The Four Main Categories of Sociology

The Four Main Categories of SociologySociology has one central focus, namely the social environment of an individual or group. There are four main categories of sociological topics: theory and research, application, field research and syndicalism. There are many sub-categories within the above general categories. Here is a look at some of the more prominent sociological topics of the past and present.Where society is concerned, theory and research comprise the largest part of the content. Societies are large and interconnected, and the conditions under which human individuals live and interact with one another. Theory explores and elaborates on the interactions between individuals, groups and society. Social and cultural history also provide a broad background for the development of sociological theories. Studying these areas provides the opportunity to develop theories of social change that can be used to guide the direction of modern society.Application is concerned with the applic ation of theory. The application of theory to real-world situations that apply to today's society give rise to research projects. These research projects, for instance, may involve interviewing members of the target population, examining data from census reports, examining media reports, etc. The applications of theory to real-world problems help explain the effects of societal and other factors upon individuals and their social and cultural interactions. Applications of the theory are of interest to sociologists, particularly those who study communities and their interaction with others.Sociology is all about socialization. It is about how people form, shape and function within specific societies. Societies change over time and interconnect socially and culturally with other societies. We all form relationships with those who surround us and those who reside in other societies and cultures.Field research is devoted to studying a given sociological problem and its solutions from an outside perspective. These are usually very important sociological topics. They can often be developed into real-world experiments using the most up-to-date tools and techniques. This form of sociology includes numerous forms of research such as ethnography, survey, behavioral science, etc. Field research is focused on studying a particular problem in detail.The third category of sociological paper topics concerns the relation between sociology and syndicalism. Syndicalism is the view that society should govern itself. Syndicalism has different definitions, but it essentially means that a common solution to a problem exists rather than making a decision by individuals.Deviance is a term used by sociologists and anthropologists that refer to a deviation from traditional societal patterns. Deviance is also used to refer to a situation that can result in social change. Deviance is usually used to describe a situation where a conflict exists between two prevailing social patterns, where one pattern is unpopular and the other is accepted by the majority of people.Anthropology studies the societies of the past and present and attempts to understand the social structure and behavior of those societies. Societies are larger and inter-connected than ever before, and anthropology has a great deal to offer sociologists and anthropologists. Anthropology provides sociologists with a new way of understanding how humans operate and interact within their society. Most sociologists have an interest in anthropology, especially when they are looking for a new perspective on a difficult social problem.