Nature of Sociology

Mrs. Olatunji-Adewunmi
Sub Topics

 SOCIOLOGY
 SOCIAL GROUPING
 SOCIAL INSTITUTION
 SOCIAL PROCESS
 SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
 SOCIAL MOBILITY
 SOCIAL CHANGE
The Nature and Scope of Sociology

• According to Elizabeth Walkins (1973) “Sociology has

to deal with the whole scope of human activities and
relationships including the reason for activities and
their relationships and consequences or outcomes.
They are also concerned with the rules and
regulations by which societies are organized and
controlled, indeed with all the numerous and infinitely
varied aspects of the behaviour of man in the society.
• The field of Sociology is extremely wide and there are
many areas of Specialization within the general field.
The fact that all aspects of social life are closely
linked and interwoven can not be over- emphasized.
Definitions of Sociology
• Ginsberg--“Sociology is the study of the human interaction
and interrelation their condition and consequences”.
• Max Weber-- “Sociology is the science which attempts the
interpretative understanding of social action.”
• L.F. Ward defines, “Sociology is the science of society or of
social phenomena”.
• Emile Durkheim defines, “ Sociology as a science of social
institutions”.
• Ogburn and Nimkoff defines, “Sociology as the study of
social life”.
• Kimball Young defines, “Sociology deals with the behaviour
of men in groups”.
Subject matter of Sociology

Sociology is
 the study of society
 the science of social life
 the study of social relationships
 the study of human behaviour in groups
 the study of forms of social relationships
 the study of social action the study of
social groups and social systems
SOCIAL GROUP
• A Group is a number of people or things that are located, gathered,
or classed together. No man normally lives alone i.e Man does not
live in an isolation for a long time. He is basically a social creature.
• SOCIAL GROUP is defined as the collectivity or set of people who
involve in more or less permanent or enduring social interactions
and relationships. Members of a social group have common basis
for interaction and shared characteristics, a feeling of identity or
belongingness, shared psychology or consciousness and a definite
set of norms to govern the behaviors of the individual participant in
the group.
• A social group consists of a number of people who have a common
identity, some feeling of unity, and certain common goals and
shared norms. A main focus of sociology is the study of these social
groups. In a social group, two or more people regularly interact and
share a sense of unity and common identity
• SOCIAL GROUP Society is formed by human interaction. Humans
interact, communicate and construct social collectivities. These
collectivities are referred to as social groups and exist in every
society. We have something in common with others in the same
group, we identify with the group, and the group can create a sense
of belonging for us. However, the types of groups that exist may
differ from society to society. Thus, social group refers to a
collection of continuously interacting persons who share common
interest, culture, values and norms within a given society
• Aggregates can thus be defined as simply collections of people
who are in the same place at the same time, but share no definite
connection with one another. Passengers waiting at a railway
station or airport or bus stop or a cinema audience are examples of
aggregates. Such aggregates are often termed as quasi groups.
• QUASI GROUPS A quasi group can be defined as an aggregate or
combination, which lacks structure or organisation, and whose
members may be unaware, or less aware, of the existence of
groupings. For example, social classes, status groups, age groups,
gender groups can be quasi groups

