Relevance of a Sociology Degree

The Sociology of Nursing

In the past, it was unheard of for sociology to be a subject for nursing students. Now, nursing students are often required take the subject because it is widely viewed as essential knowledge to their daily work as nurses. Sociology is the study of human behavior. From its definition, any nursing student can construe sociology as their calling card when it comes to handling patients.

Nurses get a lot of human interaction and that is one way of determining human behavior. Any nurse who is serious about a nursing profession should consider sociology as an important subject to learn.

Treating sociology as a core part of your nursing education is a key to become a successful nurse. You will be able to provide genuine care and perform appropriate diagnoses if you have an understanding of human behavior and reactions. Sociology enables nurses to understand their social responsibility as agents of change. When you have the capacity to heal or make your patients feel better, you are not only treating their illnesses; you are also improving the quality of their lives.

Nurses will also gain insight into the minds and hearts of their patients. That may not be manifested on initial diagnosis, but with sociology, you begin to understand that the healing of a person is a process and more than just the giving of medicine. This is why science sociology is already part and parcel of a nursing profession. Without it, nurses are incapable of understanding the intricacies of providing diagnosis to people what with their different backgrounds and ideologies. Sociology is the ticket to a more effective diagnosis.

The Importance Of Sociology

Before sociology existed, the study of human society was based on the unscientific methods and society has never part of the central concern of any sciences. However, since the emergence of sociology, the legitimate scientific study of society has made it possible. it has revealed that the present world is suffering from many problems, and those can only be solved through scientific study of social sciences.

It is true that we cannot understand and solve the problem of the society without the any full knowledge of its mechanism and structure. It is necessary to have a certain amount of knowledge about the society, before any social policies can be carried out. Sociology studies various ideas of what might create an ideal society.

It is through sociology that we change the way we look at human beings. It is difficult for us to understand people intimately in the other areas. Every individual was raised in different and unique ways of living. We exist in different cultures and environments. We have different ways of thinking. The reason why sociology was established was so that we can understand the value and the intrinsic worth of human being. Human culture has been made richer through sociology. It trains us to give a have to proper perception to questions concerning oneself, one’s culture and one’s religion. It helps us understand other people objectively. It aims to unite the world through rationality. It has brought nations nearer to each other because of overcoming the things that divides us, like personal prejudices, ambitions and hatred.

Thus, sociology is not only important to a single human being but to the whole world. It contributes to making good citizens and it can help solve the problems of communities. It helps the individual to find his or her relation to the society. The study of sociology is one of the most urgent needs of modern society because of its ever growing complicated needs.

Methods of Testing Theories in Sociology

Sociology is the study of the human society. Before a theory in such field is considered to be reliable and true, different tests must be in place. Sociologists use three main methods to test theories: (1) surveys, (2) controlled experiments, and (3) filed observation.

Surveys, sometimes referred to public opinion poll, is the widely accepted ways of studying human behavior. Using variables, surveys measure people’s attitude towards different matters. Sociology often studies the relationship between a viewpoint and a subject while considering elements like education, age, and gender.

Questionnaires are usually given to a controlled group where they will answer either worded or objective type questions. The survey questions also ask about their background and demographic information. Through this method of data gathering, information such as consumer habits, racial discrimination, and other human behavior and activity are provided. In addition, surveys answer issues in the society to have a clear understanding concerning the problems involved.

Experiments. Some of the experiments are conducted in a laboratory and in small groups. In some cases, a two groups are studied for contrasting and comparing. They want to know the significant difference in the attitudes and behavior of certain groups.

Field Observation. Information is primarily gathered through observations and talk within the community. During th period of study, the sociologist will participate in societal activities such as political activities, networks, and functions.

Field observation gives first-hand information about a group of people, but is least reliable method of testing theories. A fact can be true to community A, but cannot be applied to community B. Additionally, there are also outside factors that may influence the the conclusions made.

The study sociology is a group of indisputable conclusions that are diverse. The information is well gathered. Unlike biology and physical sciences, sociology is less precise due to changing human behavior.

The Relevance of Sociology in the Nursing Profession

Sociology is defined as a study of human behavior inside the societal context. Despite its huge importance in politics, organizations, and other statistical fields, nursing students struggle to see its relevance in their chosen career.

Basically, there exist two kinds of sociological knowledge in the nursing course: sociology in nursing and sociology of nursing. Both these knowledge give nursing a different light. It’s like students are given a new pair of glasses, and look at everyday occurrences in a whole different way. But how?

