Essay About Things And Study Of Sociology

Sociological Theories – Economics and Poverty
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Sociological Theories, Economics and Poverty
The study of Sociology is very important in todays society because of all the societal
problems and issues that exist. Societal issues and problems will never be rectified if it is not
studied and revamped. There are many aspects of society studied by sociologists, including
the economic conditions prevailing in a society. With understanding, it allows individuals, the
government and other public agencies to make efforts and create social conditions that will help
reduce poverty, crime, inequality and other issues in society.
Sociology is useful because it gives us another way of understanding society and why
people behave in which they behave. If it were not for sociology, we would have only
psychology for understanding why people act the way that they do. We would not be able to
notice that impoverished and lower class people act differently from people who are not poor.
We would only be able to look at individual reasons for behavior; we would also not be able to
understand the impact that various institutions have on society because we would not think about
them. We would not be able to think about the impact of many people going to church, or of
having a high divorce rate. All of these things are things that sociology looks at more than any
other social science.
While sociology is not an exact science as is biology or chemistry, it does employ first-
hand studies that are measured as scientifically as possible. Of course, when dealing with human
behaviors and relations there are too many variables for one hundred percent accuracy.
Nevertheless, studies have proven valuable. Such studies are helpful for Sociologists to
recommend ways to improve learning. Other studies, such as those in which inner cities high-
rise apartments; produce an environment as compared to public housing in the form of one-level
homes or apartments has led to the devastating of such high-rises in an effort to improve the lives
of people on public aid. These studies and many others are useful to sociologists who strive for a
better life for the people with whom they study and work. In a study regarding education, there
has been some success in determining what time is best for beginning school for high school
aged students. By using measurements such as standardized test scores, determination of the
best learning times can be measured fairly well. Several studies have revealed that students who
come to their first class at nine a.m. succeed more often in learning well versus than those who
take the class earlier.
Many Sociologist believes that there are five types of institutions in any society, which
includes family, education, economy, government and religion. Here in the United States, our
education system clearly helps contribute to both prosperity and poverty. Mainly because schools
are funded on a local level; which basically means schools in poorer areas are poorly funded and
typically have substandard conditions, whereas richer schools tend to have a better education
system and better outcomes.
“The scenario that plays out all too often and the resulting poverty can have a devastating
effect on the children who now must make their own ways through school. Overwhelming,
education evidence suggests that growing up in poverty with a parent whose education has been
limited puts children at a disadvantage with peers whose parents present everyday examples of
the rewards of education.” (Hall, 2011). According to the US Census Bureau, 1 in 6 Americans
live in poverty a number that might have increased since the recession started to take hold in
2008. However, the poverty rates in Europe and Japan are much lower (Bishaw & Macartney).
This suggest that our economic system in the U.S., one which put emphasis on low taxes and
individual freedom to succeed may have always had a rather large poor population.
Children in families living below the poverty line may not receive the benefits of quality
interaction time with supportive adults, which can impact language development, acquisition of
social skills and readiness to learn basic concepts in academic areas. Having wealth will give the
child the best education that money can buy starting at a young age. It also allows a child to
travel and extend his or her mind. Riches also allows a child to spend time with family to
develop confidence in life and children of wealthy parents often inherit wealth. Your
socioeconomic status often determines where you live and what privileges you may have.
Where you live determine where you go to school and what you observe day to
day. It may determine who you socialize with and the amount of crime in your neighborhood.
All of these things can trap a person in a cycle of poverty. First, there is the idea that the poor
lack opportunities. People who believe this idea say that the poor grow up in places where