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOCIAL GROUP AND QUASI GROUP

• There is a thin line difference between quasi group and social group.
A group of people can take the form of a quasi-group at some point
and as a social group in specific circumstances. For instance,
teenagers worrying about acne and pimples, teenagers in
metropolitan cities, etc. can be examples of quasi groups. However,
in specific circumstances when the group of teenagers turns out to
be studying in the same class, a group of common friends, etc., it
becomes social groups.
Characteristics of Social Group
• Collection of individuals: Social group consists of people.
• Interaction among members: The members must have interaction
• Mutual awareness: Group members are aware of one another and their behavior is
determined by this mutual recognition
• We-feeling: We-feeling refers to the tendency on the part of the members to identify
themselves with the groups. It represents group unity
• Group unity and solidarity: Group members are tied by a sense of unity. The
solidarity or integration of a group is largely depends upon the frequency, the variety,
and the emotional quality of the interactions of its members
• Common interests: The interests and ideals of groups are common. In fact men not
only join groups but also form groups for the realization of their objectives or
interests. 
• Group norms: Every group has its own rules and norms which the members are
supposed to follow
• Similar behavior: The members of group behave in more or less similar way for the
pursuit of common interests
• Size of the group: A group may be as small as that of 'two-members group e.g.
husband and wife or as big as that of a political party having lakhs of members. 
Functions of a social group
i. Defining boundaries: To identify who are the members of the
group
ii. Choosing leaders: By nature , groups resolve the issue of
leadership
iii. Making decisions: The combined aggregate of all the ideas ,
opinions and thoughts of members of the group over an issue
iv. Setting goals: The common ambition of the group for which
they strive to perform and achieve
v. Assigning tasks: Each member of the group is assigned a
task which he cares and look-afters and is responsible for that
vi. Controlling members behavior: Behaviors of the members
are continually controlled because deviant behavior of the
members may be dangerous and harmful and rather fatal to
the group
The Functions of a Social Group
• Satisfaction of Basic Needs One of the basic human needs is
the need to belong and to be loved. Social groups are joined so
as to fulfill this need. The social interactions that take place within
a group helps members to forget their problems or to share their
problems with others whom they have confidence in.
• A Source of Information It is impossible for one person to be an
expert in all aspects of life. Others should be relied on to give
information about events or how to carry out tasks for example a
nurse can supply information on how to nurse a premature baby.
• Giving Rewards This is an important function of a group. People
join groups because groups can supply rewards and a person’s
satisfaction with a group is based on how his rewards compare to
what he believes he could get from the group. Rewards may
include high status, self esteem, monetary rewards and so on.
Types of Social Group
i. Primary group:  It is the most fundamental unit of society. A small or
primary group consists of two or more people who have frequent face-to-
face interaction. This interaction is fundamental to the group and society as a
whole as it helps them to form a social structure. Families, playgroups, Love
Relationships, neighborhood groups are examples of Primary Group. A
long-lasting group. They are close knit. Small in size. Intimate Relationships.
Member of primary group feel a strong personal identity with the group.
ii. Secondary group: They have the opposite characteristics of primary
groups. They can be small or large and are mostly impersonal and usually
short term. The formal structure of Secondary groups allows them to have a
clearly defined hierarchy but in practice, this does not facilitate cooperation,
communication and coordination between members of these groups. As the
group expands, the possibility of maintaining close relationships between
members is reduced and also their loyalty to the group is reduced. These
groups are typically found at work and school. Secondary groups are large
clusters of people who have a mutually shared purpose, often aiming to
complete tasks. Example Class Mates, Colleagues, Sport team mates
iii. Reference group: A reference group is a group to which we compare ourselves.
Reference groups, such as college freshmen, serve as a standard to which we
measure our behaviors and attitudes. We use reference groups in order to guide our
behavior and attitudes and help us to identify social norms. Example: A junior look
