Microsoft Word - sociology_body.doc

type of bounded territory and who share a common way
of life. This common way of life shared by a group of
people is termed as culture (Stockard, 1997).

Box 1.2. Distinguishing between society and culture

Society: a group of people who live within some

type of bounded territory and who share a

common way of life

Culture: is common way of life shared by a

society or a group.

Now, turning to the definitional issues, it is important that
in addition to this etymological definition of the term, we
need to have other substantive definitions. Thus,
sociology may be generally defined as a social science
that studies such kinds of phenomena as:

• The structure and function of society as a
  system;


• The nature, complexity and contents of
  human social behavior;


• The fundamentals of human social life;