The modern sociology studies various processes proceeding in society. This scientific discipline has several branches covering various social aspects.
Instruction
1. The sociology studies society, its systems, regularities of functioning and development, the relations and communities and also social institutes. According to a study subject the modern sociology has several branches and is divided into theoretical, empirical and applied.
2. The theoretical sociology is engaged in an objective research of society for obtaining theoretical knowledge of it, adequate interpretation of the social phenomena and behavior of people. This direction is closely connected with empirical sociology.
3. The empirical sociology is a set of researches which basis is formed by technical and methodical methods and receptions of the description and processings of sociological information. This direction is also called a sotsiografiya, indicating the descriptive nature of this discipline, or a doxografiya as its main function is studying social moods and public opinion of various communities and social groups, consciousness and behavior of public masses.
4. The applied sociology is concentrated on practical aspect of studying a social order and is engaged in the solution of important public tasks with use of the available sociological knowledge.
5. The modern sociology in general can be divided into three levels. At the top level, all-sociological theories and knowledge are located. The average level contains industry theories: cultural, political, legal, economic sociology and others. There are special theories (persons, youth, family, etc.). Nizhny Novgorod contains concrete scientific research in the field of sociology.
6. The modern sociology is also subdivided into micro and macrosociology depending on at what level the society is studied. Microlevel is made by small social systems and interactions, and macrolevel - global systems and processes within uniform society.
7. Large social structures on the example of social structure of society, big social groups, social institutes, communities and layers and also the processes happening in them are a subject of studying macrosociology. The microsociology investigates the small social interactions and groups, social networks and the relations arising between certain people and groups of people depending on the position in society held by them.