Making Sense of Society: Understand The Social World

This article discusses the importance of understanding the social world through qualitative and quantitative research, alienation, social movements, and sustainability. It also includes an essay on the decline of community and social cohesion in contemporary society.

MAKING SENSE OF
SOCIETY: UNDERSTAND
THE SOCIAL WORLD

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION- 1....................................................................................................................................1
Qualitative and quantitative research...........................................................................................1
Alienation....................................................................................................................................1
Social movements........................................................................................................................2
Sustainability...............................................................................................................................2
SECTION- 2- ESSAY.....................................................................................................................3
‘Community and social cohesion are in decline in contemporary society’. Discuss...................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

SECTION- 1
Qualitative and quantitative research
Qualitative research is a kind of study that deal with exploration of concepts for
understanding concept in an appropriate manner using words, text, experience and thoughts
(Farghaly, 2018). Qualitative research focuses upon gaining in -depth understanding of a concept
using textual data, words etc. In such kind of research observations, interview, literature review,
asking open- ended questions from participates can be asked for gaining better understanding of
chosen or selected topic. This type of research can directly help in understanding social world in
an appropriate manner as with the help of this research one can understand perception, point of
view of people, experiences of people and then this data can be used for making individuals
understand social reality of individuals.
Whereas quantitative research is a kind of study in which expression and explanation of a
concept or topic is done in terms of numbers, graphs and then interpretation of those numbers
and graphs is done. This type of research is mostly used for gaining knowledge about generalized
view on a topic. Most common type of data collection methods used in this type of research are
experiments, closed-ended questions, observations, surveys etc. This type of research can be
used for generating knowledge and creating understanding about social world. It can also help in
understanding ways in which a phenomenon can affect individuals, area of concern that affects
people in generalized manner.
Both the type of research is useful in understanding social world in different ways and can
help un understanding people living in society, their perception, pattern, characteristics etc.
Alienation
Alienation can be defined as a kind of experience or feeling of being completely isolated.
It is a state in which a person withdraws or separate from an object, person or position of former
attachment (Marx, 2018). Social alienation condition occurs when a social relationship is
reflected by lower degree of interaction or values, or when higher degree of isolation occurs
among two or more than two individuals in a community, society or within work environment.
Alienation can directly help in understanding a social world, ways in which relationship between
two individuals or group of people is affected.
Alienation help in understanding that many times certain circumstances occur or situation
occurs when a person rejects their loved ones. It directly helps in understanding that when a
1

person is in state of alienation then in such situation feeling of distance, estrangement can occur
even in certain situation from one’s own emotion as well a person can develop distance. This
mostly occur because of development of feelings such as powerlessness, normlessness which is
majorly caused because of separation and isolation of a person or individual from loss of self-
love, from society as well as from work. It directly helps in understanding that when a person do
not have control or power over themselves, society or over work, sense of isolation can be
developed because of which they might isolate or separate themselves from others. This can
further impact their interact with people within workplace or society.
Social movements
Social movements can be defined as a kind of loosely organized efforts by large number
of people for achievement of a particular goal, aim or objective. Most of the times any kind of
Social movements is organized for bringing a certain type of social change within society
(Thomas and et.al., 2019). These movement can resist, change or can even undo any kind of
change brought within society. It is a kind of group action that involves group of people,
individuals, organizations and sometimes both. In terms of its presence in social world it can be
said that, it is a kind of organizational structure or strategy which is used for opposing people in
order to bring effective changes, for resisting power and provide advantage to people living in
the society. It can also be said that it is a kind of movement that can help in bringing social
changes within a nation from bottom.
Social movements can directly help in understanding social world in an appropriate
manner. It is one of the most important part of a society as its one of the main agenda is to bring
changes within a society by changing defined or undefined laws of society. It is said to be a kind
of opportunity that can directly help in expressing their resistance or their different point of view
for certain laws of society and they intension of changing them. It further helps in understanding
that together with the help of social movements, one can posses’ power which is required by
them for achievement of goals and objectives.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a simple way of meeting one’s own needs without compromising one’s
own ability of generating and meeting one’s own needs and requirements. Other than natural
resources, one can also focus upon meeting needs and requirement of economic and social needs
(Ajmal and et.al., 2018). Sustainability is not always related to environment; it is also related to
2

maintenance of a certain level or rate for maintenance of balance within life and society. It is also
about maintenance of balance among business, people and society. It is said that sustainability is
one of the most important part of society.
It is said to be a proactive way of managing identity of people, employees, customers, and
local community. It further helps in explaining that in order to live peacefully I becomes
extremely important to maintenance a balance between social, professional and personal life.
This concept helps in integrating health, social life, social responsibility, practices, working
conditions social responsibility, justice, wellbeing, product responsibility, cultural balance etc. It
can directly help in understanding social world in an appropriate manner. Sustainability says that
in order to live within a society it is important to focus upon maintaining a sustainable
relationship with others, maintain a balance between personal and professional life. Not only
this, people and organizations should also understand importance of fulfilling their social
responsibility towards society, towards environment as well as towards people so that positive
relationship between society, environment, business and people is maintained.
SECTION- 2- ESSAY
‘Community and social cohesion are in decline in contemporary society’. Discuss
Introduction
Community cohesion can be defined as a kind of aspect of bonding and togetherness
which is mostly exhibited by members of community (Ramos-Vidal, Villamil and Uribe, 2019).
Whereas, social cohesion can be defined as a way of strengthening relationships and sense of
solidarity among all the members of community. Community and social cohesion are two most
important things that are required to be focused upon in order to keep community together and
can also help in promoting sense of belongingness, trust among family members. But slowly
community and social cohesion is declining in contemporary society. This essay will focus upon
discussion about “Community and social cohesion are in decline in contemporary society”.
Main Body
Community and social cohesion importance
Community and social cohesion among society is extremely important today within
contemporary society as it can directly help in providing support to government for developing a
strong and cohesive community. It directly helps in understanding society, communities in an
appropriate manner (Patel and Gleason, 2018). Community and social cohesion can further help
3

