Introduction to sociology: national open university of nigeria

NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COURSE CODE: CSS 111 COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY CSS 111 COURSE GUIDE COURSE GUIDE CSS 111 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY Course Developer/Writer Solomon Ojo University of Ibadan Dr. (Mrs.) I. Udofot National Open University of Nigeria Course Co-ordinator NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA ii CSS 111 COURSE GUIDE National Open University of Nigeria Headquarters 14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way Victoria Island Lagos Abuja office No. 5 Dar es Salaam Street, Off Aminu Kanu Crescent Wuse II, Abuja Nigeria e-mail: centralinfo@nou. edu. ng URL: www. nou. edu. ng Published by: National Open University of Nigeria 2008 First Printed 2004 ISBN: 978-058-348-3 All Rights Reserved iii CSS 111 COURSE GUIDE CONTENTS Introduction ………………………………………………… What You Will Learn in This Course ……………………… Course Aims ………………………………………………… Course Objectives…………………………………………… Working Through This Course………………………………. Course Materials ……………………………………………. Study Units ………………………………………………….. Textbooks and References…………………………………… Assignment File …………………………………………….. Assessment ………………………………………………….. Course Marking Scheme ……………………………………. Course Overview ……………………………………………. How to Get the Most from This Course ……………………. Facilitators/Tutors and Tutorials ……………………………. PAGES 1 1 1 2 2 3 3- 4 4 4 4- 5 5- 6 6- 7 7- 9 9 – 10 iv Introduction GSl15: Introduction to Sociology is a one year, twenty credit, foundation level course. It will be available to all students to take towards the core module of their BSc. and BSc. (Hons.) in Co-operative Management. This course is suitable for any foundation student in the school of Business and Administration. The course will consist of twenty units, which involves Definition of Sociology (consisting of its origin, its scope, its uses and its methods, etc.), leadership, social change, conformity, power, marriage and family. This material has been developed for Nigerian students. There are compulsory prerequisites for this course. This Course Guide tells you briefly what the course is about, what you are expected to know in each unit, what course materials you will be using and how you can work your way through these materials. It also emphasises the need for tutor-marked assignments. Detailed information on tutor-marked assignments is found in the separate file, which will be sent to you later. There are periodic tutorial classes that are linked to the course. What You Will Learn in This Course The overall aim ofGSl15: Introduction to Sociology is to introduce the students to the basic concept in Sociology, Social issues in Sociology and general introduction of Sociology. During this course, you will learn about the definition of Sociology, its origins, its scopes, uses and methods. The course will also expose you to some practical social issues in our society in particular and the world in general. These social issues include family and marriage; power and authority, socialisation and leadership. Your understanding in this course will prepare you fully for other social sciences, and hence you will be grounded in Social Sciences. Specifically, this course will make you to have a better understanding of your main programme, Co-operative Management. Course Aims The aim of the course can be summarised as follows: this course aims to give you an understanding of basic concepts in Sociology, Social issues in Sociology and general introduction of Sociology. CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO Course Objectives To achieve the aims set above, there are set overall objectives. In addition, each unit also has specific objectives. The unit objectives are always included at the beginning of a unit; you should read them before you start working through the unit. You may want to refer to them during your study of the unit to check on your progress. You should always look at the unit objectives after completing a unit. In this way, definitely, you can be sure that you have done what was required of you by the unit. Stated below are the wider objectives of this course as a whole. Definitely, by meeting these objectives, you should therefore know that you have achieved the aims of the course as a whole. On successful completion of the course, you should be able to: Know the definition of sociology, its scope, its origin, its methods and its uses. Know the meanings of family and marriage, their activities and relationships. Know the concepts of socialisation, conformity and deviance. know the concepts of leadership, power and authority, and their relationships. Know the concepts of group, social organisation and social interactions. Know the concepts of social stratification, social differentiation and social mobility. know the processes and importance of collective behaviour, public opinion and social change. Working through This Course To complete this course, you are required to read the study units, read recommended books and read other materials provided by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). Each unit contains some selfassessment exercises, and at points in the course, you are required to submit assignments for assessment purposes. At the end of this course is a final examination. Stated below are all the components of the course and what you have to do. ii CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO Course Materials Major components of the course are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Course Guide Study Units Textbooks Assignment File Presentation In addition, you must obtain the text materials. They are provided by the N0UN; so therefore, obtain your copy. You may also be required to purchase your own copy from the bookshops. You may contact your tutor if you have problems in obtaining the text materials. Study Units There are twenty study units in this course, as follows: Module 1 Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Module 2 Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Module 3 Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Social Organisations Group Social Differentiation Religion Social Interactions Conformity Deviance Power Authority Leadership Definition of Sociology Family Marriage Society and Culture Socialisation iii CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO Module 4 Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Social Stratification Social Mobility Collective Behaviour Public Opinion and Propaganda Social Change Each unit contains a number of self-tests. In general, these self-tests question you on the materials you have just covered or require you to apply it in some ways and, thereby, help you to gauge your progress and to reinforce your understanding of the material. Together with tutormarked assignments, these exercises will assist you in achieving the stated learning objectives of the individual units and of the course. Textbooks and References You are required to purchase these textbooks stated below. They are compulsory for you: Gelles, R. J & Levine, A. (1996). Sociology: An Introduction. (6th ed.) McGraw Hill Giddens, A. (1993). Sociology: An introduction. Polity Press in Association with Blackwell Publishers, (2nd ed.) Assignment File The Assignment file will be posted to you in due course. In this file, you will find all the details of the work you must submit to your tutor for marking. The marks you obtain for these assignments will count towards the final mark you obtain for this course. Further information on assignment will be found in the Assignment File, itself and later in this Course Guide in the section on assessment. There are more than thirty Assignments for this course. Each unit is loaded with a minimum of two Assignments. In any way, there are many Assignments for this course and they