Synopses & Reviews
Like its predecessors, the sixth edition of this concise text reflects Rick Schaefer's mission to bring readers a comprehensive, up-to-date presentation that teaches them how to think critically about society and their own lives from a wide range of classical and contemporary perspectives. Combining balanced coverage of theory with current research findings, distinctive social policy sections, examples and issues of interest to students, and abundant learning aids and exercises, this text will help students develop a sociological imagination. A complimentary copy of
Contexts: Understanding People in Their Social Worlds, the American Sociological Associations groundbreaking magazine, is packaged with every new copy of the sixth edition.
"In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, sociology has been called on to explain the social consequences of the attacks.... The introductory sociology class provides the ideal laboratory in which to study our own society and those of our global neighbors. Sociology can help students to better understand the workings of their own lives as well as of their society and other cultures."-- Richard T. Schaefer
About the Author
Growing up in Chicago at a time when neighborhoods were going through transitions in ethnic and racial composition, Richard T. Schaefer found himself increasingly intrigued by what was happening, how people were reacting, and how these changes were affecting neighborhoods and peoples jobs. His interest in social issues caused him to gravitate to sociology courses at Northwestern University, where he received a B.A. in Sociology. "Originally as an undergraduate I thought I would go on to law school and become a lawyer. But after taking a few sociology courses, I found myself wanting to learn more about what sociologists studied and fascinated by the kinds of questions they raised." This fascination led him to obtain his M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Chicago. Dr. Schaefers continuing interest in race relations led him to write his masters thesis on the membership of the Ku Klux Klan and his doctoral thesis on racial prejudice and race relations in Great Britain.Dr. Schaefer went on to become a professor of sociology. He has taught introductory sociology for 30 years to students in colleges, adult education programs, nursing programs, and even a maximum-security prison. Dr. Schaefers love of teaching is apparent in his interaction with his students. "I find myself constantly learning from the students who are in my classes and from reading what they write. Their insights into the material we read or current events that we discuss often become part of future course material and sometimes even find their way into my writing."Dr. Schaefer is author of the third edition of Sociology: A Brief Introduction (McGraw-Hill, 2000). Dr. Schaefer is also the author of Racial and Ethnic Groups now in its eighth edition, and Race and Ethnicity in the United States, second edition. His articles and book reviews have appeared in many journals, including American Journal of Sociology, Phylon: A Review of Race and Culture, Contemporary Sociology, Sociology and Social Research, Sociological Quarterly, and Teaching Sociology. He served as president of the Midwest Sociological Society in 1994-1995.Dr. Schaefers advice to students is to "look at the material and make connections to your own life and experiences. Sociology will make you a more attentive observer of how people in groups interact and function. It will also make you more aware of peoples different needs and interests and perhaps more ready to work for the common good, while still recognizing the individuality of each person."
Table of Contents
List of Chapter Opening Excerpts List of Boxed Features and Photo Essays List of Social Policy Sections List of Maps and “Summing Up” Tables PrefaceSixth Edition Walk-through
1 UNDERSTANDING SOCIOLOGY WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY? The Sociological Imagination Sociology and the Social Sciences Sociology and Common Sense WHAT IS SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY? THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOLOGY Early Thinkers Émile Durkheim Max Weber Karl Marx Modern Developments MAJOR THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES Functionalist Perspective Conflict Perspective Interactionist Perspective The Sociological Approach Research in Action: Looking at Sports from Three Theoretical Perspectives DEVELOPING A SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION Theory in Practice Research in Action The Significance of Social Inequality Speaking across Race, Gender, and National BoundariesSociology in the Global Community: Women in Public Places Worldwide Social Policy throughout the World
2 SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD? Defining the Problem Reviewing the Literature Formulating the Hypothesis Collecting and Analyzing the Data Developing the Conclusion In Summary: The Scientific Method MAJOR RESEARCH DESIGNS Surveys Research in Action: Polling in Baghdad Observation Experiments Use of Existing Sources Sociology on Campus: Does Hard Work Lead to Better Grades?ETHICS OF RESEARCH Confidentiality Research Funding vValue Neutrality TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH vTaking Sociology to Work: Dave Eberbach, Research Coordinator, United Way of Central Iowa SOCIAL POLICY AND SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: Studying Human Sexuality
3 CULTURE CULTURE AND SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURE AROUND THE WORLD Cultural Universals Innovation Globalization, Diffusion, and Technology Sociology in the Global Community: Life in the Global Village Sociobiology ELEMENTS OF CULTURE Language Norms Sanctions Values Sociology on Campus: A Culture of Cheating? CULTURE AND THE DOMINANT IDEOLOGY CULTURAL VARIATION Aspects of Cultural Variation Attitudes toward Cultural Variation SOCIAL POLICY AND CULTURE: Bilingualism
4 SOCIALIZATION THE ROLE OF SOCIALIZATION Social Environment: The Impact of Isolation The Influence of Heredity THE SELF AND SOCIALIZATION Sociological Approaches to the Self Psychological Approaches to the Self Sociology on Campus: Impression Management by StudentsSOCIALIZATION AND THE LIFE COURSE The Life Course Anticipatory Socialization and Resocialization AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION Family Sociology in the Global Community: Raising Amish Children School Peer Group Mass Media and Technology Workplace The State SOCIAL POLICY AND SOCIALIZATION: Child Care around the World
5 SOCIAL INTERACTION AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE SOCIAL INTERACTION AND REALITY Defining and Reconstructing Reality Negotiated Order ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL STRUCTURE Statuses Social Inequality: Disability as a Master Status Social Roles Groups Social Networks and Technology Research in Action: Social Networks among Low-Income Women Social Institutions SOCIAL STRUCTURE IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE Durkheims Mechanical and Organic Solidarity Tönniess Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft Lenskis Sociocultural Evolution Approach SOCIAL POLICY AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE: The AIDS Crisis
6 GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS UNDERSTANDING GROUPS Types of Groups Research in Action: Pizza Delivery Employees as a Secondary Group Studying Small Groups UNDERSTANDING ORGANIZATIONS Formal Organizations and Bureaucracies Characteristics of a Bureaucracy Bureaucracy and Organizational Culture Sociology in the Global Community: Amway, the Chinese Way Voluntary Associations THE CHANGING WORKPLACE Case Study: Bureaucracy and the Space Shuttle ColumbiaOrganizational Restructuring Telecommuting Electronic Communication SOCIAL POLICY AND ORGANIZATIONS: The State of the Unions
7 THE MASS MEDIA SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE MEDIA Functionalist View Conflict View Social Inequality: The Color of Network TV Feminist View Interactionist View THE AUDIENCE Who Is in the Audience? The Segmented Audience Audience Behavior THE MEDIA INDUSTRY Media Concentration The Medias Global Reach Sociology in the Global Community: Al Jazeera Is on the Air SOCIAL POLICY AND THE MASS