Sociology: Contours of Society

by Lauer, Robert H.; Lauer, Jeanette C.

• ISBN13: 9780195329780
• ISBN10: 0195329783
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-01-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Robert and Jeanette Lauer's Sociology: Contours of Society offers comprehensive but concise coverage in an affordable paperback format that does not overwhelm students. This unique text speaks to students. Its student-oriented, conversational writing style and inviting design connects with students on their own level--and asks them to apply what they learn to their own lives. Many examples, vignettes, and inserts include student-written material, which draws students into the text. There is little use of sociological jargon. All concepts are highlighted and defined as they are introduced. Each of the major sociological approaches is presented, with a balance between theoretical and empirical material. Features: * A special emphasis on critical thinking. Chapter Two shows students how to apply critical thinking to both popular and professional sources of information. Every chapter features an example of thinking critically well as a critical thinking exercise. * The use of engaging social science research. This adds a unique degree of factual content to the text. Every chapter makes reference to the type of research reported (e.g., participant observation, survey, experiment, etc.). * The integration of theory and methods. Both theory and methods are introduced in Chapter One, and their uses in various research studies are integrated into every subsequent chapter. * The inclusion of feminist theory. Feminist interpretations are given for many of the social issues raised. * A focus on diversity. Each chapter contains cross-cultural material that compares males and females as well as people from various racial, ethnic, and class backgrounds. * A global perspective. Comparisons with the societies of other nations are included in every chapter, along with an "Extensions" box that focuses on a particular country or group of nations. * A balance of micro and macro approaches. * Collaborative learning projects. "Explorations" boxes draw students into the learning process. * A chapter on science and technology. This is a topic not found in many comparable textbooks. * A comprehensive Instructor's Resource Guide/Testing Program is available.

Table of Contents

Each chapter ends with a Glossary

Sociology as Understanding: Making Sense of Human Life

The Need to Understand

A Basis for Emotional Security

A Guide to Interpersonal Relationships

A Guide to Organizational Behavior

A Basis for Policy Decisions

Thinking Sociologically

You Are a Social Creature

Social Factors Affect All That You Think, Feel, and DoThe Sociological Imagination

How the Sociological Imagination Developed: Sociological Theories

Why Is Theory Important?

Major Theories of Sociology

A Summary and Critique

Social Research

Survey Research

Participant Observation

Experiments

Official Records and Other Existing Data

Critical Thinking: How to Evaluate Information

The Process of Critical Thinking

Facts Must Be Interpreted: A Model of Critical Thinking: Understanding the Information

Read or Listen Carefully to the Information Source

Reconstruct the Information

Evaluating Information in the Professional Media

Social Science: Fallible People Using More-or-Less Precise Methods

Questions to Ask When Evaluating Professional Sources

Questions to Ask When Evaluating Popular Sources

Culture: How Social Life Varies

What Culture Is

Material and Nonmaterial Culture: Characteristics of Culture: The Elements of Culture

Language: Knowledge and Beliefs: Values: Social Control: Technology: Art and Recreation: Cultural Diversity

Intercultural Diversity: Intracultural Diversity: Cultural Change

Innovation: Diffusion: Change and Integration:

Socialization: How You Become What You Are

Nature or Nurture?

Heredity: The Basic Materials: Socialization: Shaping the Materials: Childhood Socialization Process: Adult Socialization: Agents of Socialization

Family: Peers: School: The Mass Media: Social Class: Experiences: Becoming Who You Are

How You Think About Yourself: Your Emotions: Your Achievements: A Note on Human Freedom

Becoming Male and Female

Becoming a Moral Creature

Becoming a Group Member

Social Interaction: Why Do You Relate to Others as You Do?

Functions of Interaction

Foundations of Interaction

Status: Role: The Self: The Process of Interaction: Your Life as Drama

Performances: Impression Management: When the Performance Fails: Patterns of Interaction: Cooperation

Exchange

Negotiation

Conflict

Social Structure: How Human Life Is Patterned

The Structuring of Human Life: From Macro to Micro

Structure vs. Chaos

Structure and Process

Social Structure as Multilevel

The Micro Level: Social Groups

Why Do People Join Groups?: Primary and Secondary Groups: Reference Groups: Ingroups and Outgroups: Small Group Behavior: Formal Organizations

The Nature of Formal Organizations: Models of Work Organizations: Processes in Formal Organizations: Voluntary Associations

Bureaucracy

What Is a Bureaucracy?

Is Bureaucracy a Four-Letter Word?

Deviance: Understanding Those Who Are Different

What Is Deviance?

How Much Deviance Is There? And Why Does it Matter?

Crime: Drugs: Mental Illness

Becoming Deviant: Why?

Deviance as Built In: Deviance as Conformity: Deviance as a Labeling Process: Deviance as a Power Struggle: Deviance as Opportunity: Evaluation

Controlling Deviance: Control as a Social Bond: Control as Political: Control as Medical:

Social Stratification: How Inequality Shapes Human Life

Social Stratification: Everyone Lives in a System of Inequality

Caste Systems: Estate Systems: Class Systems: Is Inequality Necessary?

The American Class System

How Social Class Is Measured: The Consequences of Social Class Position: A Brief Portrait of American Classes: Poverty in America: Is it Inevitable?

America's Poor: Who Are the Poor?: The War on Poverty: Social Mobility: Moving up or Down

How Mobile Are Americans?: What Accounts for Social Mobility?: Global Stratification

Racial and Ethnic Groups: Understanding Differences

Race and Ethnicity: Myth or Reality?

Minorities

Racial and Ethnic Groups in the United States

African Americans: Hispanic Americans: Asian Americans: White Ethnics: Jewish Americans: American Indians: Prejudice and Discrimination: Racism in Action

Prejudice: Discrimination: Institutional D

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