cover every unit. Assessment There are two aspects to the assessment of the course. First are the tutormarked assignments; second, there is a written examination. In tackling these assignments, you are expected to apply information, knowledge and experience gathered during the course. The assignments iv CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO must be submitted to your tutor for formal assessment in accordance with the deadlines stated in the Assignment File. The work you submit to your tutor for assessment will count for 50% of your total course mark. At the end of the course, you will need to sit for a final written examination of three hours’ duration. This examination will also count for 50% of your total course mark. There are twenty tutor-marked assignments in this course. You only need to submit all the assignments. The best five (i. e. the highest five of the twenty marks) will be counted. Each assignment counts 20 marks but on the average when the five assignments are put together, then each assignment will now count 10% towards your total course mark. This indicates that the total marks for the best five (5) assignments which would have been 100 marks will now be 50% of your total course mark. Assignment questions for the units in this course are contained in the Assignment File. You will be able to complete your assignments from the information and materials contained in your set books, reading and study units. However, it is desirable in all degree level-education to demonstrate that you have read and researched more widely than the required minimum. Using other references will give you a broader viewpoint and may provide a deeper understanding of the subject. When each assignment is completed, send it, together with a TMA (tutor-marked assignment) form, to your tutor. Make sure that each assignment reaches your tutor on or before the deadline given in the, Assignment File. If, for any reason, you cannot complete your work on time, contact your tutor before the assignment is due to discuss the possibility of an extension. Extensions will not be granted after the due’ date unless there are exceptional circumstances. The final examination for GS 115 will be of three hours’ duration and have a value of 50% of the total course grade. The examination will consists of questions which reflect the practice exercises and tutormarked problems you have previously encountered. All areas of the course will be assessed. Use the time between finishing the last unit and sitting the examination to revise the entire course. You might find it useful to review your tutormarked assignments and comment on them before the examination. The final examination covers information from all parts of the course. v CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO Course Marking Scheme The following table lays out how the actual course marking is broken down: Table 1: Course marking scheme Assessment Marks Assignment 1-20 Final examination Total 20 assignments, best five marks of twenty count @ 10% each (on the averages) = 50% of course marks 50% of overall course marks 100% of course marks Course Overview This table brings together the units, the number of weeks you should take to complete them, and the assignments that follow them. Table 2: Course Organiser Unit Title of Work Course Guide Module 1 1 2 3 4 5 Definition of Sociology Family Marriage Society and Culture Socialization Module 2 1 2 3 4 5 Conformity Deviance Power Authority Leadership Module 3 1 2 3 Social Organizations Group Social Differentiation 4 4 3 Assignment 1l Assignment 12 Assignment 13 Assignment 14 3 6 3 3 3 Assignment 6 Assignment 7 Assignment 8 Assignment 8 Assignment 10 Weeks Activity 1 Assessment (end of unit) 3 3 3 3 4 Assignment 1 Assignment 2 Assignment 3 Assignment 4 Assignment 5 vi CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO 4 5 Religion Social Interaction Module 4 3 3 Assignment 15 1 2 3 4 5 Social Stratification Social Mobility Collective Behaviour Public Opinion Social Change Revision Total 4 3 4 3 4 2 Assignment 16 Assignment 17 Assignment 18 Assignment 19 Assignment 20 How to Get the Most from This Course In distance learning, the study units replace the university lecture. This is one of the great advantages of distance learning; you can read and work through specially designed study materials at your own pace, and at a time and place that suit you best. Think of it as reading the lecture instead of listening to a lecturer. . In the same way that a lecturer might set you some reading to do, the study units tell you when to read, your text materials or set books. You are provided exercises to do at appropriate points, just as a lecturer might give you an in-class exercise. Each of the study units follows a common format. The first item is an introduction to the subject matter of the unit and how a particular unit is integrated with the other units and the course as a whole. Next to this is a set of learning objectives. These objectives let you know what you should be able to do by the time you have completed the unit. These learning objectives are meant to guide your study. The moment a unit is finished, you must go back and check whether you have achieved the objectives. If this is made a habit, then you will significantly improve your chances of passing the course. The main body of the unit guides you through the required reading from other sources. This will usually be either from your set books or from a Reading Section. The following is a practical strategy for working through the course. If you run into any trouble, telephone your tutor or post the question on the web GS OLE’s discussing board. Remember that your tutor’s job is to help you. When you need help, don’t hesitate to call and ask your tutor to provide it. vii CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO 1. 2. Read this Course Guide thoroughly Organize a Study Schedule. Refer to the ‘Course Overview’ for more details. Note the time you are expected to spend on each unit and how the assignments relate to the units. Important information, e. g. details of your tutorials, and the date of the first day of the Semester is available from the WebGS OLE. You need to gather together all this information in one place, such as your diary or a wall calendar. Whatever method you choose to use, you should decide on and write in your own dates for each unit. Once you have created your own study schedule, do everything you can to stick to it. The major reason that students fail is that they get behind with their course work. If you get into difficulties with your schedule, please let your tutor know before it is too late for help. Turn to Unit 1 and read the introduction and the objectives for the unit. Assemble the study materials. Information about what you need for a unit is given in the ‘overview’ at the beginning of each unit. You will almost always need both the study unit you are working on and one of your set books on your desk at the same time. Work through the unit. The content of the unit itself has been arranged to provide a sequence for you to follow. As you work through the unit you will be instructed to read from your set books. Keep an eye on the WebGS OLE. Up-to-date course information will be continuously posted there. Well before the relevant due dates (about 4 weeks before due dates), access the Assignment File on the WebGS OLE and down-load your next required Assignment. Keep in mind that you will learn a lot by doing the assignment carefully. They have been designed to help you meet the objectives of the course and, therefore, will help you pass the examination. Submit all assignments not later than the due date. Review the objectives for each study unit to confirm that you have achieved them. If you feel unsure about any of the objectives, review the study materials or consult your tutor. When you are condifent that you have achieved a unit’s objectives, you can then start on the next unit. Proceed unit by 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. viii 1CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO unit through the course and try to pace your study so that you keep yourself on schedule. 