Sociology, A brief introduction

Overview: The ninth edition of Richard T. Schaefer's Sociology: A Brief Introduction provides students with a comprehensive, up-to-date presentation of sociology. Students learn to think critically about society and their own lives from a wide range of classical and contemporary perspectives. Combining balanced coverage of theory with current research findings, examples that students can relate to, and abundant learning aids and exercises, the new edition continues to encourage the development of sociological imagination. New to the edition is the inclusion of an adaptive diagnostic tool and interactivities to help students master key concepts.

Table of Contents:
Brief Contents 1 Understanding Sociology 2 Sociological Research 3 Culture 4 Socialization and the Life Course 5 Social Interaction, Groups, and Social Structure 6 The Mass Media 7 Deviance and Social Control 8 Stratification and Social Mobility in the United States 9 Global Inequality 10 Racial and Ethnic Inequality 11 Stratification by Gender 12 The Family and Intimate Relationships 13 Religion and Education 14 Government and the Economy 15 Health and the Environment 16 Social Change in the Global Community

About the Author :
Growing up in Chicago at a time when neighbourhoods were going through transitions in ethnic and racial composition, Richard T. Schaefer found himself increasingly intrigued by what was happening, how people were reacting, and how these changes were affecting neighbourhoods and people’s jobs. His interest in social issues caused him to gravitate to sociology courses at Northwestern University, where he eventually received a BA in sociology.“Originally as an undergraduate I thought I would go on to law school and become a lawyer. But after taking a few sociology courses, I found myself wanting to learn more about what sociologists studied, and fascinated by the kinds of questions they raised.” This fascination led him to obtain his MA and PhD in sociology from the University of Chicago. Dr. Schaefer’s continuing interest in race relations led him to write his master’s thesis on the membership of the Ku Klux Klan and his doctoral thesis on racial prejudice and race relations in Great Britain.Dr. Schaefer went on to become a professor of sociology and now teaches at DePaul University in Chicago. In 2004 he was named to the Vincent DePaul professorship in recognition of his undergraduate teaching and scholarship. He has taught introductory sociology for over 35 years to students in colleges, adult education programs, nursing programs, and even a maximum-security prison. Dr. Schaefer’s love of teaching is apparent in his interaction with his students. “I find myself constantly learning from the students who are in my classes and from reading what they write. Their insights into the material we read or current events that we discuss often become part of future course material and sometimes even find their way into my writing.”Dr. Schaefer is author of the eleventh edition of Sociology (McGraw-Hill, 2008) and of the fourth edition of Sociology Matters (McGraw-Hill, 2009). He is also the author of Racial and Ethnic Groups, now in its eleventh edition, and Race and Ethnicity in the United States, fifth edition. Together with William Zellner, he co-authored the eighth edition of Extraordinary Groups, published by Worth in 2007. Dr. Schaefer served as the general editor of the three-volume Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Society, published by Sage in 2008. His articles and book reviews have appeared in many journals, including American Journal of Sociology, Phylon: A Review of Race and Culture, Contemporary Sociology, Sociology and Social Research, Sociological Quarterly, and Teaching Sociology. He served as president of the Midwest SociologicalSociety in 1994–1995.Dr. Schaefer’s advice to students is to “look at the material and make connections to your own life and experiences. Sociology will make you a more attentive observer of how people in groups interact and function. It will also make you more aware of people’s different needs and interests—and perhaps more ready to work for the common good, while still recognizing the individuality of each person.”