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What was Descriptive Sociology designed to study?

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Portrait of British philosopher Herbert Spencer, shown with a receding hairline, long sideburns, and formal attire. — Herbert Spencer Herbert Spencer.

Descriptive Sociology was designed to provide information regarding the social institutions of various societies, encompassing both "primitive" and "civilized" cultures. Herbert Spencer initiated this series in 1873 to serve as a foundational resource to prepare the ground for his broader work, The Principles of Sociology.1