11. When you have submitted an assignment to your tutor for marking, do not wait for its return before’ starting on the next unit. Keep to your schedule. When the assignment is returned, pay particular . attention to your tutor’s comments, both on the tutor-marked assignment form and also written on the assignment. Consult your tutor as soon as possible if you have any questions or problems. After completing the last unit, review the course and prepare yourself for the final examination. Check that you have achieved the unit objectives (listed at the beginning of each unit) and the course objectives (listed in this Course Guide). 12. Facilitators/Tutors and Tutorials There are 40 hours of tutorials (twenty 2-hour sessions) provided in support of this course. You will be notified of the dates, times and location of these tutorials, together with the name and phone number of your tutor, as soon as you are allocated a tutorial group. Your tutor will mark and comment on your assignments, keep a close watch on your progress and on any difficulties you might encounter and provide assistance to you during the course. You must mail your tutormarked assignments to your tutor well before the due date (at least two working days are required). They will be marked by your tutor and returned to you as soon as possible. Do not hesitate to contact your tutor by telephone, e-mail, or discussion board. If you need help the following might be circumstances in which you would find help necessary. Contact your tutor if you do not understand any part of the study units or the assigned readings. you have difficulty within the exercises. you have a question or problem with an assignment, with your tutor’s comments on an assignment or with the grading of an assignment. You should try your best to attend the tutorials. This is the only chance to have face to face contact with your tutor and ask questions which are answered instantly. You can raise any problem encountered in the course of your study. To gain the maximum benefit from course ix CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO tutorials, prepare a question list before attending them. You will learn a lot from participating in discussion actively. x 1CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO Course Code Course Title Course Developer/Writer CSS 101 Introduction to Sociology Solomon Ojo University of Ibadan Dr. (Mrs.) I. Udofot National Open University of Nigeria Course Co-ordinator NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA xi CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO National Open University of Nigeria Headquarters 14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way Victoria Island Lagos Abuja office No. 5 Dar es Salaam Street, Off Aminu Kanu Crescent Wuse II, Abuja Nigeria e-mail: centralinfo@nou. edu. ng URL: www. nou. edu. ng Published by: National Open University of Nigeria 2008 First Printed 2004 ISBN: 978-058-348-3 All Rights Reserved xii CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO CONTENTS PAGES Module 1 ……………………………………………………… 1 Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Definition of Sociology ………………………. Family ………………………………………… Marriage ………………………………………. Society and Culture ………………………..… Socialisation………………………………….. 1- 7 8 – 12 13 – 15 16 – 21 22 – 25 Module 2 ……………………………………………………… 25 Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Conformity …………………………………… Deviance ……………………………………… Power …………………………………………. Authority ……………………………………… Leadership ……………………………………. 25 – 29 30 – 37 38 – 41 42 – 44 45 – 49 Module 3 ……………………………………………………… 50 Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Social Organization ………………………….. Group ………………………………………… Social Differentiation ………………………… Religion ………………………………………. Social Interaction ……………………………… 50- 53 54 – 65 66 – 63 64 – 71 72 – 76 Module 4 ……………………………………………………… 77 Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Social Stratification ………………………….. Social Mobility ……………………………….. Collective Behaviour ………………………… Public Opinion and Propaganda ……………… Social Change…………………………………. 77 – 79 80 – 84 85 – 88 89 – 92 93 – 96 xiii CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO MODULE 1 Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Definition of Sociology Family Marriage Society and Culture Socialisation UNIT 1 CONTENTS 1. 0 2. 0 3. 0 DEFINITION OF SOCIOLOGY 4. 0 5. 0 6. 0 7. 0 Introduction Objectives Main Content 3. 1 Definition of Sociology 3. 2 Origin of Sociology 3. 3 Scope of Sociology 3. 4 Methods of Sociology 3. 5 Practical Significance of Sociology 3. 6 Social Issues in Sociology Conclusion Summary Tutor-Marked Assignment References/Further Readings 1. 0 INTRODUCTION You will bear with me that the world today is characterised by high levels of worry, concern and anxiety, for the future and yet full of promises that the future holds. In reality, the world nowadays is known to be characterised by tensions, social divisions, day by day conflicts, international terrorism, assassinations, including the destructive operations of modem technology on the existing natural environment. Despite all these concerns, the people still have the assurance and possibilities of controlling their destiny and ensuring that their lives are shaped for the better, which might have been unachievable to the earlier generations. Why this obvious difference? In what directions will change take in the future? These questions and more are the major focus of Sociology. It is in the interest of Sociology to ensure playing a significant role in these modem times (i. e. understanding why people change from a particular way to another). This is what actually makes the field of Sociology to be much concerned with people’s actions over time. 1 CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO 2. 0 OBJECTIVES It is hoped that by the end of this unit, you should be able to: define extensively what Sociology is; explain the origins of Sociology; explain the scope of Sociology; express the methods used by Sociologist in their study of human. Behaviour; understand the practical significance of Sociology; and describe social issues that are of interest to Sociology. 3. 0 3. 1 MAIN CONTENT Definition of Sociology Sociology is like every other social science such as Psychology, Economics, Geography, Political Science, etc., but its approach, assumptions and methods are to some extent different from others. Sociology is the systematic study of the groups and societies in which people live, how social structures and cultures are created and maintained or changed, and how they affect our behaviour. As we noted earlier on, Sociology is part of the family of social sciences that includes psychology, anthropology, geography, political science and parts of history. All Social Sciences are concerned with human behaviour. Although they share the same basic subject matter, each Social Science focuses on a different aspect of behaviour, for example, psychologist are most interested in the internal sources of behaviour; sociologist in the external sources of behaviour. Psychologists study the workings of the nervous system and the effects of neurotransmitters, hormones, or stress on individual. Sociologists look at the workings of society and the effects that social class, gender roles, age, new technologies, changing attitude towards reckless behaviour, or political revolutions have on people. Psychologists focus on personality -on the behaviour and attitudes that are characteristics of person regardless of the situations. Sociologist focus on roles -on the behaviour and attitudes that are characteristic of people in a given social position or situation regardless of their individual personalities. Anthropology shares Sociology’s interest in the impact of social structure and culture on behaviour; but anthropologists usually study non-western societies, preliterate societies, local communities, or small groups. Sociologist, too, study communities and small groups, but they also examine modem industrial societies and large-scale . 