethical considerations, representativeness, and the replication of findings are central concerns. The aim is to produce theories and evidence that explain social phenomena and inform public policy or professional practice.

Modern sociology emerged in the 19th century, with roots in the work of Auguste Comte, who coined the term. Early theorists such as Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Karl Marx developed competing explanations of social order, individual action, and social change. Over time, major perspectives such as functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism have guided research, while contemporary work has incorporated feminism, race theory, postcolonial critiques, and globalization studies.

Sociology covers both broad, macro-level analyses of large-scale social structures and micro-level studies of everyday interactions. Subfields include the sociology of education, family, religion, economy, crime and deviance, health, and urban, environmental, and immigration studies. Applied sociology uses research to address social problems, inform policy, and improve organizational effectiveness.