toward their seniors to learn and evaluate themselves, Opposition Parties, Student’s
Pressure Groups, Strikes.
iv. Formal group: Formal groups have a specific goal or mission. They also have a
specific structure and positions of authority. It's structure is well defined. It has
professional relationship. Small size. Deliberately formation. In a formal group, the
flow of communication is restricted due to the unity of command. Eg Command and
task
v. Informal group: They are based on the group members' shared interests and
goals. Informal groups are not structured with a specific goal in mind. Group
members interact on a very personal level. No level of authority. Large size.
Voluntarily formation. Personal relationship. Informal group, the flow of
communication stretches in all directions; there is no such restriction. Examples:
Families. A group of local mothers. Peer groups.
vi. In group: is a social group to which a person psychologically identifies as
being a member. In group members use the term ‘we’ to express themselves.
Similarity in behavior, attitude and opinion is observed among the members of
in group. It is based on ethnocentrism and they have positive attitude towards
their own in group Members of in group display co-operation, good-will,
mutual help and possess a sense of solidarity, a feeling of brotherhood and
readiness to sacrifice themselves for the group. Members of in group feel that
their personal welfare is bound up with other members of group but out group
members do not feel so. Example One’s family, one’s college
vii. Out group:  is a social group with which an individual does not identify.
They use the term ‘they’ for the members of out-group. They show dissimilar
behavior; attitude and opinion towards the members of out group. They have
negative attitudes towards their out group. It is not depend on ethnocentrism.
Individual shows a sense of avoidance, dislike, indifference and antagonism
towards the members of out group. Members of in group feel that their
personal welfare is bound up with other members of group but out group
members do not feel so. Eg. Pakistan is an out group for Indians
SOCIAL INSTITUTION
• A social institution is an organ or establishment that carries
out certain functions for the benefit of the society e.g the
family, the church or other religious institution, the school,
educational system, or marriage, etc.
• Social institutions are pattern of behavior grouped about
the needs of human being in the society.
• There are many social institutions in every society but five
of them are very important for the provision of the five basic
needs without which society may cease to operate for the
benefits of its members. These basic needs are 1: Child
rearing, 2. Spiritual needs 3. Education. 4. Government for
providing a means of social control and the provision of
goods and services. 5. Health.
• An institution on the other hand is not a group but a
procedure i.e. an organized formal, recognized
established way of doing something or of performing
an activity in a society. A way of doing something is
institutionalized when the members of the group
agree on one proper method of carrying out that
thing e.g child rearing, worshipping, governing, etc.
• Institutions are structures and mechanism of social
order and cooperation governing the behavior or of
relationships of group of people that is accepted as a
fundamental part of a culture.
 The Five Primary
Institutions
The family: Marriage is universal social institution of society. A
family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity or co-
residence shared consumption in mist societies. they are based on
principles of kinship, meaning, social relations created by descent
and marriage procreation and socialization of children
Economic institution: Economic organization involves production,
distribution and consumption of goods and services. People are led
to produce goods and services because of need and use.
Political Institution: this is a part of the total organization
concerned with the preservation of the social order within a specified
territory by a duly authorized machinery. The state is the institution
whereby order is maintained. It is a organized set of procedures for
implementing and obtaining the goal of a group. Maintaining peace
and order in society. Those that are concerned with social control
with politics and law government, the police, court, etc
Educational institution: a system consisting of the roles and norms
that ensure the transmission of knowledge, values, and patterns of
behavior from one generation to the next. Education is a life long
process involving both formal and informal institution of learning.
Sociology understands this need as a process of
transmission/communication of group heritage that is common to all
societies.
Religious institution: Meeting spiritual needs; serving as source of
explanatory authority on difficult questions facing human life.
Characteristics of an Institution