2 CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO Economists and political scientists single out particular kinds of social activity; sociologists look at the nature of social action itself and at the manner in which different kinds of activities fit together to create the larger pattern of society. Sociologists are primarily interested in areas where social structure and culture intersect. One of these is social institutions. Social institutions are established patterns of action and thought that organize important social activities -the family, education, religion, the political and economic systems. These institutions provide ready-made answers to the recurring problems of life; how to make community decisions (the political system), how to produce and distribute goods and services (the economic system), how to arrange house-holds and provide child-care (the family), and so on. SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 1 Define sociology and relate it to other social sciences. 3. 2 Origin of Sociology Considering the origins of sociology, one would then have to look at the contributions made by some founding fathers. The contributions of Max Weber, and August Compe shall be considered. Max Weber (1864-1920) Max Weber was one of the founding fathers of Sociology whose work has been a great influence on the study of Sociology. In his own contribution, sociology is a science of social action. He made a clear distinction between action and social action. To him, action has to do with all human behaviour in so far as the actor attaches a subjective meaning to it; but for that of social action, the actor does not only and usually attach a subjective meaning, the action itself must also be seen to take account of the behaviour of others (1968: 1, 4). Emily Durkheirn (18S8 – 19l7) This is one of the early Sociologists. Emily Durkheim dealt with two types of social solidarity. By ‘Solidarity’, Durkheim meant the moral beliefs and ideas which formed the ‘common-sense’ underlying social life. Mechanical solidarity (characteristic of pre-industrial societies) was said to be based on agreement and identity between people; organic solidarity derived from agreement to tolerate a range of differences, 3 CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO conflict being moderated through a variety of institutional arrangements, such as courts, political parties, etc. SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 2 Describe the contributions of Max Weber and Emily Durkheim to Sociology. 3. 3 Scope of Sociology The scope of study of sociology is extremely wide beginning from studying and understanding interactions among individuals up to the scientific analysis of global social processes such as globalisation and information technology; globalisation and sustainable economic development. 3. 4 Methods of Sociology In understanding human behaviour, Sociologists use methods which are mainly scientific in discovering facts about human beings. The major scientific tools usually being used in sociological research are: Survey Archival research Participant observation Surveys The survey is a method of systematically collecting data from people about their behaviour, attitudes and beliefs. Subjects for surveys are carefully selected to represent the group of people about whom the investigator intends to draw conclusions. The subjects in a survey can be interviewed in persons, as they were or on the telephone; or they might complete a self-administered paper -and -pencil or computerised questionnaire. Whatever the mode of data collection, the questions in a survey are carefully constructed to yield the precise information that the investigator is seeking. Usually, surveys require respondents to choose between response alternatives that are supplied by the researchers. Archival Research The questions and results of some comprehensive national surveys are published so that other researchers, not involved in the study can conduct their own analyses of the data. Results published in this manner are said to be archived, and research using these results are called archival research. Archival research in actual fact, uses existing records, 4 CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO gathered originally for some other purpose, as data. An archival study might examine census figures; birth records; scores on tests administered in schools, clinics or businesses; criminal records; or personal documents such as diaries or letters. Participant Observation The term ” participant observer” was coined by Eduard Linteman (1924), a university of Chicago Sociologist, to refer to individuals who belong to a group and report on that group to investigators. Today, the term still is used, but now it refers to a researcher who interacts with group members for the purpose of studying them. The extent of participants observers’ involvement with their subjects varies from study to study, as do the means they use to gain entry into their subjects worlds. Researchers may spend extended periods of time with the people they study, sharing many life experiences with them, or the data may be gathered over a relatively short time by means of one or a few intensive interviews. Some investigators have gained access to groups deceptively, by passing themselves off as regular group members. Others identify themselves as researchers from the outset, hoping that those they plan to study will grant them access to information usually reserved for insiders. SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 3 Explain the methods of Sociology. 3. 5 Practical Significance of Sociology The practical significance of Sociology is stated below: It provides more adequate and clearer understanding of social situations. It gives practical implications in terms of assessing the results of policy initiatives. It makes possible the promotion of cultural awareness on the different groups in society. It promotes deep self-understanding, etc. SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 4 State the practical significance of Sociology. 5 CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO 3. 6 Social Issues in Sociology There are many social issues that are of great interest to Sociology. Some of these social issues do result into problems, and they are stated below: Rape Armed Robbery . Assassination AIDS/HIV Terrorism Prostitution War Conflicts Area boys’ syndrome, etc. 40 CONCLUSION It is essential to note that Sociology developed as a result of attempts to understand the far-reaching changes that took place in human societies which followed the growth of industries and large cities. You should now know that the distinctive feature of Sociology is its focus on how Society influences human behaviour and vice-versa. Some Sociologists study human behaviour of a more general behaviour (why do fishing communities worship gods of the sea?), crime (why do some young people steal from shops?), and family problems (are all modem societies associated with the breakdown of the pattern of a large families?). Others are interested in human behaviour of a more specific nature such as the response of audiences at pop song concerts, or queuing for buses or the shopping behaviour of people of a particular income group. 5. 0 SUMMARY In this unit, we have dealt with the definition of Sociology, its origins, scope, uses, methods and some of the social issues Sociologists are interested in. 6. 