Family is a term that is difficult to define. when studying sociology it is important to remember that:
a. sociologists only consider people who live in the same household to be a family.
b. sociologists try to keep the definition open to encompass all types of people who are emotionally close to each other.
c. sociologists only consider traditional marriage as a requirement to be a family.
d. sociologists try to keep the definition open so that people who walk by each other on the street are a family.

b. Sociologists try to keep the definition open to encompass all types of people who are emotionally close to each other.            

Explanation :

            In the field of sociology, the sociologists tries to define family as a group of people who come close to each other and they find comfort in their presence.  These people are called as a family who are emotionally attached to one another.

           Family tends to spend time with each other. They understand and cooperate with each other at times of need. They are socially bonded to one another.

Members of the family are emotionally close to each other.

Thus the anwser is --

b. Sociologists try to keep the definition open to encompass all types of people who are emotionally close to each other.        

answer; deviation iq; //(a)

answer; observing;