The practical relevance of sociology in the profession depends on how an individual perceive what nursing is all about. If they want to find ways to cater the needs of their patients, nursing students need to understand their experiences with health and illnesses, what’s their basis of health, what is it like to live with similar disorder, and how society views of these people. In short, if one thinks nursing involves critical thinking and patient experience, then sociology has a lot to give.

Most students are intimidated with this subject matter and find it difficult. At a glance, one cannot easily connect sociology to the current practical context of the nursing practice. However, when students engage in wider social issues, they develop reflecting skills. Having these skills let a nurse become a care provider rather than just being too technical with their job.

The remainder relevance of sociology lies on focusing on contemporary research especially in patients with learning difficulties. The significance of this research lie on changing the stereotypical perception of people with learning disabilities that they are incompetent, inadequately capable of speaking for themselves, and thus needs to be given care. It also gives students valuable insight to what these people are going under to have a better understanding of their needs. Sociological research continues to expand and has become useful in the nursing profession.

Importance of Sociology in Nursing

Educating nurses with sociology has turned into a major issue in health sociology. The latest nursing curriculum recognizes the necessity for the twenty-first century nurse to use knowledge coming from a selection of specialties and disciplines when evaluating and examining patients/clients and selecting a procedure for care. This includes the study of sociology. Society has evolved and people tend to be more prepared to challenge ‘experts’ in terms of medications, treatments and procedures.

Professional limitations may also be getting less rigorous, and a lot of people are requiring a more active part in decision-making. The health care industry has seen many organizations and nurses, as well as other health care personnel, who have to adjust to the altering structures and ideologies of health care.

The effect of these adjustments has been enormous and lots of nurses have found themselves at a loss in understanding how to prepare for the new demands. The function of sociology in nursing is constantly casting new light on many facets of wellness and illness. Throughout the last 20 years, nursing process has seen sociological concept become an important clinical tool, in both the diagnosis and prognosis of a wide range of illnesses and long-term conditions.

Sociology in nursing is a vital tool in understanding more the patient’s reaction and response to treatment. The more the nurses are able to connect with their patient, the more effective they are. It is in fact difficult to diagnose a patient without having the right connection and understanding; this is why sociology is important. The previous studies and research on how a patient reacts, respond and recover to certain diseases or conditions can give the health care professional a step ahead on the medical treatment process.

Sociology in Nursing

Nursing doesn’t just require skills, education or experience to be successful in the healthcare industry. It also comprises of other things like how the nurse deals and interacts with his patients. Sociology will enable the nurse to know the proper approach to different types of patients. There are patients who are moody and unapproachable because of their illnesses. Understanding how to deal with them will make the medication easier and effective. Through sociology, you as the nurse will be able to be sympathetic, compassionate and kind to your patient.

Nursing today takes more than just expertise in medical procedures but also by incorporating methods to the different approach on a certain type of patient. It is part of the responsibility of the nurse to give purpose to life, death and illness. Sociology has a bigger role in this process. Through sociology, the nurses are taught to engage in the studies in human societies. Understanding people in general is extremely important. If you are a nurse, you need specific information, some are very confidential, and that could be the basis of the medication. For an instance, if the patient is using any illegal drugs, you need to know how to approach without getting him offended. Getting that information will greatly change the prescription that the doctor will give to the patient.

Sociology has done so many things in improving the approach and the system of the healthcare system. Sociological theories have brought great light to the many features of illness and health. It has also brought valuable theories which leads to the creation of clinical tools. To become an effective nurse, you need to have the skills and expertise, but you need the proper approach and understanding of all your patients. Having all of this, you will be fully equipped and provide the most efficient services.

Gender Definition Through Biology or Sociology

One of the justifications for creating discriminatory regulations and public requirements on the basis of gender is that men and women are not the same and so they should be handled in a different way. It’s true that men and women have different systems (it’s essential to comprehend there are plenty of resemblances also. For example, we all have two hands and two feet, don’t we?) But does that mean one type of human is better than the other?

We come across many content in the press that discuss experiments that show males are better at math, while females are better at languages; men do not talk much, while women talk a lot. Many of us agree to these outcomes as fact without examining the ‘proof.’ Is it because of biology that one gender is better at something, or is it because of sociology? Often it’s challenging to separate your scientific identification from your sociological one because public training starts from a very young age. Once you are old enough to analyze yourself, you will discover that you have already adopted many stereotypes. Does a six-year-old female work with baby dolls because she has a natural tendency towards doing so, or because baby dolls are what everyone presents her and baby dolls are what other females of her age are playing with? Does a boy not cry when he hurts himself because he’s a ‘tough’ kid, or because he’s been taught that boys shouldn’t cry? Does a man not talk as much as a lady because he is not chatty, or because he’s been trained to keep his feelings to himself?

