UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

MODULE: Introduction to Sociology (HISO 100)

LECTURER: Mr. J. Tandire

OFFICE #: 115

Email address: [email protected]

LECTURE SLOTS: Monday (09:00-13:00), Wednesday (09:00-13:00)

CONSULTATION HOURS: Wednesday (08:00-09:00)

MODULE AIMS: This module is focused on learning and giving students a broad
understanding of the discipline of Sociology, its subject matter, key issues and concepts. The
module focuses on the nature of developments in our society. Students are expected to apply
their theoretical knowledge to contemporary social, political and economic situations

MODULE OBJECTIVES

By the end of the module students should be able to:

 Identify sociological concepts and their application to the analysis of social behavior.
 Understand how Sociology as a discipline developed and its value in contemporary
society.

 Apply the fundamental perspectives in Sociology to solving and addressing everyday

life social problems and issues.

 Understand the scientific methods used by Sociologists in gathering data about the
social world and apply these in finding out solutions to social life problems.

 Understand the role of sociology in society, and in particular, its function as a science
and tool for advocacy and social change.

 Analyze the socialization process and how we become social beings.

MODULE REQUIREMENTS
 Students are required to submit two (2) essays during the course of the semester.
Essays should be submitted on or before the due date. Failure to do so will result in
marks being deducted. Permission to submit work later than the agreed deadline will
only granted for a documented good cause.

PLAGIARISM

 The unacknowledged copying or paraphrasing of another person’s work, either

published or unpublished is strictly not permitted and will be heavily penalized.
Students found guilty of plagiarism and any forms of dishonest practice are liable to
be refused credit for the whole course.

Disruptive behaviour
Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to talking when someone else has the floor,
being rude to other people, destructive (rather than constructive) criticism of another, arriving
late repeatedly, sleeping during class, belligerent or aggressive behavior. The use of gadgets
such as smart phones, I-pads, and laptops should be limited to the taking down of notes or
searching for online sources. Watching movies, playing music or chatting on social media
during classes is a serious breach of what is expected of students at this level.

Discrimination, harassment or intimidation has no place in a university setting. Everyone has

a right to their own opinion, but should also remember that others have the right of a learning
environment free from hostility, ridicule and an atmosphere conducive to learning. Every
student is expected to participate and act in a manner that develops education and intellectual
growth. Any conduct that disrupts the learning process will be liable to the University
disciplinary processes.

MODULE STRUCTURE
INTRODUCTION TO THE DISCIPLINE

What is Sociology? Distinguishing it from other disciplines. Basic concepts used –culture,
socialisation, role, status, norms, values. The evolution of societies. Why study Sociology? -
The Sociological Imagination. Is sociology a science?

Factors responsible for the birth and development of social thought

The age of the Enlightenment

 The age of the Revolutions
 The growth of science
 Urbanization
 Rise of socialism
 Religious Change

CLASSICAL SOCIOLOGICAL THINKERS

 Auguste Comte
 Herbert Spencer
 Emile Durkheim
 Max Weber
 Karl Marx

MAJOR SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES

 Functionalism
 Conflict Perspective
 Symbolic Interactionism
 Feminism

SOCIALISATION
 Types of socialization
 Nature versus Nurture debate
 Gender Socialisation
 Application of Sociological theories on socialization-Functionalism, Marxism,
Symbolic interactionism, Feminism

SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
 Stratification defined
 Race, class, gender, ethnicity, education, age and stratification
 Micro and macro level differentiation/inequalities
 Application of Sociological Theories on Stratification, Functionalism, Interactionism,
conflict theory and feminism.

RESEARCH METHODS

 What is research?
 Why do we conduct research?
 The nature of knowledge: Ontology and Epistemology
 Research philosophies- Positivism vs Phenomenology
 Quantitative and Qualitative Methodology
 Research Methods
Assignment 1

Choose only one question from the following:

1. a) What is sociology and what do sociologists study?(8 marks)

b) With reference to scholarly material, discuss how exposure to sociology may
enable a social worker to better understand society and human behaviour (12 marks)

2. Examine the relevance of the sociological imagination in enabling one to understand

contemporary society (20 marks)

3. Examine the significance of Comte`s contribution to sociology (20 marks)

4. a) With reference to examples, examine the contribution of the symbolic

interactionist perspective of society (20 marks)

5. Discuss any four forces that led to the emergence of sociology. ( 20 marks)

Assignment 2

Choose only one question from the following:

Each question has 20 marks.

1. With reference to examples, examine the usefulness of the concept of socialization in

enabling a better understanding of cultures and society.

2. Examine the usefulness of any two feminist theories in accounting for gender
differences and inequalities in Africa. Give scholarly support for your arguments.

