In order to understand their themselves people created a number of sciences, which were meant to uncover the principles of society’s functioning as well as the functioning of a single person in it. Sociology is one of these sciences. To understand basic concepts, the origin and evolution of sociology, its tools should be considered, as well as social institutions and problems within them. Being created to broaden one’s possibilities to express in all ways oneself in a scale of existing society, the purpose of sociology starched widely apart from that goal, searching and scrutinizing current problems of social structure with regard to the experience in the past.
The notion that every problem which a human being faces can be rationally explained and studied was a starting point of the birth of the given science. Throughout the history, sociology was strongly criticized for using vague determination of its goals (Blankie, 2013, p. 76). Auguste Comte gave the sociology its name in the nineteenth century. His theory is widely known now as a tradition of sociology (Robins, 2011, p. 56). The classical thoughts were mainly works of German and French sociologists, but the science developed in the US in the early years of twentieth century. The American approach was completely different from European with regard to active practical experiments. For example, projects of empirical research were invested to speed up development of society and increase the economic potential of the country. The modern sociology, however, has an inclination to comprehend reflexively how society works. Relations between people are the subject of its current studies alongside with adjustment of the science to needs of other spheres, such as the labour (de Almeida, 2013, p. 159).
Every sociologist as a representative of his epoch and branch carries out an analysis or research of the existing society in line with the goal they set. In this science, one doesn’t need to use a lot of calculations. Instead, a sociologists use sociological tools, such as observations and interviews. On a cultural scale, it is a set of ideas, an insight into problems of society which can be provided by a simple observation with a bit of critical thinking, which takes a central position in the present sociology (Humpage, 2014, p. 137). Experiments are also conducted to find solutions. For instance, it can be a study of two different groups of violent children, one of which is treated with restrictions, while the other is treated with care. Having determined what factors influence the violence levels the most, the crucial element will be introduced into program at schools which will result in reduction of the total violence levels among kids.
Social institutions emerged long before the science itself – people had governments, families, economic systems, religion and other institutions for centuries, but only after the appearance of sociology one can put them under a stern analysis. The efficiency of every institution depends greatly on how it was organized (Prodanciuc, 2012, p. 241), and due to this some institutions are far from ideal. Educational institutions, such as colleges, are organized to prepare young generations for their future work, providing them with the required knowledge and, most importantly, with an opportunity to use it. If the first task is mostly completed, the second lacks efficiency. Once out of colleges and schools, people find themselves prepared for doing a job, but not for seeking it. The current education system often does not take into account the situation on the labour market, leaving graduate students in the ocean without a lifeboat. An example can be observed in Australia (Hill, Thomson, & Cass, 2011, p. 174). A statistical department of any college can combine a data sheet about vacancies or entities that carry out activities related to a graduate student’s specialization. After graduation students will receive the data, which is to provide them tips on where to start searching. Though it does not guarantee an instant employment, it is better than nothing.
The disregard of pupils and students is yet another issue of the present education. One may be a wonderful teacher, but it is not only the knowledge one shares with students. The attitude also plays a role. Worth to mention, this attitude towards youngsters determines not only their educational prospects. Their further lives are also under the influence. The issue also covers the education provision to everybody who wants one. The latest examples of all above mentioned facts took place in Russia (Lebedev, 2014, p. 62) and some other CIS countries.
The examples, however, can be applied not just to the condition of the world’s education. Same social processes break families and relationships, affecting the institutions of a higher scale. Here it is crucial to understand the equality of people and the rights they have, which is yet another current social issue to be considered, alongside with discrimination, gay marriage, youth unemployment (Gils, Dibrell, Neubaum, & Craig, 2014, p. 193) and others.
Eventually, sociology views a society from a different angle, studying every aspect and institution, finding problems and creating solutions. Therefore its job is far from being done, although it has already made a great impact on the society and its ways of being.
Reference
Blankie, A. (2013). History, sociology, modernity: how connect? Scottish Historical Review, 92(Supplement), 70-82. doi:10.3366/shr.2013.0168
de Almeida, P. (2013). A contribution to the sociology of modern work. Portuguese Journal of Social Science, 12(2), 152-162. Web.
Gils, A., Dibrell, C., Neubaum, D., & Craig, J. (2014). Social issues in the family enterprise. Family Business Review, 27(3), 193-205.
Hill, T., Thomson, C., & Cass, B. (2011). Young carers: location, education and employment disadvantage. Australian Journal of Labour Economics, 14(2), 173-198. Web.
Humpage, L. (2014). PeerWise: a useful learning tool for sociology? New Zealand Sociology, 29(1), 135-149. Web.
Lebedev, S. (2014). Russian science and education. Russian Education and Society 56(1), 57-69.
Prodanciuc, R. (2012). Social institutions. Annals of the University of Petroşani. Economics, 12(2), 236-243. Web.
Robins, D. (2011). John Stuart Mill and Auguste Comte: a trans-cultural comparative epistemology of the social sciences. Journal of Classical Sociology, 11(1), 51-74.