Our Social World
Introduction to Sociology
- Jeanne H. Ballantine - Wright State University, USA
- Keith A. Roberts - Hanover College
- Kathleen Odell Korgen - William Paterson University
Introductory Sociology
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Our Social World: Introduction to Sociology inspires students to develop their sociological imaginations, to see the world and personal events from a new perspective, and to confront sociological issues on a day-to-day basis. Organized around the "Social World" model, a conceptual framework that demonstrates the relationships among individuals (the micro level); organizations, institutions, and subcultures (the
The Seventh Edition includes new coverage of climate change, the influence of robots and artificial intelligence on workers, race relations in the Trump era, transgender identity and gender fluidity, sexual harassment in the workplace and the #MeToo movement, declining marriage rates, the impact of tracking for students at all academic achievement levels, smoking as an example of health and inequality in the U.S., gun violence and the student movement to control access to guns, social media, and Russian interference in the 2016 election.
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| What Is Sociology? |
| Why Does Sociology Matter? |
| The Social World Model |
| Development of Sociology |
| Sociology’s Major Theoretical Perspectives |
| Ideas Underlying Science |
| How Sociologists Study the Social World |
| Society: The Hardware |
| Culture: The Software |
| Society, Culture, and Our Social World |
| Theories of Culture |
| Fit Between Hardware and Software |
| Nature Versus Nurture—or Both Working Together? |
| Importance of Socialization |
| Socialization and the Social World |
| Development of the Self: Micro-Level Analysis |
| Agents of Socialization: The Micro-Meso Connection |
| Socialization and Macro-Level Issues |
| Policy and Practice |
| Networks and Connections in Our Social World |
| The Process of Interaction: Connections at the Micro Level |
| Groups in Our Social World: The Micro-Meso Connection |
| Organizations and Bureaucracies: The Meso-Macro Connection |
| National and Global Networks: The Macro Level |
| What Is Deviance? |
| What Causes Deviant Behavior? Theoretical Perspectives |
| Crime and Individuals: Micro-Level Analysis |
| Crime and Organizations: Meso-Level Analysis |
| National and Global Crime: Macro-Level Analysis |
| Controlling Crime: Social Policy Considerations |
| Importance of Social Stratification |
| Theoretical Explanations of Stratification |
| Individuals’ Social Status: The Micro Level |
| Social Mobility: The Micro-Meso Connection |
| Major Stratification Systems: Macro-Level Analysis |
| Poverty and Social Policy |
| Bridging the National and Global Digital Divide: Macro-Level Stratification |
| What Characterizes Racial and Ethnic Groups? |
| Prejudice: Micro-Level Analysis |
| Discrimination: Meso-Level Analysis |
| Dominant and Minority Group Contact: Macro-Level Analysis |
| Policies Governing Minority and Dominant Group Relations |
| Sex, Gender, and the Stratification System |
| Gender Socialization: Micro- and Meso-Level Analyses |
| Gender Stratification: Meso- and Macro-Level Processes |
| Gender Stratification: Micro- to Macro-Level Theories |
| Costs and Consequences of Gender Stratification |
| Changing Gender Stratification and Social Policy |
| Importance of Institutions |
| Development of Modern Institutions |
| Connections Among Institutions |
| What Is a Family? |
| Theoretical Perspectives on Family |
| Family Dynamics: Micro-Level Processes |
| Family as an Institution: Meso-Level Analysis |
| National and Global Family Issues: Macro-Level Analysis |
| Marriage, Divorce, and Public Sociology |
| State of the World’s Education: An Overview |
| The Ins and Outs of Local Schools: Micro-Level Interactions in Educational Organizations |
| After the School Bell Rings: Meso-Level Analysis of Educational Organizations |
| Education, Society, and the Road to Opportunity: The Macro Level |
| Education and Public Policy |
| What Does Religion Do for Us? |
| Becoming Part of a Faith Community: Micro-Level Analysis |
| Religion and Modern Life: Meso-Level Analysis |
| Religion in Society: Macro-Level Analysis |
| Religion in the Modern World |
| Social Policy: Same-Sex Marriage, Gay or Lesbian Clergy, and Transgender People |
| What Is Power? |
| Power and Privilege in Our Social World |
| Theoretical Perspectives on Power and Privilege |
| Individuals, Power, and Participation: Micro-Level Analysis |
| Power and Resource Distribution: Meso-Level Analysis |
| National and Global Systems: Macro-Level Analysis |
| Why Is Health a Social Issue? |
| Theoretical Perspectives on Health and Illness |
| Status and Roles of the Sick Person: Micro-Level Analysis |
| Modern Health Care Systems: Meso-Level Analysis |
| Health Care Issues at the National and Global Level: Macro-Level Analysis |
| Macro-Level Patterns in World Population Growth |
| Meso-Level Institutional Influences on Population Change |
| Micro-Level Population Patterns |
| Urbanization: Movement From Rural to Urban Areas |
| Cities as Micro-Level Living Environments |
| How Did Cities Evolve? Meso-Level Organizational Structures |
| The Urban Environment and Social Policy: Macro-Level Perspectives |
| Complexity of Change in Our Social World |
| Social Change: Process and Theories |
| Collective Behavior: Micro- to Meso-Level Change |
| Planned Change in Organizations: Meso-Level Change |
| Social Movements: Macro-Level Change |
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“A very well organized text that is appropriate for a range of students. The use of the Social World Model is unique and introduces the students to the various levels of analysis. These are ideas and concepts that they can take into other classes and use in their own lives as well. The deconstruction of the high level concepts and the way in which they are matched with real world events is wonderful and does not seem dated even though events change rapidly.”
“This book introduces sociology to students in an exciting, relevant way that makes it come alive for them. [It] helps them to relate the field of sociology to their lives in an understandable manner.”
“An excellent resource for anyone teaching an Introduction to Sociology course.”
“This text resonates with students who are new or returning students and those who are continuing their education.”