3. Examine any four forms of stratification that may be related to the state of healthcare
in Africa. Give appropriate examples to support your views.

4. Compare and contrast the usefulness of the functionalist and the conflict perspectives
in explaining human behaviour in African societies. Give examples to support your
arguments.

REFERENCE LIST
N:B THE LIST BELOW IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE,IT IS JUST A GUIDELINE.YOU
ARE ALLOWED TO READ WIDELY

Giddens A 1984 SOCIOLOGY. Polity press. London

Haralambos M and Holborn M 2003 SOCIOLOGY: THEMES AND PERSPECTIVES.

Routledge. London

Haralambos M and Heald R 1980 SOCIOLOGY: THEMES AND PERSPECTIVES.

Oxford University Press. New Dehli

Newman D.M and O’brien J SOCIOLOGY: EXPLORING THE ARCHITECTURE OF

EVERYDAY LIFE, 6th edition, Readings. Pine Forge Press. London

Stark O and Lucas R.E 1988 ‘’Migration, Remittances and the Family’’ ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL CHANGE 36(3):465-81

Todaro, M. P 1989 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE THIRD WORLD. New

York: Longman

Worsley P 1978 INTRODUCING SOCIOLOGY. Englewood cliffs. Prentice Hall

Recommended Texts
Albrow, M. 1970 Bureaucracy London: Pall Mall Press
Althusser, L.1969 For Marx London: Penguin
Ballantine, JH & Robert, KA. 2014. Our social world.London:Sage.
Bendix, R. &. Lipset, M (eds) Class, status and power {HM305 Ber}
Berg, I. 1979 Industrial Sociology McGraw-Hill: Prentice hall
Blumer, H. 1962 “Society as a symbolic interaction” in A.M. Rose (ed) Human
Behaviour and Social processes London: Routledge
Bottomore, T.B. &Rubel, M. 1963 Karl Marx: selected writings and Social
PhilosophyHarmmondsworth:Penguin.
Bourdieu, P. &Passeron, J.C. 1977 Reproduction in education, society and Culture
London: Sage
Chodorow, N. 1988 Psychoanalytic theory and feminism Cambridge: Polity Press
Collins, R. 1974 Conflict Sociology: Toward an exploratory science New York:
Academic Press
Cotgrove, S. The science of society {HM301Cot}
Etzioni,A. 1964 Modern Organisations NJ:Prentice hall.
Giddens, A. Emile Durkheim selected writings {HM301 Gid}
Giddens, A. 1993 Sociology London: Polity Press
Goffman, E. 1969 The presentation of Self in Everyday LifeHarmondsworth: Penguin
Haralambos, M. &Holborn, M. 2004 6 th ed Sociology- themes and perspective London:
HarperCollins HM51HAR
Hurd, G. Human societies –An introduction to sociology {HM301Hur}
Lenski, G. &Lenski, J.1982 Human societies 4th edition New York:McGraw Hill.
{HM301Len}
Lindsey, LL. 2015. Gender roles: A sociological perspective. London: Routledge. HQ
1075.
Lombrosso, C. 1911 Crime: its causes and Remedies Boston, Mass:Little, Brown
Macionis, J.J. & Plummer, K.2005 Sociology A global introduction 3 rd edition Prentice
Hall London HM51MAC
Mann, M. 1986 Gender and Stratification Oxford: Blackwell
Matthewman, S., West-Newman, and Curtis, B. 2013. Being sociological, London:
Palgrave. HM585BEI.
Michels, R.1967 Political Parties New York: Free Press
Meena, R. (eds.) Gender in Southern Africa Harare: SAPES
Moyo, J. N. The politics of administration – understanding bureaucracy in Africa Harare:
SAPES (JF1501MOY)
Parker, S. R. et al 1986 The Sociology of industry George Allen and Unwin
Pfohl, S. Images ofdeviance and social control.
Ritzer, G. 2015. Introduction to sociology
Schaefer, R.T.2006. Sociology matters. London: Routledge
Schaefer, R.T. 2008. Sociology: A Brief introduction London: Routledge
Saunders, P. 1990 Social class and Stratification London: Routledge
Stark, R. 1992 Sociology.
Thompson, ME &Armato, M. 2012. Investigating gender: developing a feminist
sociological imagination, Cambridge: Polity press. HQ1075THO.
Watson, T. J. 1987 Sociology work and industry second edition London: Tavistock
Worsley, P. 1970 The new introducing sociology London: Penguin
Zeitlin, I.M. 1990 Ideology and the development of sociological theory 4 th edition New
Jersey: Prentice -Hall.