Introduction to Sociology
What you’ll learn to do: define sociology and describe the historical and social context from which it emerged
![Crowded escalator in the subway.](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/courses-images/wp-content/uploads/sites/2034/2016/04/24131727/CNX_Soc2e_Figure_01_01_001.jpg)
Sociology is the scientific study of social behavior and human groups. Sociology has many sub-sections of study—ranging from the analysis of conversations, to the development of theories, to explaining how the world works. This section will introduce you to sociology, give a brief history of the discipline, and demonstrate how sociology can help you understand the world around you using sociological theories.