Synopses & Reviews
Empirical Approaches to Sociology addresses significant sociological issues and demonstrates the interplay between sociological insight and empirical observations through a collection of readings. Using primary sources, the book gives readers a chance to see how research findings are interpreted and incorporated into sociological theory. The readings are rich in data, but not so technical that they require advanced math skills. These forty essays provide a broad overview of the field and represent a range of theoretical perspectives.
Review
“The text provides an excellent overview of the empirical, research-oriented aspects of sociology. Students should find it appealing and rewarding.”
Dennis Willigan, University of Utah
“Empirical Approaches to Sociology actually does what many texts claim to do—provide an alternative that truly differs from the others. Overall I would rate this reader as a ten.”
Debra Miller, Kent State University
“Gregg Carter’s introduction provides an excellent step-by-step approach for evaluating empirical arguments, probably one of the best explanations I have seen on this topic ... This approach allows students the opportunity to think analytically and to make their arguments using empirical data. This is not done in most readers.”
Sharlene Hesse-Biber, Boston College
“Let me simply say that this is one of the most thoughtful, inspired, and well-organized anthologies in introductory sociology on the market. Carter does an excellent job illuminating sociological themes (social order, inequality, gender) with classic theoretical statements, and he demonstrates that they continue to have contemporary relevance, either by grounding them empirically with supportive data or challenging them with contradictory findings.”
Blind Reviewer #1
“This book provides a great set of individual readings, covers key topics, and offers insightful and well-written introductions to each topical unit. [Indeed,] the author’s introductions, along with the “primer” on critical reading, are simply superb. Carter is obviously a gifted teacher and writer."
Blind Reviewer #2
“I like the organization entirely . . .the book focuses nicely on the basics that are part of everyone’s introductory course.”
Cornelius Riordan, Providence College
Synopsis
Empirical Approaches to Sociology is the only introductory level reader to offer a selection of major articles that are rich in research data, yet may be easily understood without advanced math skills. Using primary sources, the book gives readers a chance to see how research findings are interpreted and incorporated into sociological theory.
About the Author
Greg Lee Carter is a Professor of Sociology at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island, where he is the long-time Chair of the Department of History & Social Sciences. He earned his B.A. in history and psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees in sociology at Columbia University.
His writings on contemporary social issues have also appeared in more than a dozen academic journals; among them are the Forum for Applied Research & Public Policy, the Journal of Conflict Resolution, Research in Urban Economics, Sociological Focus, Sociological Forum, Sociology Inquiry, Sociological Perspectives, Sociological Viewpoints, and The Sociological Quarterly.
He is the recipient of the Bryant University "Distinguished Research & Publication Award" and "Excellence in Teaching Award"; the New England Sociological Association's "Sociologist of the Year Award"; and the American Sociological Association's "Outstanding Contributions to Instruction Award" (Sociology and Computers Section). He is former President of the New England Sociological Association and has been an associate editor of Teaching Sociology.
He has authored or edited 21 books, including: Analyzing Contemporary Social Issues (Allyn & Bacon, 1996, 2001), Empirical Approaches to Sociology (Macmillan, 1994; Allyn & Bacon, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2009), Doing Sociology with Student Chip: Data Happy! (Allyn & Bacon, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2009), Gun Control in the United States: A Reference Handbook (ABC-CLIO, 2006), Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law (ABC-CLIO, 2002), How to Manage Conflict in the Organization (American Management Association, 1994; Revised Edition, 2005), Learning Research Methods with SPSS (Harcourt Brace, 2001), Perspectives on Current Social Problems (Allyn & Bacon, 1997), The Gun Control Movement (Twayne Publishers, 1997), and Working Women in America: Split Dreams (with Sharlene Hesse-Biber [Oxford University Press, 2000, 2005]).
His long-time passion is scuba diving. He especially likes the travel, photography, spearfishing, and adventure that are associated with this sport. He has his Master Scuba Diver certification and averages about 60 dives per year.
