Empirical Approaches to Sociology A Collection of Classic and Contemporary Readings

by Carter, Gregg Lee

• ISBN13: 9780205628094
• ISBN10: 0205628095
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2019-07-09
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Empirical Approaches to Sociologyis 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.

Author Biography

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

Preface

About the Editor

A Primer on Critical Reading

A Primer on Reading and Thinking Critically About Social Problems

The Problem Of Social Order

Social Order And Control Via Close Social Ties: The Example Of Suicide

Social Order And Control Via Force: The Example Of The Expropriation Of The English Agricultural Population From The Land

Contemporary

Replicating Suicide in America: Durkheim's 1897 Theory

Diversity Fosts Social Isolation

Issues in Sociological Research

Attitude Vs. Actions: The Pitfalls Of Quantitative "Survey" Research

The Mental Hospital from the Patient's Point Of View: The Pitfalls of Participant-Observation Research

Contemporary

The Idea of Contextual Effects

Cultural Explanations of Human Behavior

Ethnocentrism

India's Sacred Cow

Contemporary

Reducing Ethnocentrism through Intergroup Contact: Summarizing Results From a Meta-analystic Review

Society

The Small-World Problem: The Myth of Mass Society

The Small World Problem Revisited

HIV/AIDS as a Societal Problem: The Fourth Decade

The Restructuring of the Health Care System and Its Broad Implications for the United States

Socialization

Social Class and Parental Values Emphasized in Childrearing

Contemporary

Social Class and Childrearing

Groups

Opinions and Group Pressure

Social Support as a Moderator Of Life Stress

Contemporary

Social Groups and Psychological Distress

Single-Parent Families, Blended Families, and the Academic Achievement of Adolescents

Interaction

Obedience to Authority

Interaction: The Work Women Do

Contemporary

The Milgram Paradign after 35 Years: Some Things We Now Know About Obedience to Authority

The Strength of Internet Ties

Sex, Power, and Communication

Crime, Deviance, and Social Control

Control Theory and Juvenile Delinquency

On Being Sane In Insane Places

Contemporary

Trajectories of Change in Criminal Offending: Good Marriages and the Resistance Process

Understanding Why Crime Rates Fall: The Example of the 1990s

Inequality

Up and Down Opportunity's Ladder

Contemporary

Social Class and Voting in the United States: A Historical and Cross-national Analysis

Race and Ethnicity

Black Ghettoization and Social Mobility

Contemporary

When Whites Flock Together: The Social Psychology of White Habitus

Do Single Sex Schools Improve the Education of Low-Income and Minority Students?

Gender

Gender Roles and Identification: A Product of Socialization and Genetics

Contemporary

Socialization and the Production of Gender Inequality: The Influences of Family, School, Peers, and the Media

Social Change and Social Conflict

The Success of the Unruly

Experiments in Group Conflict

Contemporary

A Cross-Cultural Theory of Political Conflict and Violence

The Social Logic of Suicide Terrorism: Occupational and Religious Roots

The Sometimes Benign, but Sometimes Negative Impacts of Immigrant Workers on Native Born Workers

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.