Final answer:
Rural sociology is the study of smaller, nonindustrial societies and focuses on social, economic, and environmental issues in rural areas, differing from urban sociology, which studies urban centers.
Step-by-step explanation:
While sociologists focus on modern, industrial societies, the study of smaller, nonindustrial societies is known as rural sociology. This branch of sociology is concerned with the analysis of social, economic, and environmental issues in rural areas, as opposed to urban sociology, which deals with urban centers.
The study of urbanization includes looking at urban economics, urban politics, and urban environments comprehensively. Sociologists utilize different theoretical perspectives and levels of analysis, from micro-sociological studies of small group interactions to macro-sociological analysis of large-scale social patterns and institutions.