1. Institutions are purposive. Each of them has the satisfaction of

social needs as its own goal or objective.
2. Relatively permanent in their content. The pattern roles and
relations that people enact in a particular culture become traditional
enduring. Although institutions are subject to change, the change is
relatively slow.
3. Institutions are structured. The components tend to band
together, reinforce one another. This is because social roles and
social relations are in themselves structured combinations of
behavior patterns.
4. Institutions are a unified structure. They function as a unit.
5. Institutions are necessarily value-laden. Their repeated
uniformities, patters and trends become codes of conduct. Most of
these codes subconsciously exert social pressures. However,
others are in form of rules and laws.
Functions of an Institution
1. Institutions simplify social behavior for the individual person. The
social institutions provide every child with all the needed social
and cultural mechanisms through which he can grow socially.
2. Institutions provide ready-made forms of social relations and
social roles for the individual. The principal roles are not
invented by the individuals, they are provided by the institutions.
3. Institutions also act as agencies of coordination and stability for
total culture. The ways of thinking and behaving that are
institutionalized “make sense” to people.
4. Institutions tend to control behavior. They contain the systematic
expectations of the society.
5. Social Institutions can take many forms, depending on a social
context. • It may be a family, business, educational, or political
institution.
SOCIAL PROCESSES
• SOCIAL PROCESSES are certain repetitive,
continuous forms of patterns in the social systems
that occur as individuals, groups, societies, or
countries interact with each other. They are
interaction patterns or modes, among members
(individual) within a society or a group involving
particular repetitive features, occurring both at micro
and macro levels. They help us interpret and
understand our social behavior. There are generally
five modes of social processes. These are
competition, conflict, cooperation, accommodation
and assimilation
Five modes of social process
• Competition is the process where by individuals, groups, societies, and
countries make active efforts to win towards getting their share of the
limited resources. It is an impersonal attempt to gain scarce and valued
resources of wealth, land, health care services, etc. Competition
involves struggle, efforts, decisions, actions, etc., to survive. Competition
is balanced by cooperation.
• Cooperation is a social process whereby people join hands towards
achieving common goals. Competition is more likely to occur in
advanced, modern, industrialized societies than in traditional,
homogenous societies where cooperation appears to be more important.
• Conflict is the process of competition for power (which could be
economic, social, and political) and resources, conflict is bound to take
place. Conflict involves disagreement and disharmony, which results due
to differences in ideology, living standard, and other social factors. It is a
universal phenomenon, an ever- present reality, taking place both at
micro and macro levels. voluntary.
Conflict involves clash of interest between individuals in a social group like
in a family or between groups or societies. It results due to power
imbalance, due to unfair distribution of resources.
• Accommodation: People may decide to consciously avoid the source of
conflict thereby arriving at an agreement to live accepting one another,
co-exist at relative peace, avoiding overt conflict. Accommodation is a
social process whereby people try to accept one another, avoiding the
sources of conflict to live in peaceful coexistence. It is a conscious
adjustment and compromise among conflicting groups so that they can
live with one another without overt conflict.
• Assimilation is a social process whereby a group of individuals learns
and accepts the values, norms, etc., of another group and becomes
sometimes virtually identical with the dominant groups. Assimilation
involves the acceptance or the internalizing of the larger or dominant
group's culture, values and life styles by the smaller or minority group.
Assimilation could imposed or
SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

Society can be seen as consisting of 'strata' in a hierarchy, with the more

favoured at the top and the less privileged near the bottom. Stratification
has a crucial place in the organisation of society. Every aspect of the life
of every individual and household is affected by stratification.
Opportunities for health, security, educational success, fulfilment in work
and political influence are all unequally distributed in systematic ways
• Social Stratification is the process of ranking people in a society
according to wealth, power and prestige. People are categorized both
according to ascribed status ( age, sex, and family position) and on the
basis of achieved status ( occupation, wealth, education, etc.).
• Social stratification refers to society’s categorization of its people into
groups based on socioeconomic factors like wealth, income, race,
education, gender, occupation, and social status, or
derived power (social and political). As such, stratification is the relative
social position of persons within a social group, category, geographic
region, or social unit.
•  Stratification includes not only noting differences between
people but also evaluating those differences and ranking people
accordingly. Social Stratification is a characteristic of society, not
simply a function of individual differences. It is a society wide
system that unequally distributes social resources among the
categories of people.
• Factors that define stratification vary in different societies. In most
societies, stratification is an economic system, based on wealth,
the net value of money and assets a person has, and income, a
person’s wages, or investment dividends. While people are
regularly categorized based on how rich or poor they are, other
important factors influence social standing. For example, in some
cultures, wisdom and charisma are valued, and people who have
them are revered more than those who don’t.
What causes social stratification?
• Sociologists recognize that a variety of factors,
including social class, race, gender, sexuality, nationality, and
sometimes religion, influence stratification. In this vein,
sociologists recognize that racism and sexism affect one’s
accrual of wealth and power in society.
What are the four principles of social stratification?
• The four basic types of stratification systems:
– Slavery
– Estates: An elite owns property and exercises power and has total
control over societal resources
– Caste: rigid hierarchy of classes
– Class: status is partially achieved and there is some potential for
movement from one class to another.
CASTE AS A SYSTEM OF STRATIFICATION
This system is based on religious and other strongly rooted traditional belief that
cannot be changed or are very difficult to change. This is the form of social
stratification whereby classification of people into different strata is made on the basis
of usually religious and other very strong conventions/ traditions that are difficult to
change.
Some of the features of caste system include:
1. Your social position is determined by the caste you are born in. You cannot change
your caste.
2. Caste dictates the type of work an individual can do and doesn't allow occupational
mobility.
3. Caste endogamy is practiced with regard to marriages. An individual can marry
only within his/her own caste.
4. Caste determines one's social relationship. Social interaction is restricted by caste.
5. There is restriction in terms of food and food sharing.
6. There are occupational differences between strata; i.e., each stratum is usually
assigned a particular type of occupation.
7. Intermarriage between strata is not permitted
CLASS AS A SYSTEM OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

