Sociology

Definition of Terms:

              a)           Sociology

   - In Latin, socio means society and in Greek, Logy means to study.  Therefore, Sociology refers to the study of society.

   -It is also the study of social relationships.

   - It is a scientific study of human behaviour in groups.

 

b) Society

 -Refers to an organised group of people with common ties, operating through its interacting systems of institutions established to ensure, nurture, defence and survival for its members.

 -Societies are there to ensure that psychological, physiological and security needs of its members are well catered for. This is achieved through the establishment of specialised structures called social institutions.

c) Education

 - Refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, attitudes etc, of a society so as to become full and integrated members of that society.

   - It is both formal and informal. Individuals do not have to go to school or any formal setup to be educated. Knowledge, attitudes skills/practice, values etc., can be acquired in the process of daily interactions.

d) Sociology of Education

  -This is a branch of sociology that studies the social side of education.

  - It attempts to systematically study the sociological problems (those originating from the society), patterns and process that are found/associated with the education practice.

Discovery of new ideas and facts

Culture

This term is derived from the German word hzrltur which refers to someone who is well cultivated, schooled or behaved. Ezewu (1983) defines it as the sum total of: human creation which includes what man has made in form of tools, weapons, shelter,  material  goods,  attitudes, beliefs, judgment, institutions, arts, science, philosophy, and social or-ganizations up to the present time. Culture can therefore be viewed as constituting the way of life of an entire society. This includes codes of manners, dress, language, rituals, norms of behaviour and systems of belief.

 

Social

This means something pertaining or belonging to, associated with or part of the human society.

 

Society

Society  refers to a collectivity of human beings that is capable of self replenishment through sexual reproduction, recruitment and admission of new members from other societies. It can also refer to a congregation of humans that exhibits complex systems of actions to regulate, protect, defend, unite, nurture and promote the well being and survival of all the members.

Educational sociology

This refers to the study of the social factors that influence and are influenced by all educational structures and processes, both within and between societies.

 

Social System

In sociology, social system is the patterned network of relationships constituting a coherent whole that exist between individuals, groups, and institutions. It is the formal structure of role and status that can form in a small, stable group

 

Social Change

Social change, in sociology, the alteration of mechanisms within the social structure, characterized by changes in cultural symbols, rules of behaviour, social organizations, or value systems.

Social Structure

Social structure, in sociology, the distinctive, stable arrangement of institutions whereby human beings in a society interact and live together. Social structure is often treated together with the concept of social change, which deals with the forces that change the social structure and the organization of society.

Importance of studying sociology of education.

• It introduces the teacher to sociological perspectives of education which include ; learners, teachers, the school.
• It enables the teacher to understand the importance of interaction with the learners in a classroom Situation.
• Acquaints teachers with knowledge about social needs of both learner and society;
• Gives an understanding of the social background of an individual and its influence on the individual’s learning;
• Familiarises teachers with the contemporary social problems that face the schools e.g. drug abuse, strikes, permissiveness and promiscuity;
• Teachers get better understanding of group interaction patterns and how to influence or put it into use in a school situation’
• Improves teacher’s management of students, parents and the school community at large;
• Interaction with other teachers is easier;