Definition of Educational Sociology

The following definitions of educational sociology will make it easier to comprehend the nature, scope, and importance of the subject:

According to Brown “Educational sociology is the study of the interaction of the individual and his cultural environment”. It is evident from this definition that it studies the effect of the cultural environment on the individual. Also, the ways and means by which this cultural environment can be changed.

According to Carter, “Educational sociology is the study of those phases of sociology that are of significance for educative processes, especially the study of those that point to the valuable program of learning and control of learning processes.” Putting it simply, this discipline is sociology in the field of education. It carries out experiments to make the application of sociological principles more active and effective.

According to Ottoway, “Educational sociology starts with the assumption that education is an activity which goes on the society and the society in its turn determines the nature of education”.

 

Modern educationists agree that education is made possible by the family, school, community, and other parts of society. The educational system of society will bear a resemblance to the nature of society itself, although this does not imply that society cannot be changed through education. Both society and education influence each other, and educational sociology makes a study of this interaction.

References: Sociology of Education by S.S. Chandra & R. K. Sharma