The Defining Line

• Sociology studies the processes and patterns of individuals and groups in relation to how they interact, form organizations, build relationships, and influence individual and group thinking and behavior. The focus is on understanding individual and group human behavior patterns. Anthropology focuses on the study of mankind and ancestral relations across time. It covers all areas of inquiry pertaining to humans, including man's biological evolution, biological and cultural diversity, languages and behavior.
  
  

Approach

• Sociology is concerned with the practical and present social interactions and relationships of people. Anthropology studies humanity in its entirety, including a variety of social behaviors and man's relationship with the material world from earliest times to the present. Sociology concentrates on dealing with modern people and societies, while anthropology deals with the past, including primitive, pre-industrial and pre-literate peoples and societies. Sociology was instituted to study the ailments of society following the Industrial Revolution. Anthropology is dedicated to the study of ancient, traditional societies that once were.
  
  

Areas of Study

• The study of sociology requires students to select majors in sociology, criminology or sociology pre-law. For the study of anthropology, students may select one area of specialization from archaeological anthropology, socio-cultural anthropology or biological anthropology. Sociology students learn to focus on the organizations, institutions, beliefs, values and social forces that shape people, their lives and society. Anthropology has been described as one of the most humanistic of all social science studies. Students learn by exploring the social, cultural, physical and biological aspects of mankind. The study covers past, present and future. The study of anthropology better equips students to understand people in terms of human nature and diversity, and the reasons for the differences. Anthropologists don't rely too heavily on quantitative data. They are concerned with the findings unearthed by excavation. Anthropologists tend to have a holistic view of their findings, meaning that they see everything as related to everything else.
  
  

Methodologies

• Students of sociology and anthropology are required to employ scientific approaches to their research. Sociology studies society by the use of systematic methods like quantitative analysis to find explanations for human behavior. Sociologists employ various scientific methods like interviews, surveys and observations, and they conduct objective analysis of a variety of materials that cover history, literature and the arts. Sociology can function as a useful tool in studying people, and in understanding and solving problems at local, national and international levels. Anthropologists travel for studies and live with people to understand their culture and traditions. They compare the lives of poor and rich people in terms of financial status, medical care and other aspects. Anthropologists need to be patient and calm. They must have the ability to transform incomplete information into meaningful data.