Introduction
All people live within societies, belong to different groups, and have various kinds of relationships with other individuals. Sociology is the science that is interested in how people function in society and how they relate to each other. This paper aims to provide a definition of sociology and outline its difference from other social sciences. Further, I will explain how social contexts have shaped my identity and how I could apply a concept of sociological imagination to my country, Bahrain. Finally, I will recommend a social science research project in Bahrain and propose appropriate research methods for it, based on my understanding of sociological research.
The Definition of Sociology of Its Difference from Other Social Sciences
Sociology is the study of society and individuals’ interactions within society. According to Griffiths et al. (2015), society is “a group of people who live in a defined geographic area, who interact with one another, and who share a common culture” (p. 6). Sociology studies the social sphere of people’s lives: social structure, social institutions, and relations, social qualities of the individual, social behavior, and social consciousness (Griffith et al., 2015). The objects of sociologists’ interest can be society as a whole or its particular aspects, such as big and small social communities, personalities, organizations and institutions, processes and phenomena, and diverse realms of human life.
When sociologists study society, they develop various theories to explain the things and events they encounter in their work. For example, one theory that sociologists use to understand social processes is the conflict theory. According to this theory, different groups in society compete for limited resources (Smith-Hawkins, 2020). Applying this theory to Bahrain, one can notice that this country possesses some limited resources, such as cultured pearls and oil (Smith-Hawkins, 2020). They can become a source of conflict between groups within the country and in the neighboring countries. Another theory that sociologists can use to explain social interactions is functionalism. This theory posits that society remains functioning because it helps people satisfy their social and biological needs (Smith-Hawkins, 2020). Such social structures as education and religion are necessary for people to meet their needs, and without them, society would not be possible. By developing and applying different theories to society and human interactions, sociologists can gain an understanding of how society functions and predict the consequences of social changes.
Among all social sciences, only sociology studies society as an integral system. Sociology tries to analyze and establish the corresponding patterns, which allows for representing society as a complex dynamic system consisting of a number of subsystems. In contrast, economic, political, legal, and other social sciences study the patterns within their respective spheres of life. Sociology is different from other social sciences not only in terms of what it investigates but also in how it investigates. Sociology is characterized by the study of society through the prism of human activity, conditioned by needs, interests, attitudes, and value orientations. As Griffith et al. (2015) put it, the main feature of the sociological perspective is that it views the individual and society as inseparable. The sociological method enables the description and the explanation of occurrences and processes, as well as the construction of models of human behavior and societal development. An analysis of social process dynamics allows for identifying societal trends and the formulation of recommendations for the purposeful management of social processes.
How I Was Shaped by Social Contexts
No individual lives in a vacuum; therefore, everyone is influenced by the social context in which one was born and raised. I grew up in Bahrain, and the social contexts prevalent in this country shaped my identity. For example, in Bahrain, compared to other secular nations, religious education plays an essential role in society. Therefore, being raised in Bahrain, I have become adherent to Islam, and religion now has an important place in my everyday life. Over the course of my life, I was highly influenced by Arab culture and traditions. In this culture, loyalty is the highest priority, and individuals are expected to be proficient in the Arabic language and resist westernization. As a result, I grew up with these cultural ideals that shaped my worldview and behavior.
Applying the Sociological Imagination to Bahrain
The concept of sociological imagination is necessary for understanding the history of society. Griffith et al. (2015) state that social imagination is an understanding of how one’s past experiences help explain the past of other people and history as a whole. In addition, social imagination enables one to understand one’s life issues from the perspective of the same issues at the societal level (Smith-Hawkins, 2020). Sociological imagination makes it possible to comprehend the history and circumstances of a particular human life, as well as to understand their relationship within society. In relation to Bahrain, I think that C. Wright Mills would recommend applying social imagination to this country by looking at social patterns prevalent in this society. For example, Smith-Hawkins (2020) argues that the question of why people marry can be answered based on the multiple past experiences of many people. It may be assumed that in Bahrain, people marry because family and loyalty are highly valued in this culture. In addition, religion and traditions affect how people get married and arrange their family life. The same perspective can be applied to many issues in Bahrain.
A Proposed Social Science Research Project in Bahrain
Even though Bahrain is one of the smallest countries in the world, it is very ethnically diverse. It is essential to mention that most of Bahrain’s population are non-nationals or immigrants; however, Islam remains the largest religion practiced in Bahrain. For my science research project, I would suggest exploring religious minorities in Bahrain, in particular Christian communities. The purpose of the study is to understand religious minorities’ experience and navigation in a Muslim country. The most applicable social theory is symbolic interactionism, which “focuses on the relationships among individuals within a society” (Griffith et al., 2015, p. 17). By virtue of symbolic interactionist theory, it is also possible to understand the influence of Christian communities’ religious practices on the social processes and spiritual experiences in Bahrain. According to this perspective, individuals actively shape the social world instead of passively reacting to social changes (Griffith et al., 2015). Thus, applying this theory to the project would help understand how the interaction between Muslims and religious minorities in Bahrain shapes the religious and cultural context of the country.
For this study, I suggest using qualitative research methods, namely, participant observation. This method is most commonly used by researchers in sociology studies (Smith-Hawkins, 2020). In observation, the inquirer observes and compares the object of the research with related phenomena. When doing a participant observation, the researcher has to find the group, determine how to connect them, observe, and write up all the data. The purpose of participant observation research is to collect information about the group of people to formulate a hypothesis, which helps explain the phenomena. In comparison to quantitative methods, participant observation is justified by getting much more details and a greater understanding of religious minorities in Bahrain. Hence, the use of this research method seems justified for the proposed project.
References
Griffiths, H., Keirns, N. J., Strayer, E., Cody-Rydzewski, S., Scaramuzzo, G., Sadler, T., Vyain, S., Bry, J., & Jones, F. (2015). Introduction to sociology (2nd ed.). OpenStax College, Rice University. Web.
Smith-Hawkins, P. (Ed.). (2020). Introduction to Sociology (AUBH Bahraini ed.). Unpublished manuscript.