0 1. TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT What do you understand by the term of ” Sociology” and what is the relationship to other social sciences? (a) (b) (c) Describe the scope of Sociology. Explain the methods of Sociology. Describe the practical significance of Sociology. 2. 6 CSS 111 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO 7. 0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS Gelles, R. J. and Levine, A. (1996). Sociology: An Introduction (6th ed.) McGraw-Hill. 7 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO UNIT 2 CONTENTS 1. 0 2. 0 3. 0 FAMILY 4. 0 5. 0 6. 0 7. 0 Introduction Objectives Main Content 3. 1 Definition of Family 3. 2 Types of Family 3. 2. 1 Nuclear Family 3. 2. 2 Extended Family 3. 2. 3 Polygamous Family 3. 2. 4 Monogamous Family 3. 3 Activities in Family 3. 4 Functions of Family Conclusion Summary Tutor-Marked Assignment Reference/Further Readings 1. 0 INTRODUCTION Many Sociologists have regarded the family as the cornerstone of society. It forms the basic unit of social organisation and it is difficult to imagine how human society could function without it. Although the composition of the family varies -for example, in many societies two or more wives are regarded as the ideal arrangement -such differences can be seen as variations on a basic theme. In general, therefore, the family has been seen as a universal social institution, an inevitable part of human society. On balance, it has been regarded as a good thing, both for the individual and society as a whole. For some time, it has been thought natural and normal for households to be based around families. 2. 0 OBJECTIVES At the end of this unit, you should be able to: describe what is family; describe the types of family; understand the activities with family; and describe the functions of family. 8 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO 3. 0 3. 1 MAIN CONTENT Definition of Family In a study entitled social structure, George Peter Murdock examined the institution of the family in a wide range of societies. Murdock (1949) took a sample of250 societies ranging from/small hunting and gathering bands to large -scale industrial societies. He claimed that some form of family existed in every society and concluded, on the evidence of this sample, that the family is universal. Murdock (1949) defines the family as follows: The family is a social group characterised by common residence, economic co-operation and reproduction. It includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship, and one or more children, own or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults. Thus the family lives together, pools its resources and works together, and produces offspring. At least, two of the adult members conduct a sexual relationship according to the norms of their particular society. Such norms vary from society to society. For example, among the Banaro of New Guinea, the husband does not have sexual relations with his wife until she has born a child by a friend of his father. The parentchild relationship, therefore, is not necessarily a biological one. Its importance is primarily social, children being recognised as members of a particular family whether or not the adult spouses have biologically produced them. 3. 2 Types of Family 3. 2. 1 Nuclear Family The concept of family refers to different levels of social organisation in different cultures. For example, in Euro-American societies, a family consists of a man, his wife, and children. This type of family is called the nuclear family. It is also known as the Elementary family. There is also the conjugal family or the family of procreation where one is a father or mother, or husband or wife. In these societies (i. e. EuroAmerican societies) the father’s or mother’s natal family (sometimes referred to as family of orientation) that is, the family where a man or woman was born, is regarded as a different family. The nuclear family appears to be as a result of industrialization and modem development. In Nigeria, today, this type of family is now a common practice. 9 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO 3. 2. 2 Extended Family This is a type of family that have been in existence for a number of years for now. An extended family consists of two or more nuclear families. For example, a man’s family (conjugal family) is joined to his father’s family through him to form one extended family. Hence, a man and his wife and children together with his father and mother and their other children (if any) form one extended family. 3. 2. 3 Polygamous Family This is a type of family practice where a man is married to more than one wife. In this type of family, a man may be married to two, three, four or even more than that. This is a type of practice that has been in existence for a very long time and it is still seen among us today, particularly among the rich people, kings, etc. 3. 2. 4 Monogamous Family This type of family is referred to as one man one wife, that is, a man is said to have only one wife as a legal wife and no other one. These days in Nigeria, monogamous family practice is a common sight everywhere. Majority of men prefer to be involved in this than polygamous family. SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 1 i. ii. iii. Differentiate between nuclear and extended family. What do you understand by conjugal family? Explain the terms ‘Monogamous family’ and ‘Polygamous family’. 3. 3 Activities in Family Every member of a family has some functions to perform in maintaining the unit. The father is seen as the leader who directs the affairs of the unit, but usually takes vital decisions after consultation with the wife and children. It is the role of the father to ensure that the family is protected from danger, the father ensures that the physical well-being of his family is assured and maintained. The physical well-being has to do with food, clothes and shelter. He is not only the provider of all these, he also ensures that he provides and maintains moral and philosophical training of the children. Apart from the father, the mother also is involved in some vital activities. It is the woman who performs the role of a house-wife and sexual consort and bears and suckles children. She sees to the daily feeding of the family members. 10 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO In this line, the children are made to observe the division of labour within the family and of the mutual role dependence and they also contribute whatever they can in order to see to the daily maintenance of the family. As seen from above, the activities in the family has been to regard men as superior to his wife. This can easily be observed in many African societies where a man expects respects and obedience from his wife and children. SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 2 Explain the activities in a family. 3. 4 Functions of the Family George Peter Murdock gives the universal functions of the family as stated below: 1. Functions for Society From his analysis of 250 societies, Murdock argues that the family performs four basic functions in all societies, which he terms the sexual, reproductive, economic and educational. They are essential for social life since without the sexual and reproductive functions there would be no members of society, without the economic function (for example, the provision and preparation of food), life would cease, and without education (a term Murdock uses for socialisation) there would be no culture. Human society without culture could not function. Clearly, the family does not perform these functions exclusively. However, it makes important contributions to them all and no other institution has yet been devised to match its efficiency in this respect. 