in engaging community members together and further help in developing effective and positive
relationship between them. Community and social cohesion is extremely important within this
contemporary society as it directly helps in preventing occurrence of any kind of inequality,
discrimination such as racism chances to occur within society because of which eventually
conflict within group members also get reduced. Effectively incorporating Community and social
cohesion within contemporary society can directly help in fulfilment of basic needs and
requirements of society as well as of community members. Community and social cohesion
works as a glue for contemporary society and helps in binding people together. So that mobility
of society can be enlaced, wellbeing of society can also be enhanced. Not only this, it can further
help in promoting wellbeing and health of people living in the society.
Reason because of which Community and social cohesion is declining in contemporary society
But in recent years it has been observe that Community and social cohesion within
contemporary society is declining slowly and continuously. Especially in deprived communities,
these Community and social cohesion is declining continuously. It has directly impacted lives of
people living in deprived communities in a negative manner. According to results of a study of
(Laurence, Schmid and Hewstone, 2019) it was identified that number of people who can trust
other people has reduced from 76 percent to 56 percent in last one year, people have isolated
themselves within their communities, less than 50 percent of people were familiar of their
surroundings. This clearly helps in understanding decline in Community and social cohesion in
contemporary society.
During Covid-19 pandemic decline of social cohesion was noticeable in all kinds of
measures. Such as talking and helping of neighbours declined during this pandemic situation,
probably due to importance of social distancing. This decline in social cohesion directly
impacted people living in society especially minority group people as they felt helpless and had
no one to interact with. As a result, community cohesion was also getting declined within society
(White, Menon and Waddington, 2018). As a result of this, togetherness, bonding of members of
community or of society was getting reduced. Sense of belongingness to the community or
society was also getting reduced. Sense of taking an initiative towards community betterment
was also getting reduced. This decline was majorly seen during and after Covid-19 pandemic.
Various studies have also explained that due to increasing crime rates and fraud causes have also
become on e of the main and most prominent reason because of which trust among people is
4

getting reduced people are taking less initiatives in terms of bonding with others or towards
community works. As a result, togetherness among people of contemporary was also getting
reduced. Due to these reasons trust, togetherness, belief etc. among people of community is
getting reduced and as a result decline in Community and social cohesion can be observed in
contemporary society. Some of the main reasons identified because of which these Community
and social cohesions were declining were: lack of safety and security of people, lack of social
activities that can successfully involve people, language and cultural barriers, increasing
inequality, racism within society (White, Menon and Waddington, 2018). Other than these
reasons there are many other reasons that are becoming primary reason of declining Community
and social cohesion in contemporary society.
Enhance Community and social cohesion in contemporary society
Due to this decline in Community and social cohesion within contemporary society it has
become extremely important to identify ways in which this cohesion can be enhanced. In order to
enhance this, Community and social cohesion within comprehensive society (White, Menon and
Waddington, 2018). Various multicultural societies and community groups are taking initiative
of for raising awareness and making people feel like they belong to the society, they have certain
roles to play and goals to be achieved for betterment of society in an appropriate and accurate
manner so that sense of humanity, togetherness, belongingness among people can be developed
and each and every person living in contemporary society can focus upon fulfilling their
responsibility towards society, trust other people and focus upon developing positive relationship
with others.
Conclusion
From the above essay it has been concluded that Community and social cohesion are two
most important things that are required to be focused upon in contemporary society but slowly
both Community and social cohesion are declining in today’s contemporary society. It is getting
reducing in all kinds of ways whether it is in terms of behaviour, thinking, attitude and in many
different ways. Today most of the people of society focus upon ensuing wellbeing of others but
by minimizing disparities as well as by reducing interaction with others. This is mostly because
of occurrence of changes within perception and behaviour of people because of which trust
issues are being created among people of society.
5

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ajmal, M.M., and et.al., 2018. Conceptualizing and incorporating social sustainability in the
business world. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World
Ecology, 25(4), pp.327-339.
Farghaly, A., 2018. Comparing and Contrasting Quantitative and Qualitative Research
Approaches in Education: The Peculiar Situation of Medical Education. Education in
Medicine Journal, 10(1).
Laurence, J., Schmid, K. and Hewstone, M., 2019. Ethnic diversity, ethnic threat, and social
cohesion:(re)-evaluating the role of perceived out-group threat and prejudice in the
relationship between community ethnic diversity and intra-community
cohesion. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 45(3), pp.395-418.
Marx, K., 2018. Alienation and social classes (pp. 127-131). Routledge.
Patel, R.B. and Gleason, K.M., 2018. The association between social cohesion and community
resilience in two urban slums of Port au Prince, Haiti. International Journal of Disaster
Risk Reduction, 27, pp.161-167.
Ramos-Vidal, I., Villamil, I. and Uribe, A., 2019. Underlying dimensions of social cohesion in a
rural community affected by wartime violence in Colombia. International journal of
environmental research and public health, 16(2), p.195.
Thomas, E.F., and et.al., 2019. When and how social movements mobilize action within and
across nations to promote solidarity with refugees. European Journal of Social
Psychology, 49(2), pp.213-229.
White, H., Menon, R. and Waddington, H., 2018. Community-driven development: Does it build
social cohesion or infrastructure? A mixed-method evidence synthesis.
6