Social classes are groups of people who are stratified into

different categories. In a more general sense, social class can be
defined as a category or level of people found in similar positions
in the social hierarchy. The criteria or the bases for dividing
people in a given society into different social classes may include
wealth, occupation, education, sex, family background, religion,
income, among others
1. The boundaries between class groups is not as clear cut as in
the caste system.
2. Class status can be achieved and is not ascribed.
3. The class stratification is mainly based on inequalities with
regard to possession of economic resources.
4. The process of inequality operates through large scale
impersonal association of the members.
Forms of Social
Stratification

Upper class: A small class that refers to the main

owners of society’s wealth. This may include business
owners, landowners and the aristocracy.
Middle class: A large class, and often refers to those in
non-manual work. This includes people who don’t carry
out physical labour in their work, and may involve
working in offices. At the top of the middle classes,
highly paid and highly skilled occupations may feature,
such as doctors and lawyers. At the bottom, there may
be people carrying out routine office work who are paid
much less. Some may argue that those in the low paid
jobs should be included in the working class as their
pay may be very similar.
Working class: A large class, including those who work
in manual jobs which involve physical labour. This may
include skilled work such as electricians or plumbers, or
unskilled work such as working in packing in a factory.
Lower class: Some sociologists have identified this
small class at the bottom, whose poverty may exclude
them from full participation in society. This class may be
characterised as having long term welfare benefit
dependency and unemployment.
Prejudices
• Prejudices refer to the pre- conceived opinions or
attitudes held by members of one group towards
another.
• The word literally means pre-judgment.
• A prejudiced person’s preconceived views are
based on hearsay rather than on direct evidence
and resistant to change.
• Prejudice may be either positive or negative.
• A person may be prejudiced in favor of members
of his/her own caste or groups and without any
evidence.
Stereotype
• Stereotypes are often applied to ethnic
and racial groups and to women.
• Stereotypes fix whole groups into single,
homogeneous categories as they refuse to
recognize the variation across individuals
and across contexts or time.
• Prejudices are grounded in stereotypes
,fixed and inflexible characterizations of a
group of people.
Discrimination
• Discrimination refers to actual behavior towards
another group or individual.
• It can be seen in practices that disqualify
members of one group from opportunities open to
others as when a person is refused a job because
of their gender or religion.
• Discrimination can be very hard to prove because
it may not be open or explicitly stated.
• Discriminatory behavior or practices may be
presented as motivated by other more justifiable
reasons rather than prejudice.
Status and Role

