Sociology is the systematic study of society and social interaction. In order to carry out their studies, sociologists identify cultural patterns and social forces and determine how they affect individuals and groups. They also develop ways to apply their findings to the real world.
• The ability to devise and carry out research projects to assess whether a
program or policy is working
• The ability to collect, read, and analyze statistical information from polls or
surveys
• The ability to recognize important differences in people’s social, cultural, and
economic backgrounds
• Skills in preparing reports and communicating complex ideas
• The capacity for critical thinking about social issues and problems that
confront modern society (Department of Sociology, University of Alabama)
Sociology prepares people for a wide variety of careers. Besides actually conducting
social research or training others in the field, people who graduate from college with
a degree in sociology are hired by government agencies, nongovernmental
organizations, and corporations in fields such as social services, counselling (e.g.,
family planning, career, substance abuse), designing and evaluating social policies
and programs, health services, polling and independent research, market research,
and human resources management. Even a small amount of training in sociology can
be an asset in careers like sales, public relations,
journalism, teaching, law, and criminal justice. Making Connections: Sociology in the
Real World
Please “Friend” Me: Students and Social Networking
The phenomenon known as Facebook was designed specifically for students. Whereas earlier
generations wrote notes in each other’s printed yearbooks at the end of the academic year, modern
technology and the internet ushered in dynamic new ways for people to interact socially. Instead
of having to meet up on campus, students can call, text, and Skype from their dorm rooms. Instead
of a study group gathering weekly in the library, online forums and chat rooms help learners
connect. The availability and immediacy of computer technology has forever changed the ways
students engage with each other.
Now, after several social networks have vied for primacy, a few have established their place in the
market and some have attracted niche audience. While Facebook launched the social networking
trend geared toward teens and young adults, now people of all ages are actively “friending” each
other. LinkedIn distinguished itself by focusing on professional connections, serving as a virtual
world for workplace networking. Newer offshoots like Foursquare help people connect based on
the real-world places they frequent, while Twitter has cornered the market on brevity.
These newer modes of social interaction have also spawned questionable consequences, such as
cyberbullying and what some call FAD, or Facebook addiction disorder. In an international study
of smartphone users aged 18 to 30, 60 percent say they are “compulsive” about checking their
smartphones and 42 percent admit to feeling “anxious” when disconnected; 75 percent check their
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