Let’s take the commonly organized idea that young children are better at left-brain actions like math and reasoning. If one were to take a general look at the student inhabitants in technological innovation universities or the ITs, one might think that this is indeed real. But this supposition is a very simple one and does not look at the complicated aspects that make up our social standards. We reside in a community where a girl’s right to nourishment and knowledge, among other factors, is prioritized over a woman’s. Even if they are from a well-to-do family and do not experience such primary discrimination, women are often raised to be less committed and more home-oriented so that they can be ‘married off’ early. When there is discrimination at so many stages on the basis of gender, it is not amazing that the variety of women in challenging professional programs is reduced than that of young children. This has more to do with sociocultural and sociology aspects based on gender identification, rather than biological gender.

Public Sociology

In the last several years, the term “public sociology” has become progressively typical among sociologists. As President of the American Sociological Organization in 2004, Eileen Burawoy motivated sociologists to think beyond the educational custom of discussing our concepts only with other experts in educational publications. Burawoy described public sociology as “a conversation between sociology and publics” which could take on many forms: a weblog like this, which is designed to discuss concepts from sociology to sociologists and non-sociologists as well, for instance; and community activism, where sociologists use theory and analysis outcomes to create social transformation. Even educating our classes can be regarded a way of public sociology; most learners who take sociology programs do not become sociologists, but they are all members of a community. Considering sociologically is a device to analyze our lifestyles and our group more seriously.

Doing “public sociology” provides some difficulties too. First, discussing our analysis beyond the limitations of the self-discipline can mean our outcomes are misunderstood or misstated, sometimes in an attempt to make them easier to comprehend by laypeople. Part of what sociologists do is to try and comprehend these technicalities and to offer detail to daily problems that seem easy. The task of public sociology is to do our best to describe complex problems simply. We want sociological thinking to be part of the story, we just cannot always control how much sociology penetrates in.

We might scale from current analysis, but it is not unusual for journalists to ask us to talk beyond our specialty. A few decades ago, while discussing to a writer about analysis outcomes just like her story, she pointedly said, “you have not responded to my query,” as though I was an elected politician intentionally concealing something from her. We cannot always answer their questions, nor should we if they are too far beyond the opportunity of the analysis we are acquainted with. Another challenge with introducing sociological ideas in a community is that public discussion itself can be harmful, especially when governmental issues are involved. One sociologist who studies governmental motions was a regular target of a talk radio host and even got death threats.

How relevant is a Sociology degree? Most of us, when we are considering a major, want to be sure that we can find a job, generate sufficient wage and maybe even make our mark on the world. Learners often wonder what they can do with a sociology degree and parents may be hesitant to shoulder the bill for the study of sociology. After all, there are very few well-known sociologists, right? Actually, many well-known people, both past and present received sociology degrees.

First, let us discuss some sociologists who were well-known for their sociological work. Ever heard of WEB Du Bois, innovator in civil rights activism, who compared Booker T. Washington’s accommodationist state policies and had written The Souls of Black Folks? What about C. Wright Mills who had written The Power Elite, or Jane Addams, one of the creators of Chicago’s Hull House which offered public solutions to the poor, inner-city residents? More lately, sociologists such as Lillian Rubin (Worlds of Pain), Barry Glassner (The Culture of Fear) and well-known presenter, journalist, and connection advisor, Pepper Schwartz have obtained well-known interest with work that resonates with the American mind.

Considering going into politics and thinking what a sociology degree will do for you? Would you be amazed to know that former President Ronald Reagan double majored in sociology and economics? Or that first lady, Michele Obama, has a bachelor’s degree in sociology? Considering becoming a member of Congress? Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY), Shirley Chisholm (D-NY), Maxine Waters, (D-CA), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), and Tim Holder (D-PA) are all present or former Congress members. What about group planning or activism? Then you are in good company. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Roy Wilkins, Ralph David Abernathy, Jesse Jackson, Sr. and the father of community organizing, Saul Alinsky, all had sociology degrees. Sociology is actually an excellent major for individuals with a variety of passions. Because it concentrates on examining and knowing the world around us, it provides degrees with the capability to view problems from every side, and with the analytic resources to connect personal problems with social and traditional styles.