2. Functions for Individuals and Society The family’s functions for society are inseparable from its functions for its individual members. It serves both at one and the same time and in much the same way. The sexual function provides a good example of this. Husband and wife have the right of sexual access to each other and in most societies there are rules forbidden or limiting sexual activities outside marriage. This provides sexual gratification for the spouses. It also strengthens the family since the powerful and often binding emotions which accompany sexual activities limit husband and wife. 11 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO The sexual function also helps to stabilize society. The rules which largely contain sexual activity within the family preventing the probable disruptive effects on the social order that would result if the sex drive were allowed ” free play”. The family thus provides both control and expression of sexual drives and in doing so perform important functions not only for its individual members, but also for the family as an institution and for society as a whole. 4. 0 CONCLUSION There are shared assumptions that relationship between family members is prototype for all other social relations, that the family unit is the fundamental building block for all societies, and that the family is society’s shock-absorber of social change. One cannot, for instance, expect a person to do more for a stranger or an acquaintance than what he/she would do for a family member. 5. 0 SUMMARY In this unit, we have been able to deal with the word ‘family’ in detail. We have dealt with the definition of family, the types of family, activities in the family and functions of the family. The concept of family has been expressed to mean a social group characterised by common residence, economic co-operation and reproduction. Family has been said to perform different and important functions which include economic functions, educational functions, reproductive functions, sexual function, socialisation functions, etc. 6. 0 1. 2. TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT What do you understand by the term ” family”? Explain activities in family. Explain the functions of family. 7. 0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS Murdock, G. P. (1949). Social Structure, Macmillan: New York. 12 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO UNIT 3 CONTENTS 1. 0 2. 0 3. 0 MARRIAGE 4. 0 5. 0 6. 0 7. 0 Introduction Objectives Main Content 3. 1 Meaning of Marriage 3. 2 Types of Marriage Conclusion Summary Tutor-Marked Assignment Reference/Further Readings 1. 0 INTRODUCTION In all societies, arrangements exist for the social recognition of who may legitimately mate with whom, which we call marriage. While the social recognition of mating itself may be of some importance, its importance is probably outweighed in most societies by that of legitimating the children that may result that is, giving them social recognition, an identity, a name, membership of a socially recognised group and some indication of who must assume the obligation to support them and their mother. Marriage is probably best regarded as an anticipatory provision for the needs of the mother-child unity, which we regard as the basic unit of the kingship system. While all societies have a system of marriage (and make a social distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children) there are wide variations in different marriage systems. The more important variables concern the number of mates each marriage partner may have; the locality of the marriage; the arrangements that exist for the transfer of wealth at the marriage; and the terms, if any, on which a marriage may be dissolved. 2. 0 OBJECTIVES At the end of this unit, you should be able to: describe what is actually meant by marriage; and describe the types of marriage. 3. 0 MAIN CONTENT 13 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO 3. 1 Meaning of Marriage Marriage is traditionally conceived to be legally recognised relationship, between an adult mate and female, that carries certain rights and obligations. However, in contemporary societies, marriage is sometimes interpreted more liberally, and the phrase ‘living as married’ indicates that for many purposes it makes no sense to exclude cohabitation. It should be noted, however, that even this more liberal definition usually excludes homosexual couples. Although cohabitation is increasingly accepted, and is now the normal prelude to marriage. SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 1 Describe your understanding of marriage. 3. 2 Types of Marriage There are two basic types of marriage, so far as numbers are concerned: Monogamy and Polygamy. Monogamous norms restrict the individual to one spouse at a time. Polygamous norms permit plural marriage and take the form either of polygamy (one husband and two or more wives) or of polyandry (one wife and two or more husbands). There is a fourth type of marriage, usually called ” group marriage” in which there are both plural wives and husbands in the marital unit. The last form is rare, and in all known cases the marital rights of one pair in the group take precedence over others. Monogamy is permitted in all societies, although polygamy is the preferred form in most societies. These different kinds of marital arrangements frequently may be interpreted in terms of conditions outside the marriage structure itself. Polygamy is often associated with a shortage of men, although this is not necessarily the case; multiple wives are sometimes a form of conspicuous consumption -a sign of affluence. Because of warfare and the more hazardous occupational pursuits of males, primitive societies often have a predominance of females. This, however, does not place the male in the enviable position that some of you (males) students might assume. SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 2 Describe the major types of marriage. 4. 0 CONCLUSION In most societies, marriages are arranged by older relatives, with an eye to expanding their network of kin. The most important criteria in mate 14 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO selection are economic security and family background, not mutual attraction. Research suggests that in arranged marriages, the couples’ romantic attachment to one another grows over the years, whereas couples who married for love report that their attraction to one another dropped precipitously after the first two to five years of marriage. 5. 0 SUMMARY In this unit, we have been able to give the meaning of marriage and types of marriage. Marriage is seen as a legally recognised relationship between an adult male and female, that carries certain rights and obligations. The two major types of marriage are monogamy and polygamy. Monogamy norms restrict the individual to one spouse at a time. Polygamous norms permit plural marriage and take the form either of polygyny (one husband and two or more wives) or of polyandry (one wife and two or more husbands). 6. 0 1. 2. TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMEBT What do you understand by the term ” Marriage”? State and explain two major types of marriage. 7. 0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS Giddens. A, (1993). Sociology: An introduction. Polity Press in Association with Blackwell Publishers. (2nd ed.). 15 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO UNIT 4 CONTENTS 1. 0 2. 0 3. 0 SOCIETY AND CULTURE 4. 0 5. 0 6. 0 7. 0 Introduction Objectives Main Content 3. 1 What is Society? 3. 2 Definition of Culture 3. 3 Society and Human Behaviour 3. 4 Elements of Culture 3. 5 Importance of Culture Conclusion Summary Tutor-Marked Assignment References/Further Readings 1. 