WHAT IS RURAL SOCIOLOGY?
Rural sociology is the scientific study of human relationship within a rural setting. It is a scientific study because it follows the scientific method of enquiry.
~STEPS IN THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF ENQUIRY INCLUDE~
(1) Identification of problem
(2) Formulation of relations and theories
(3) Emperical testing of relations and theories
(4) OBSERVATIONS: Controlled and Uncontrolled
(5) Inference: logical reasoning from the known to the unknown
(A) Deduction:Reasoning from the 'general' to the 'particular'
(B)Induction:Reasoning from the 'particular' to the 'general'
*BASIC CONCEPT IN RURAL SOCIOLOGY*
SOCIETY: Human group within which members share a total common life. It is distinguished by:
(a) aggregate of individual
(b) A sense of belonging and cooperation
(c) In a more or less permanent association
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION: The vast complex network of patterned human behaviour within a society. It is both a process(because it describes the status quo).
STATUS: Collection of obligations,responsibilities ,and rights associated with a certain position in a society.
ASCRIBED STATUS: Naturally endowed and cannot change , e.g race, sex
ACHIEVED STATUS: Earned and can be changed,e.g. Doctor.
ROLE:Patterned behaviour expected of those occupying given statuses.
STATION:Totality of statuses occupied by a single person.
SOCIAL NORMS:Required or acceptable behavior in a given situation within a particular socio-cultural set-up.
THERE ARE TWO TYPES
__FOLKWAYS__:Commonly accepted rules and conducts that are not compulsory,e.g. prostrating for an elder. __MORES__:'must' behaviours. non conformity attracts negative sanctions. __SOCIAL STRATIFICATION__: The division that exists among members if a society based on their statuses. __SOCIAL CLASS__:A group of people who share a similar level of statuses in the stratification structure. __SOCIAL GROUP__: A numbered of persons linked together in a network or system of social relationships. Iya features are : (a) plurality of persons (b) Definite interactions directed towards attaining a common goal.