Sociology examines the organization, structure, and change of social groups and institutions. It combines rigorous methods of inquiry and analysis in various areas of research, such as: mass media, the environment, racism, gender issues, class, and deviance and social control. Sociologists think critically about various aspects of society and determine its effect on individuals, neighbourhoods, cities, states, countries, and end on a global scale.

A sociologist is one who has earned advanced degrees or pursued other advanced studies in sociology and is engaged in teaching, research or other professional work in the field of sociology. The careless use of the term sociologist is very common. Magzine and newspaper writers, social workers, labour leaders, government officials, social critics etc may be described incorrectly as sociologist. Sociology concentrates its study upon the group life of human beings and the product of their group living.

The sociologist is especially interested in customs, traditions and values which emerge from group living and in the way group living is in turn affected by these customs, traditions and values. Sociology is interested in the way groups interact with one another and in the processes and institutions which they develop.

Sociology is subdivided into many specialized fields of which some of are:

• Applied sociology

• Collective behaviour

• Community

• Comparative sociology

• Crime and delinquency

• Cultural sociology

• Demography

• Deviant behaviour

• Formal and complex organizations

• Human ecology

• Industrial sociology

• Law and society

• Marriage and Family

• Medical sociology

• Military sociology

• Political sociology

• Sociology of Religion

• Urban sociology

• Social psychology

• Social control

• Rural sociology

• Sociological theory

• Sociology of Education

Sociology is only one of the social sciences and other disciplines share its interest in many topics. Its interest in communication and public opinion is shared by psychology and political science, criminology is shared with psychology, political science and law and police science. Sociology is especially close to psychology and anthropology and overlaps them constantly.