Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/869

 A PROGRAMME FOR SOCIAL STUDY 853

student of society, therefore, a method of study is as necessary as an outline of what he wishes to say is needful to a writer of a composition. And not only to the scientific student of society is a method of social study necessary but also to every citizen in the land. For in these days when the spirit of humanity is mov- ing everywhere, and the desire to be of social service is felt by persons in almost every walk of life, almost everyone is called upon at some time or other to perform some social service. It may be nothing more than to engage in charitable work, but even this kind of work should be preceded by a knowledge as exact as possible of the conditions of those who are to be served. If a family, for instance, is to be relieved, more harm than good may be done if no attempt is made to learn the causes of its dependence, and to find out the elements which exist in it or its environment which may be utilized to lift it to a higher plane of living. If indiscriminate charity is not, as some maintain, the greatest curse of our time, it has been at least a prolific source of evil. One of the first lessons which well-disposed persons must learn, is that to do good to other people requires an expenditure of thought as well as an outlay of money. " He gives nothing but worthless gold," says Lowell, "who gives from a sense of duty," and again,

" Not what we give, but what we share, For the gift without the giver is bare."

So slight a social service, then, as the assistance of a family, to say nothing of the reform of a community, requires social knowledge. To acquire that knowledge accurately and with economy of time, a method of study is necessary.

The first step in the study of society or of any social group is to conceive it as a unit. This is not difficult if the object of study is a family, for in a family the relation of parents and chil- dren, brothers and sisters, etc., are so intimate that even to the superficial student its unity is apparent. This is not the case, however, with 'a larger social group. It may require some effort of observation and thought to discover the essential unity of a neighborhood, village, town or city, or of a society. Neverthe-