0 INTRODUCTION Since the influence of society on human behaviour is the central interest of sociologists, it is important to know how sociologists see the relationships between individuals and society as a whole. This kind of concern is like the situation when, for example, a young person commits suicide and some people conclude that ” it is the fault of society”. In other words, this individual’s behaviour was influenced by society. But what exactly is society. Furthermore, the concept of culture together with that of society, is one of the most widely used notions in sociology. When we use the term culture in ordinary daily conversation, we often think of culture as equivalent to the ‘higher things of the mind’ -art, literature, music and painting. As sociologists use it, the concept includes such activities, but also far more. Culture has been seen as the ways of life of the members of a society, or of groups within a society. It concludes how they dress, their pattern of work, etc. 2. 0 OBJECTIVES This unit is expected to expose you to the: definitions of culture and society; relationship between society and human behaviour; elements of culture; and importance of culture. 16 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO 3. 0 3. 1 MAIN CONTENT What is Society? It may be tempting to think that a society is simply a collection of individual person. Much of the time, we 1ike to think of ourselves as individuals who are different to everyone else, and that we are not affected by what other people say or do. However, this does not seem to reflect what people and societies are really alike. How much of the time are you totally alone, doing exactly what you want without any influence from others? Most of the time what we do is influenced directly or indirectly by the various kinds of groupings with whom we interact. For example, much of what we do reflect the fact that we are involved in social relationship! with other members of our family. As children we were influenced by what we learned from our parents grandparents, brothers, sisters and so on. Then, throughout life our feelings and behaviour are often shape (by what other members of our family are doing. For many of us, much of our behaviour is also shaped by the fact that we go out to work. The organisation we work for sets the context for our behaviour. It requires u: to do certain things: It provides us with sets of colleagues and acquaintances with whom we may spend par of our non-working hours. Also our behaviour is affected by other kinds of groupings. We may be members of sports clubs, or work for a charity. We are also affected by being part of National Open University of Nigeria. As you read this you may be an individual: but you bring to your studies what you learned at school; you may be tired as a result of what your employers asked you to do; you are connected to other students and tutors in the Open University of Nigeria; and you may be planning to get through this work quickly so that you can spend some time with your children. The point of all this is to emphasise that what we do as individuals is best seen in the context of our membership of what sociologists call social institutions or social units. A social unit mayor may not have a clear organisation. It can be an organised institution with clear rules and buildings, e. g., a business firm; 0 it could be something without any formal organisation, e. g., the expatriate community in Nigeria. These unit can have different purposes, e. g. making money or providing all the kinds of physical and emotional SUPPOI that good families provide. Sometimes, a social unit can itself be part of other units, or may have sub-division within It. For instance, refugee camp, there are subdivisions: the Liberian refugees, the Sierra-Leone refugee and other refugees from war-tom countries in Africa. There are further sub- 17 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO divisions within this refuge camp: the male and female groups; the Christian, Muslim, traditionalist; the young and the old, etc. SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 1 Write down some of the various kinds of social units that you are involved in? 3. 2 Definition of Culture Culture refers to shared, consensual and learned pattern of behaviour. Suppose that A and B are sitting together and B is telling a story about the origin of the people that A and B consider themselves to be. This story is one that is known by all of B’s generation. What is told to A by B is culture. Suppose also that B has thought about this story and has some different ideas about the elements of the story but B has never told this to anyone else. So long as B keeps this to herself, it is not a part of the culture of the people of A and B. Therefore, culture is said to be shared and learned. The consensual element means simply that many share it and agree to its meaning and importance. Culture is the embodiment of the people, it is also of the things they share and do together. Language, family structure, how and when they plant, how they live out their lives, how they die, what they hold to be sacred. In fact, virtually everything the people hold in common is a part of their culture. Tools, paths, techniques, for using tools, these are also part of the culture. SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 2 i. ii. What do you understand by culture? Describe the culture of your place. 3. 3 Society and Human Behaviour We have been able to explore what was meant by society, and saw that in one sense society is made up of its constituent parts, but what we now explore is the effect which society as a whole has on those parts: how society influences the behaviour of social units and individual people. We have discussed how each social unit and each person has functions to perform and roles to play. But how can the functions and roles be accomplished? As an example, let’s consider the social unit known as Federal Road Safety. How does it as a social unit achieves its role of promoting and facilitating smooth traffic system in the country. At the outset, the government set up working parties to decide on what sort of organisation should be established to deal with general issues of traffic 18 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO system in the country, what this organisation should or should not do, and what power and resources it needed. Eventually, after much discussion within the Federal Government of Nigeria the ordinance setting up the Federal Road Safety was enacted in more than twelve years ago. The ordinance sets up rules and regulations concerning the purposes, powers, resources, duties and the operation of th~ corporation. These rules and regulations, because they are imposed by an ordinance, possess legal power. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), a social unit, has to observe the rules contained in the ordinance when it performs the functions of ensuring smooth traffic system. But we have seen that it is the people who work or live in social units that perform tasks on behalf of these units. The staff of the corporation has to observe the terms of the ordinance when they work. Working -a kind of human behaviour -is thus shaped by the rules operating within its social unit. In the ordinance, the terms and conditions of appointment of the Chief Executive of the corporation are stated. These terms and condition state the role of the Chief Executive and how this role should be carried out. So, the working behaviour of the Chief Executive is not only governed by the rules of the corporation as a whole, but also by the rules governing this particular post. Likewise, there are other documents specifying the roles and rules of other posts in the corporation. People taking up the posts will work according to the roles and rules of the corporation in general and of the posts in particular. Can you identify the roles and the rules of the units in which you work? Can you identify the roles and rules specific to your position in the organisation concerned? 3. 