Final answer:
Sociology is the social science dedicated to studying social institutions and their roles within society. It uses various methods, including Institutional ethnography, to explore the dynamics of institutions such as family, economy, education, politics, religion, and media, often focusing on the experiences of marginalized groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sociology is the social science that concentrates on the comprehensive study of social institutions and their impact on society. Notably, sociology explores key institutions like family, economy, education, politics, religion, and media. These institutions are integral in the examination of social organization, dynamics, and changes over time.
One distinctive aspect of sociology is its ability to focus on a single institution, employing methodologies like Institutional ethnography, which was developed by sociologist Dorothy E. Smith. Institutional ethnography delves deeply into the everyday concrete social relationships and examines experiences within institutional structures, often highlighting the experiences of women and other marginalized groups within male-dominated power structures.
Sociologists analyze the relationship between institutions like marriage and family, understanding how they produce social roles and status that are recognized by society. They also bring a particular perspective to the study of governmental power, distinct from political scientists, by examining how government power influences society, how social conflicts arise from power distribution, and how power dynamics are reflected in policies that impact people differently based on societal factors such as status, class, and socioeconomic standing.