• STATUS AND ROLE Status: It is refers to the position

an individual occupies in a group or in society. Each
status has certain defined rights and duties assigned
to it. Examples of status- Doctor, mother, teacher etc
• One’s status is one’s position in the society as for
example, a student nurse , a nursing sister, a father,
tailor , a bishop. An individual can hold many
positions. Each position is assigned a certain type of
behaviour which is accepted by the society. The
positions an individual holds all contribute towards his
status, while the expected patterns of behaviours
associated with that status constitute his roles
Types of status
• There are two types of Status. Ascribed ( or prescribed) and Achieved
( or acquired).
• An ascribed status is one into which a person is born and over which the
individual has no control. E.g a person born by a member of a royal
family is given the position of a prince or a princess and the person can
therefore become a queen or king later on. Sex, age and race are also
ascribed status : there are some occupations which only men do and
some are also meant for women only. As regards age, the elderly ones
are given more respect than younger ones and some positions are only
occupied by people of certain age.
• An achieved or acquired status is one that is chosen or earned by one’s
effort . One can choose to become a father , soldier , a nurse and so on
and can work towards that. One can become a lawyer or nurse by
studying hard to enter into the appropriate institution and by passing the
necessary examinations . People therefore have control over achieved
status unlike achieved status.
SOCIAL MOBILITY
• Social mobility is the movement of an individual or a
group of people from one social stratum or class to
another. Social mobility exists in every society although
it may be easier to achieve in one society than another.
For example, it is easier in an open class society
because people are ranked only according to their
ability and achievements but in a closed society, people
are ranked on the basis of heredity alone. No society is
either completely closed or completely open, but the
more open a society is, the more likely it is that social
mobility will occur because an individual’s mobility
depends on how much he can struggle and succeed.
Types of social mobility
There are two kinds of Social Mobility. They are vertical and
Horizontal Mobility.
• Vertical Mobility: This is the movement of an individual or a
group of people up or down the social class ladder. For example,
if a staff nurse is promoted to the post of a nursing sister, she
would have moved up in the class structure and would be
displaying upward ( vertical movement) but if she was demoted
from the post of a nursing sister to a staff nurse, then she would
be displaying downward movement which is also vertical mobility.
• Horizontal Movement: This is the movement of an individual or a
group of people within the same rank or stratum without a
significant change in income, prestige or power. A pharmacists
who leave one hospital for another e.g on transfer or to take up a
new appointment is displaying horizontal mobility.
3. Inter-generational Social Mobility: This type of social mobility involves the
movement up or down, between the social class of one or two generations of a family,
or a social group. In this mobility, our focus of attention is a social group, like the
family. Here we look at change in the status position of the family over two or more
generations, i.e., the social position of the grandfather, the father and the son. If a
child, for example, whose father was an upper class person as a result of his wealth,
becomes only a laborer in his own time, then he has experienced a downward
intergenerational social mobility.
4. Intra-generational mobility: This concerns individual changes in positions during
one's lifetime. It may also refer to the change that occurs in social groups or a
country’s socioeconomic position over a specified period of time. In other words,
through achievement or other means one can move up from being a poor primary
school teacher to a high court judge. Unlike the Inter-generational social mobility, intra
generational social mobility is with in one generation. But like inter-generational social
mobility, it may be an upward or downward social mobility. Unlike the
intergenerational social mobility, our focus here is on a specific individual or group.
Here, we observe change in the social position of an individual or a group over the life
cycle of the individual himself or the group either upward or in some cases downward.
SOCIAL CHANGE

