Synopses & Reviews
Author Gregg Lee Carter has pioneered the use of hands-on computer data analysis by beginning sociology students. He is the recipient of an Outstanding Contributions to Instruction Award from the American Sociological Association, for developing innovative computer applications that enhance undergraduate sociology instruction. Doing Sociology brings sociology alive by enabling students to explore sociological issues using real data from the General Social Survey, census and vital statistics reports, and FBI crime summaries. Ideal for classes with an empirical orientation, Doing Sociology With Student CHIP shows students the link between their course work and the work of research sociologists.
The book covers the major topics in an introductory sociology or social problems course, and includes Student CHIP software and all required data sets on a cross-platform (MAC and Windows) CD-ROM. No statistics beyond simple percentages are used; the emphasis is on analysis, reasoning, and recognizing patterns, not high-level statistical analysis techniques.
Doing Sociology follows the same order of topics as Carter's Empirical Approaches to Sociology: Classic and Contemporary Readings, Fourth Edition (0-205-39484-1), making it an ideal companion text.
Synopsis
This workbook with easy-to-use statistical software gets students involved in the analysis of sociological data as early as their first-year courses.
The computer exercises in this workbook bring sociology alive by enabling students to explore sociological issues using real data. Ideal for classes with an empirical orientation, Doing Sociology With Student CHIP shows students the link between their course work and the work of research sociologists.
About the Author
Gregg Lee Carter is Professor of Sociology at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island, where he is the long-time Chair of theDepartment 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.
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 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.
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
BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTSAbout Student CHIP
A Primer on Critical Reading
A Primer on Elementary Data Analysis
Chapter 1. The Problem of Social Order
Chapter 2. Issues in Sociological Research
Chapter 3. Culture
Chapter 4. Society
Chapter 5. Socialization
Chapter 6. Groups
Chapter 7. Interaction
Chapter 8. Crime, Deviance, and Social Control
Chapter 9. Inequality
Chapter 10. Race and Ethnicity
Chapter 11. Gender
Chapter 12. Social Change and Social Conflict
COMPREHENSIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS
About Student CHIP
A Primer on Critical Reading
A Primer on Elementary Data Analysis
Measures of Central Tendency
Measures of Dispersion
Scatterplots and the Correlation Coefficient
Basic Tabular Analysis
Criteria for Establishing Causality in Nonexperimental Situations
The Art of Reading Partial Tables
Chapter 1. The Problem of Social Order
1. Social Order and Control via Close Social Ties: The Example of Suicide
2. Social Characteristics of Happy Individuals
3. Trust and the Social Order
Exploratory Exercises
Answers for Selected Chapter 1 Exercises
Chapter 2. Issues in Sociological Research
4. Attitudes vs. Actions: Do Religiosity and Church Attendance Go Hand-in-Hand
5. The Idea of Contextual Effects: The Social Context of Working Full-Time for Women
Exploratory Exercises
Chapter 3. Culture
6. The Problem of Ethnocentrism
Exploratory Exercises
Chapter 4. Society
7. The Occupational Structure of Post-Industrial Society
8. HIV/AIDS—A Crossnational Examination
Exploratory Exercises
Chapter 5. Socialization
9. Social Class and Parental Values
Exploratory Exercises
Chapter 6. Groups
10. Physical Health, the Quality of Primary-Group Ties, and Social Class
11. Psychological Health, the Quality of Primary-Group Ties, and Social Class
12. Family Life and Adolescent Academic Success
13. Who’s Most Likely To Be Divorced?
Exploratory Exercises
Chapter 7. Interaction
14. The Relationship of Internet Use to Social Background and Emotional Well-Being
Exploratory Exercises
Chapter 8. Crime, Deviance, and Social Control
15. Social Class and Deviance (A Test of Anomie Theory)
16. Social Integration and Deviance (A Test of Control Theory)
Exploratory Exercises
Chapter 9. Inequality
17. An Examination of the “Status Attainment” Model and the Predictors of
Individual Economic Success
18. Up and Down Opportunity’s Ladder—Generational Social Mobility
19. Social Class and Political Participation
20. The Wealth of Nations: Associations Among Economic Development, Political Structure,
Age Composition, and Life Expectancy
Exploratory Exercises
Chapter 10. Race and Ethnicity
21. Ethnic Tolerance: A Function of Social and Personal Control
22. Race, Ethnicity, and Poverty
23. Predicting Minority Success in School—Individual and Contextual Factors
24. Intergroup Contact and the Reduction of Prejudice
Exploratory Exercises
Chapter 11. Gender
25. The Malleability of Gender Roles (Are Men Better Suited for Politics?)
26. Sex Differences in Income
27. The Status of Women: Crossnational Comparisons
Exploratory Exercises
Chapter 12. Social Change and Social Conflict
28. The Strategy of Social Protest
29. The International Scene: Ethnic Diversity and Separatist Movements
Exploratory Exercises