June Nguyen
SOCA 1910-01
September 23, 2001
Professor Khalifeh
Essay #1: Sociology
Sociology is the study of social life and social structure by examining the groups and social institutions in which people shape. Sociologists are concerned with the characteristics of groups, organizations, and societies, and how people’s behaviors contribute within these contexts (). A sociology major provides a wide range of opportunities that requires only the B.A. or the B.S. degree, because almost any career requires the kind of skills and knowledge developed in studying sociology. This major ranges from the study of family relationships to the study of large bureaucratic institutions in major industrialized nations. Sociology majors may enter hundreds of career paths. They may specialize in criminology, demography, family relations, gerontology, social welfare, sex and gender, race relations, social change, and social status. Sociology majors can find jobs in social service agencies, public relations, government agencies, educational institutions, hospitals, management, and human resources. Employers search for people with the ability to work well under pressure, and to be able to read and write analytically (). Being a sociologist involves ethnographical, epistemological, and ideological that set sociologists with the dominant culture. Sociologists are attempted to analyze accurate and precise data through scientific methods that are as objective as possible, without any biases. They rely on careful recording of systematic observations and accumulative of data (Schaefer, 8-9). These principles may conflict with general ethical issues of the client’s rights and treatment with due regard for their integrity, dignity, and objectivity. This potential ethical conflict provides one of the reasons for the development of a Code of Ethics. In general, sociologists should practice this Code to resolve ethical issues that they face almost daily, and strive for value neutrality with respect to their research.
