Sociology was thought of as a synthesizing filed that attempted to integrate the findings acquired from other social sciences. Although such concepts concerning the scope and task of sociology are still prevalent, they now tend to be regarded as the province of sociological theory, which is only a part of the entire discipline. Sociological theory also includes the discussion and analysis of basic concepts that are common to all the different spheres of social life studied by sociologists. An emphasis on empirical investigations carried out by standardized and often statistical research methods directed the attention of sociologists away from the abstract visions of 19th century scholars towards more focused and concrete areas of social reality. These areas became the sub fields and specialities of sociology that are today the subjects of college courses, textbooks, and specialized journals. Much of the scholarly and scientific work of sociologists fall clearly within one of the many sub fields into which the discipline is divided. In addition to basic concepts, research techniques are shared by most sub fields; thus, sociological theory and research methods are both usually are both required subjects for all who study sociology.
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