THINK Currency. THINK Relevancy. THINK Sociology.
With an engaging visual design, 15 page chapters, and readings from popular trade titles, THINK Sociology is the introductory Sociology text your students will read.
THINK Sociology is informed with the latest research and the most contemporary examples, allowing you to bring current events directly into your classroom with little additional work.
An engaging visual design developed with the benefit of extensive student feedback will appeal to your students and deliver the core concepts of Sociology in a way that they can actually understand.
The groundbreaking instructor supplements package will help you bring the core concepts of Sociology to life, without burdening your students with heavy, too dense and too expensive learning solutions.
Thinkspot, the text’s open access website, provides students with a large resource of tools to help them achieve a better grade.
What is the Pearson Census Update Program?
The Census Update edition incorporates 2010 Census data into a course—simply and easily. The components of the Census Update Program are as follows:
- Census Update Edition - Features fully updated data throughout the text—including all charts and graphs—to reflect the results of the 2010 Census. This edition also includes a reproduction of the 2010 Census Questionnaire for your students to explore in detail.
- 2010 Census Update Primer - A brief seven-chapter overview of the Census, including important information about the Constitutional mandate, research methods, who is affected by the Census, and how data is used. Additionally, the primer explores key contemporary topics such as race and ethnicity, the family, and poverty. The primer can be packaged with any Pearson text at no additional cost, and is available via MySocLab, MySocKit, and MySearchLab. The primer can also be purchased standalone.
- 2010 Census Update Primer Instructor’s Manual with Test Bank - Includes explanations of what has been updated, in-class activities, homework activities associated with the MyLabs and MyKits, discussion questions for the primer, and test questions related to the primer.
- MySearchLab - Gives students the opportunity to explore the methods and data and apply the results in a dynamic interactive online environment. It includes:
- primary source readings relevant to the Census
- an online version of the 2010 Census Update Primer
Table of Contents:
IN THIS SECTION:
1. BRIEF
2. COMPREHENSIVE
BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Chapter 1. Sociology: An Introduction to the Foundations of Sociology
Chapter 2. Sociological Research: How Do We Learn about Society?
Chapter 3. Culture: A Framework for the Individual
Chapter 4. Social Structure and Interaction: Micro and Macro Orientations
Chapter 5. Socialization: The Process of Fitting into Society
Chapter 6. Groups and Societies: Understanding our Environment
Chapter 7. Social Class in the United States: Stratification in a Modern Society
Chapter 8. Global Stratification: Wealth and Poverty in the World
Chapter 9. Population and Environmental Impact: How Do Societies Deal with Growing Numbers?
Chapter 10. Race and Ethnic Stratification: Is it a Question of Color?
Chapter 11. Gender Stratification: The Social Side of Sex
Chapter 12. Aging and Health: The Graying of Society
Chapter 13. Crime and the Legal System: How Do Societies Respond to Crime and Deviance?
Chapter 14. Marriage and Family: How Do Societies Perpetuate Themselves?
Chapter 15. Education and Religion: How Do Societies Pass on Information?
Chapter 16. Economy and Politics: How Do Societies Support and Govern Themselves?
Chapter 17. Social Movements, Collective Behavior, and Social Change: How Do Societies Change?
COMPREHENSIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS:
(Each chapter has 3 sections: Get the Topic, Think Sociologically, and Discover Sociology in Action)
Chapter 1: Sociology: An Introduction to the Foundations of Sociology
Sociology Defined
Developing a Sociological Imagination
Emile Durkheim's Theory on Suicide
The Functionalist's Worldview
Functionalism in the United States
The Conflict Theorist's Worldview
The Symbolic Interactionist's Worldview
The Three Paradigms: How are They Interrelated?
Getting Involved in Sociology-- Community Learning
Chapter 2: Sociological Research: How Do We Learn About Society?
Objectivity
Variables
Cause and Correlation
Scientific Method: What Are the Six Stephs of Social Research?
Quantitative and Qualitative Methods
Triangulation
Research Methods and the Three Paradigms
Social Policy and Statistics
Community Learning-- Needs Assessments
Chapter 3: Culture: A Framework for the Individual
Material Culture
Nonmaterial Culture
Additional Values
Norms and Sanctions
The Study of Culture
Symbolic Interactionism-- A Crisis of Values
Functionalism-- Communitarianism
Conflict Theory-- The McDonaldization of the United States
Social Policy: Multiculturalism and Assimilation
Chapter 4: Social Structure and Interaction: Micro and Macro Orientations
Macrosociology and Microsociology
Micro Orientations: Social Interactions
An Example of Symbolic Interactionism: The Thomas Theorem and the Social Creation of Reality
An Example of Functionalism: Study Essential Features of Functional Social Structures
An Example of Conflict Theory: Deliberate Efforts to Weaken the Structure and Culture of Native Americans
Social Policy -- The Perry Preschool Project
Chapter 5: Socialization: The Process of Fitting into Society
The Nature vs. Nurture Debate -- What Makes Us Who We Are?