4 Elements of Culture Culture is made up of different elements, and these elements include: norms, values, beliefs, technology, etc, Norms Rules that govern behaviour, expectations we hold for how to behave in a given situation. These rules that govern our behaviour can be quite informal (rules about how we dress, stand when talking to others, how we address one another) to formalised laws.. Beliefs These are often associated with religion. They refer to those things that we hold to be true. Beliefs and values blend together. Our national ideologies are also beliefs. Many contemporary Americans believe that people were not created, but evolved from other forms of life over a 19 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO very, very long period of time. If you are a fundamental Christian perhaps you believe the world was created in 7 days and that it was created by God. Both of these are belief systems (involving certain assumptions about what is and how things have come to be), that shape the lives of the true believers. They shape their lives by supporting their notions of what is important, what is real and how we are to belief at all times. True, most of us do not think of this all of the time, but there are times when we are reminded of our beliefs and their importance and then act accordingly. It is also the case that for most that these beliefs remain in the background, but do shape our day to day behaviour. Technology These are the material good of the culture. In what we are doing, the computers are the technology. Technology is often more than the tools, since it involves the techniques as well as the tools themselves. The programming languages that make all of the things we do on the computers work are techniques, the wires that link us together are tools, but how we link those wires for what purposes are techniques. Consider that ‘gun-powder’ was known to the Chinese for centuries (a tool), but that it was only used to make noises al festivals. It took the Europeans to change these tools with a different set of techniques into a weapon 01 destruction. 3. 5 Importance of Culture The following are the importance of culture: sets behaviour standards for a given setting defines the structure of relationships defines importance of setting, relationship, things (VALVES) defines who we are and what we hold to be true (BELIEFS) 4. 0 CONCLUSION The concept of culture, together with that of society, is one of the most widely used notions in sociology Culture consists of the values the members of a given group hold, the norms they follow, and the material goods they create. Values are abstract ideals, whole norms are definite principles or rules which people are expected to observe. Norms represent the ‘dos’ and don’t’s of social life. Culture refers to the ways of life of the members of a society, or of groups within a society. It is said to include how they dress, their marriage customs and family life, their patterns of work, religious ceremonies and leisure pursuits. It also covers the goods they create and 20 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO which become meaningful for them -bows and arrows, computers, books, dwellings. 5. 0 SUMMARY In this unit, we have dealt with what is meant by society, definition of culture, relationship between society and human behaviour and importance of culture. Culture has been referred to as shared, consensual and learned pattern of behaviour. Society has been seen as human relationships which may be organised or dis; direct or indirect; or even co-operative or unco-operative. 6. 0 1. 2. b. TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT What do you understand by the terms ” Culture” and ” Society”? a. Explain the elements of culture Describe the importance of culture. 7. 0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS Gelles, R.. J. & Levine, A. (1996). Sociology: An Introduction. (6th ed.) McGraw Hill. Giddens, A. (1993). Sociology: An Introduction. Polity Press in Association with Blackwell Publishers, (2nd ed.). 21 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO UNIT 5 CONTENTS 1. 0 2. 0 3. 0 SOCIALIZATION 4. 0 5. 0 6. 0 7. 0 Introduction Objectives Main Content 3. 1 What is Socialization? 3. 2 Agents of Socialization Conclusion Summary Tutor-Marked Assignment References/Further Readings 1. 0 INTRODUCTION For the beginner, there may be a tendency to confuse socialization with other processes of change. It is essential, therefore, to emphasize that there is a difference between them. Two aspects of socialization distinguish it from those other processes of change. Firstly, socialization refers only to the changes in behaviour and attitude having their origins in interactions with other persons. Secondly, socialization includes only those which occur through learning. Other changes, such as those resulting from physical growth, are not part of the socialization process. Other illustrations of socialization include learning the folksways and customs of one’s society and regional groups and the religious beliefs and moral values of one’s society and family. 2. 0 OBJECTIVES At the end of this unit, you should be able to: describe in detail what is referred to as socialization; and describe the agents of socialization. 3. 0 3. 1 MAIN CONTENT What is Socialization? Socialization into society involves being socialised into various subgroups within the society (e. g. the family, school, peer group association, work place, etc). Being looked at from the perspective of the individual being socialised, the function of socialization is to secure entrance into and acceptance by his society and its sub- groups. But as a matter of life, looking at it from the societal perspective, socialization is the process by which different individuals are prepared to play many 22 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO different and varied roles and interact in such a way that the interrelated individuals and groups can functions as a whole -as a society. This is not to imply that those undergoing socialisation experiences consciously tell themselves that they are doing what they are doing for the reason enumerated. Whatever the intended immediate results may be, the overall result is to make those involved sufficiently alike so that they can function as interacting members of a group, and sufficiently different so that the various behaviour pattern’s needed to maintain the society are produced. By definition, socialisation is an interactional process in which an individual’s behaviour and attitude are modified to conform with the members’ expectation of the groups to which he or she belongs. SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 1 What is your understanding of Socialisation? 3. 2 Agents of Socialization The following are agents of socialisation: Family Peer and own preferences Television and Mass Media Schools Family This is one of the agents of socialization. Parents are the most important socializing agents for the child at the very early stages of his development. Parents and the child’s siblings form the only significant group on whom the child depends physically and psychologically. In reality, parents and siblings of the child under socialization are usually referred to as significant others, on whom the child can observe, imitate and identify with. In actual fact, the value, attitudes, the norms, folks ways and beliefs of a society are learned by the child from his interaction with his parents and siblings. Peer and Own Preferences This is another important agent of socialization for a child. As the child matures, he begins to interact with his friends (i. e. friends in the neighbourhood, church/mosque and other important places). The child begins to learn new things which he might not have learnt from his 23 CSS 101 SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION TO parents and siblings. A lot of things (good or bad) are learned from these interactions. Can you remember what your peer group taught you while you were maturing from childhood to adulthood? Just have a flashback, you will definitely remember what you were taught by your peer group me