Table of Contents
* Denotes new readings
Preface
About the Editor
A Primer on Critical Reading, by Gregg Lee Carter
A Primer on Reading and Thinking Critically About Social Problems, by Louis E. Anderson
Part 1 The Problem Of Social Order
Classic
1. Social Order And Control Via Close Social Ties: The Example Of Suicide, by Émile Durkheim
2. Social Order And Control Via Force: The Example Of The Expropriation Of The English Agricultural Population From The Land, by Karl Marx
Contemporary
*3. Replicating Suicide in America: Durkheim’s 1897 Theory, by K. D. Breault, Lynn Hampton, and Dustin Brown
*4. Diversity Fosts Social Isolation, by Robert D. Putnam
Part 2 Issues in Sociological Research
Classic
5. Attitude Vs. Actions: The Pitfalls Of Quantitative “Survey” Research, by Richard T. LaPiere
6. The Mental Hospital from the Patient’s Point Of View: The Pitfalls of Participant-Observation Research, by Raymond M. Weinstein
Contemporary
7. The Idea of Contextual Effects, by Gregg Lee Carter
Part 3 Cultural Explanations of Human Behavior
Classic
8. Ethnocentrism, by William Graham Sumner
9. India’s Sacred Cow, by Marvin Harris
Contemporary
*10. Reducing Ethnocentrism through Intergroup Contact: Summarizing Results From a Meta-analystic Review, by Linda R. Tropp and Thomas F. Pettigrew
Part 4 Society
Classic
11. The Small-World Problem: The Myth of Mass Society, by Stanley Milgram
Contemporary
*12. The Small World Problem Revisited, by Judith S. Kleinfeld
*13. HIV/AIDS as a Societal Problem: The Fourth Decade, by Joseph J. Lengermann and Roberta B. Hollander
*14. The Restructuring of the Health Care System and Its Broad Implications for the United States, by Sam Mirmirani
Part 5 Socialization
Classic
15. Social Class and Parental Values Emphasized in Childrearing, by Melvin L. Kohn
Contemporary
*16. Social Class and Childrearing, by Annette Lareau
Part 6 Groups
Classic
17. Opinions and Group Pressure, by Solomon E. Asch
18. Social Support as a Moderator Of Life Stress, by Sidney Cobb
Contemporary
*19. Social Groups and Psychological Distress, by John Mirowsky and Catherine E. Ross
20. Single-Parent Families, Blended Families, and the Academic Achievement of Adolescents, by Michael J. Fraleigh
Part 7 Interaction
Classic
21. Obedience to Authority, by Stanley Milgram
22. Interaction: The Work Women Do, by Pamela M. Fishman
Contemporary
*23. The Milgram Paradign after 35 Years: Some Things We Now Know About Obedience to Authority, by Thomas Blass
*24. The Strength of Internet Ties, by Jeffrey Boase, John B. Horrigan, Barry Wellman, and Lee Rainie
*25. Sex, Power, and Communication, by Pamela J. Kalbfleisch and Anita L. Herold
Part 8 Crime, Deviance, and Social Control
Classic
26. Control Theory and Juvenile Delinquency, by Travis Hirschi
27. On Being Sane In Insane Places, by D. L. Rosenhan
Contemporary
28. Trajectories of Change in Criminal Offending: Good Marriages and the Resistance Process, by John H. Laub, Daniel S. Nagin, and Robert J. Sampson
*29. Understanding Why Crime Rates Fall: The Example of the 1990s, by Steven D. Levitt
Part 9 Inequality
Classic
30. Up and Down Opportunity’s Ladder, by James Davis
Contemporary
31. Social Class and Voting in the United States: A Historical and Cross-national Analysis, by Leonard Beeghley
Part 10 Race and Ethnicity
Classic
32. Black Ghettoization and Social Mobility, by Norman Fainstein
Contemporary
*33. When Whites Flock Together: The Social Psychology of White Habitus, by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Carla Goar, and David G. Embrick
*34. Do Single Sex Schools Improve the Education of Low-Income and Minority Students?, by Lea Hubbard and Amanda Datnow
Part 11 Gender
Classic
35. Gender Roles and Identification: A Product of Socialization and Genetics, by John Money and Anke A. Ehrhardt
Contemporary
*36. Socialization and the Production of Gender Inequality: The Influences of Family, School, Peers, and the Media, by Gregg Lee Carter and Sharlene Hesse-Biber
Part 12 Social Change and Social Conflict
Classic
37. The Success of the Unruly, by William A. Gamson
*38. Experiments in Group Conflict, by Muzafer Sherif
Contemporary
39. A Cross-Cultural Theory of Political Conflict and Violence, by Marc Howard Ross
*40. The Social Logic of Suicide Terrorism: Occupational and Religious Roots, by Robert A. Pape
*41. The Sometimes Benign, but Sometimes Negative Impacts of Immigrant Workers on Native Born Workers, by Ishwar Khatiwada, Andrew Sum, and Tim Barnicle
INDEX