About Sociology and Library of Congress
Call Numbers and Subject Headings

     Sociology is the social science which studies human behavior in society. Sociology seeks to understand patterns of behavior within society, and how culture and social institutions shape human behavior. Economics, political science, anthropology, and psychology are also social sciences. Each of these focuses on human behavior and how it is related to society. Economists seek to understand production and distribution of goods and services. Political scientists center their attention on government and politics. Anthropologists focus on understanding culture in variously defined and developed societies. Psychologists seek to understand mental processes and problems of individuals how people cope in relationships. Sociologists explore the social consequences of politics, government, and distribution of goods and services. Sociologists wish to understand how culture dictates daily interactions and how people adjust to difficulties of life. Sociology combines all of the disciplines together, and studies human behavior on a large scale.

     Sociologists follow the scientific method when doing research, just as physicists and chemists do. The goals of scientific research include explaining why phenomena occur, making generalizations from individual cases and using data collected from wider groups. Most important, sociologists try to understand the social fabric in order to predict and perhaps improve the future.

     The science of sociology developed out of the pervasive social changes of the Industrial Revolution. The actual term "sociology" was originally coined by Auguste Comte (1798-1857) who was interested in applying scientific method to the study of society. Comte wished to study society not to fix what was wrong but to learn about it. Comte’s ideas came from a time when people were beginning to accept positivism (belief in scientific explanations instead of theological or metaphysical ones). Comte believed that society operates according to particular laws, just as the physical world operates according to laws of gravity and nature.

     From Comte’s basic idea of social research, three men made their contribution to sociological theory. Karl Marx (1818-1883), Émile Durkheim (1858-1917), and Max Weber (1864-1920) constructed theories to explain how and why society functions. These theories have been drawn from extensively and continuously over the years. These theorists laid the framework for the entire discipline of sociology. New theories have sprung forth from their work, but current research confirms their approaches.

     Several women and minorities have made their names in sociology as well. Jane Addams (1860-1935) was the first and only sociologist to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1931) for her work with urban sociology. Addams also established a center for reform in Chicago where sociologists worked on problems using sociological theory and the scientific method. Harriet Martineau (1802-1876) contributed to the field of sociology by translating Comte’s writings from French to English. She also worked to eliminate slavery and advance the position of women. W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963), an African American, recognized racial inequality, spoke out against it, and became a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Du Bois also established the nation’s second Department of Sociology at Atlanta University (the first Department of Sociology was at the University of Chicago). Sociologists research religious cults, domestic violence, race relations, and poverty. They may specialize in criminology, social psychology, work, organizations, or inequalities related to race, class, and gender. An especially new area in sociology is the study of behavior patterns linked to computers and the internet.

In applied sociology, the scientific method is combined with social theory to provide solutions for problems. For example, if a city wanted a new type of water treatment center that would benefit the public but would required increased taxes for residents, sociologists might be employed to find out how individuals feel about the new plan. Sociologists use surveys, interviews, and existing data to find answers.

Source:  World of Sociology, 2002.  XreferPlus Database

Selected Library of Congress Call Numbers

Selected Library of Congress Subject Headings

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Last Updated: 1/22/09