Theorists on Socialization
Agents of Socialization
Can We Be "Resocialized"? Experiencing the Total Institution
Symbolic Interactionism and Resocialization
Functionalism
Conflict Theory -- What Forces Socialize Us?
Applying Sociological Thinking in the World, Social Policy, and Title IX
Chapter 6: Groups and Societies: Understanding Our Environment
Formal Organizations
Functionalism and Leadership
Conflict Theory -- Marx, Bureaucracy, and Democratic Organizations
Symbolic Interactionism -- Creating a Just and Democratic Workplace
Adult Civic Engagement and Childhood Activities
Leading Groups
Chapter 7: Social Class in the United States: Stratification in a Modern Society
How Does the United States Define Poverty?
Social Mobility
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
Social Policy: Welfare for the Poor
Social Policy: Minimum Wage
Chapter 8: Global Stratification: Wealth and Poverty in the World
Global Stratification
Social Systems
Global Stratification: No Longer a Third World
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
Social Policy: Foreign Aid
Chapter 9: Population and Environmental Impact: How Do Societies Deal with Growing Numbers?
Population by the Numbers
Malthusian Theory
Demographic Transition Theory
Issues Associated with Population Growth
Human Exemptionism
Environmental Sociology
Population Control Programs
Chapter 10: Race and Ethnic Stratification: Is It a Question of Color?
Census Definitions
Racial Stratification in the United States
Symbolic Interactionism: Color-Blind Racism
Affirmative Action
Chapter 11: Gender Stratification: The Social Side of Sex
Gender vs. Sex
Patriarchy and Sexism
Gender Roles
Gender and Inequality
Feminism
Feminist Theory
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
Chapter 12: Aging and Health: The Graying of Society
Health Defined
Health in the United States: Living off the Fat of the Land
Health Care
Aging: The Graying of the United States
Functionism -- Disengaging from Society
Symbolic Interactionism -- Living an Active Lifestyle
Conflict Theory -- Aging and Inequality
Social Security and Medicare
Chapter 13: Crime and the Legal System: How Do Societies Respond to Crime and Deviance?
Deviance vs. Crime
Historical Roots of Deviance and Crime Theories
Functional Explanations of Crime and Deviance
Social Interaction Theories
Symbolic Interaction Theories
Symbolic Interactionist Theory
Social Conflict Theory
General Theories of Crime Causation
Crime Control: The Criminal Justice System
Chapter 14: Marriage and Family: How Do Societies Perpetuate Themselves?
Marriage and Family
Symbolic Interactionism
Conflict Theory
Functionalism
Gay Marriage vs. Civil Unions vs. Nothing
Chapter 15: Education and Religion: How Do Societies Pass on Information?
Education in Society
Religion
Symbolic Interactionism
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Improving Education with School Vouchers
Chapter 16: Economy and Politics: How Do Societies Support and Govern Themselves?
Economic Systems
Global Economy
Political Systems
Types of Government
Politics in the United States
The Nature of Power
Lack of ASsistance for Veterans
Chapter 17: Social Movements, Collective Behavior, and Social Change: How Do Societies Change?
Shifts in Society
Shifts in Society
Resistance to Change
Conflict Theory
Functionalism
Symbolic Interactionism
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Glossary
Endnotes
Photo Credits
Index
About the Author :
John Carl's interest in sociology grew from his interests and job experiences after college, which included working in hospitals, schools, churches and prisons. John reflects, “In these many diverse encounters I continued to notice how often the structures of society often did not support the change so desperately sought after by the individual. I began to reflect on my sociology courses from my undergraduate work and decided to return to graduate school to study sociology.”
Returning to graduate school at the University of Oklahoma, he became passionate about the study of Criminology and Stratification completing his Ph.D. while teaching full time at Rose State College. John says, “I found that every part of my life to this point, fit perfectly with the study of sociology. It is a diverse and exciting field that helps a person understand their world.”
Today, teaching remains his primary focus. John Carl has excelled in the classroom, winning awards for his teaching and working to build and improve the sociology program at Rose State. “I teach the introductory class every semester because I believe it is the most important course in any department. It is where students get the foundation they need for their continued study of sociology. In these classes, my goal is simple. To teach students to think sociologically so that they can consider any new event in the light of that thought.”
When asked why he wrote Think Sociology, the answer was simple: “This book is truly a labor of love for me. I wanted to write a book that is filled with examples used in the classroom and written in a language that students can understand without compromising the core concepts of sociology."
John lives in Oklahoma with his family, wife Keven, and daughters Sara and Caroline. In his free time, John plays golf, gardens, throws pottery, and plays his guitar. He continues to move from the classroom to community by being active in non-profit leadership in his home community and providing training to non-profit boards so they may better achieve their goals. John suggests, “It is all part of sociology, not only to understand the world in which we live, but to take that understanding from the classroom and use it to improve the community.”
