In order to investigate the areas of study described here, or indeed any area of study, sociologists proceed in two ways:
- Aspects of society are conceptualised. Ideas are devised as 'concepts' to describe and explain the workings of society. In this way the forms of social organisation and the resulting social institutions which people create and reproduce in the course of everyday life become defined in sociological terms.
- Concepts are tested through 'empirical' research, that is research involving active investigation of particular aspects of society and the way that people interact with each other. This provides a check as to whether sociological concepts actually correspond to the way that social life is conducted by real life people.
These twin aspects, the conceptual and the empirical, and the fact that they must be constantly related, make sociology not only a respected academic discipline but also a valuable contribution to other human activities.
Since sociology is the study of society in all its forms, the range of applications is extremely wide and this makes it a good foundation for many careers.
**Free** Internet Sociologist Online Tutorial
A new edition of the FREE Internet Sociologist online tutorial has been released in the Intute: Virtual Training Suite.
The tutorial, which teaches Internet research skills, has been completely updated and revised by Suzanne Barbalet, Intute Sociology Editor. Department of Sociology, University of Surrey.
Internet Sociologist aims to help university and college students to develop internet research and information skills for their university and college work. Students can:
- TOUR the best of the Web for sociology;
- DISCOVER how to search the Web effectively;
- JUDGE which websites are worth using for coursework;
- read SUCCESS stories to inspire effective use of the Internet.
Students can use the tutorial for self-directed, independent learning.
Lecturers and librarians can easily list it as a resource in course reading lists, VLEs and websites, or use it as a learning resource to support courses in research methods, information literacy or study skills.
This is just one of the tutorials in the Intute: Virtual Training Suite, a free service from JISC which offers over 60 free Internet tutorials for universities and colleges, authored by a national network of subject specialists.
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