• Social change may be defined as the alteration or transformation at large scale level
in the social structure, social institutions, social organization and patterns of social
behavior in a given society or social system. Social change can also be defined as
the alteration, rearrangement or total replacement of phenomena, activities, values or
processes through time in a society in a succession of events. The alteration or
rearrangement may involve simple or complex changes in the structure, form or
shape of the social phenomena.
• Social change refers to changes in the social system or in the structure of a society.
Social changes occur in a society when existing cultural patterns are modified or
when new ideas which may improve or damage the old system of living are
introduced. Social change can occur sequentially as a society develops from the
agrarian stage to industrial stage and later to post-industrial stage.
• Social change may be defined as the process which is discernible in the alteration of
the structure and functioning of a particular social system. It is a term used to
describe variation in, modifications of, any aspect of social processes, social patterns,
and social interaction within a social organisation. Usually social change refers to a
significant change in social behaviour or a change in social system rather than minor
changes within a small group.
Social change can originate from either within a
society, or from outside of a society.
• Internal sources of social change are those
factors that originate within a specific society
that singly or in combination with other factors
produce alterations in social institutions and
social structure.
• External sources of social change are events
that originate outside of a society to bring
about change to social institutions or structures
Characteristics of Social Change
• Change is Social
• Universal
• Continuous
• Inevitable
• Temporal
• Degree or rate of change is not uniform
• Social Change may be planned or unplanned
• Social change is multi-causal
• Social change creates chain-reactions
• Prediction is uncertain
Types of social change
According to cultural anthropologist David F. Aberle, the four types of social change
include:
• Alternative:  Alternative social change operates at the individual level and seeks to
change minor aspects of behaviour. Campaigns against texting and driving are an
example of alternative social change in the sense that they advocate a small change in
behaviour and advocate this change on a fairly small scale
• Redemptive: Redemptive social change functions on the individual level but advocates
a dramatic change within the individual. The spread of religion is an example of
redemptive social change. Recovery programs like Alcoholics Anonymous are also
examples of redemptive social change as they advocate dramatic personal change for
a specific portion of the population.
• Reformative: Reformative social change seeks to enact a specific change on a broad
scale. The movement to obtain marriage rights for same- sex couples is an example of
reformative social change. This movement seeks a very specific set of changes but
desires these changes on a wide scale
• Revolutionary: Revolutionary social change indicates dramatic change on a large
scale. Revolutionary movements seek to fundamentally restructure society. Examples
of revolutionary social change include the American Civil Rights Movement and the
Russian Revolution of the early-20th century.
Types of Social Change
• Evolution: This refers to a slow or gradual change which takes place with
minimal human intervention or effort e.g changes in language, marriage
patterns , child rearing and so on. In Evolutionary changes, changes may
not be noticed because they occur slowly.
• Revolution: This is a rapid intentional change which can drastically alter
a society’s existing way of doing things . Revolutions are purposive unlike
evolutions and they are caused by direct human action. The most
common examples are political revolution which often result in a social
change e.g Russian Revolution, French Revolution, etc.

• Reform: Reform is similar to revolution because it is also produced by

direct human action. But in contrast to revolution, reform movements are
less drastic and extensive. Some changes in government policies in
Britain and America which had discriminated against women were the
results of reform movements. Society and/or culture are altered by
reforms whereas they are completely changed by revolution.
Effects of Social Changes on Nursing Education and Care

• Social change has brought about the production of New drugs,

machines, technological equipments, new weaning techniques and
procedures which leads to a great improvement in the health of the
population.
• Social change has brought about a vast body of knowledge that guides
the Nursing profession.
• Social change has brought about an attraction of male nurses to the
nursing profession.
• Social changes have brought about many innovations and
modifications in nursing training and nursing care .
• Social change has led to an increasing number of Schools of Nursing
therefore leading to increased number of students and tutors .
• Social change has brought about more political and social awareness
making Nurses more aware about their rights and obligations.
• It helps Nurses to deliver improved and Quality care to their clients and Patients.
• Social change has led to an expansion of the roles of Nurses in the delivery of
Health Care Services.
• Social change has resulted into a significantly marked increase in standard .i.e.
high standard of entry requirement or aspiring individuals into the Nursing
Profession.
• It has led to good working conditions such as better remuneration of Nurses and
work flexibility .
• It has led to the formation of Students union and association with many political
and social activities in Schools of Nursing.
• Social change has provided qualified staff Nurses the opportunity to form strong
trade unions which promote professional growth and development as well as
improving the wellbeing of the members.
• Social change has brought about a vast availability of Undergraduate and
postgraduate Nursing Courses in African Universities which has adequately
improved the educational preparation of Nurses and research into Nursing
Problems.
 The End

Thank you for

Listening