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Cover of Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World v1.0.1
Published: 
August 2011
Page Count: 
351
ISBN (Digital): 
978-1-4533-3056-2

Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World

Custom Version 1.0.1
By Steven E. Barkan
Adapted by Brian Klocke

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This text combines the best of Barkan's comprehensive edition with longer chapters and updated information, in a brief format of 16 critical chapters, leaving out the chapters often covered by other sociology courses or not a part of most major requirements. The text still presents in clear and engaging language for students a sociological understanding of society and a sociological perspective on how to change it.
  • About the Author
  • Acknowledgments
  • Preface

    • Chapter 1: Sociology and the Sociological Perspective

  • 1.1 The Sociological Perspective
  • 1.2 Understanding Society
  • 1.3 Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology
  • 1.4 End-of-Chapter Material

    • Chapter 2: Eye on Society: Doing Sociological Research

  • 2.1 Social Issues in the News
  • 2.2 Sociology as a Social Science
  • 2.3 Stages in the Sociological Research Process
  • 2.4 Research Design in Sociology
  • 2.5 Ethical Issues in Sociological Research
  • 2.6 Sociological Research in the Service of Society
  • 2.7 End-of-Chapter Material

    • Chapter 3: Culture

  • 3.1 Social Issues in the News
  • 3.2 Culture and the Sociological Perspective
  • 3.3 The Elements of Culture
  • 3.4 Cultural Diversity
  • 3.5 End-of-Chapter Material

    • Chapter 4: Socialization

  • 4.1 Social Issues in the News
  • 4.2 The Importance of Socialization
  • 4.3 Explaining Socialization
  • 4.4 Agents of Socialization
  • 4.5 Socialization Through the Life Course
  • 4.6 Resocialization and Total Institutions
  • 4.7 Socialization Practices and Improving Society
  • 4.8 End-of-Chapter Material

    • Chapter 5: Social Structure and Social Interaction

  • 5.1 Social Issues in the News
  • 5.2 Social Structure: The Building Blocks of Social Life
  • 5.3 The Development of Modern Society
  • 5.4 Social Interaction in Everyday Life
  • 5.5 End-of-Chapter Material

    • Chapter 6: Groups and Organizations

  • 6.1 Social Issues in the News
  • 6.2 Social Groups
  • 6.3 Group Dynamics and Behavior
  • 6.4 Formal Organizations
  • 6.5 Groups, Organizations, and Social Change
  • 6.6 End-of-Chapter Material

    • Chapter 7: Deviance, Crime, and Social Control

  • 7.1 Social Issues in the News
  • 7.2 Social Control and the Relativity of Deviance
  • 7.3 Explaining Deviance
  • 7.4 Crime and Criminals
  • 7.5 The Get-Tough Approach: Boon or Bust?
  • 7.6 End-of-Chapter Material

    • Chapter 8: Social Stratification

  • 8.1 Social Issues in the News
  • 8.2 Systems of Stratification
  • 8.3 Explaining Stratification
  • 8.4 Social Class in the United States
  • 8.5 Economic Inequality and Poverty in the United States
  • 8.6 End-of-Chapter Material

    • Chapter 9: Global Stratification

  • 9.1 Social Issues in the News
  • 9.2 The Nature and Extent of Global Stratification
  • 9.3 The Impact of Global Poverty
  • 9.4 Explaining Global Stratification
  • 9.5 End-of-Chapter Material

    • Chapter 10: Race and Ethnicity

  • 10.1 Social Issues in the News
  • 10.2 Racial and Ethnic Relations: An American Dilemma
  • 10.3 The Meaning of Race and Ethnicity
  • 10.4 Prejudice
  • 10.5 Discrimination
  • 10.6 Racial and Ethnic Inequality in the United States
  • 10.7 Race and Ethnicity in the 21st Century
  • 10.8 End-of-Chapter Material

    • Chapter 11: Gender and Gender Inequality

  • 11.1 Social Issues in the News
  • 11.2 Understanding Sex and Gender
  • 11.3 Feminism and Sexism
  • 11.4 Gender Inequality
  • 11.5 Violence Against Women: Rape and Pornography
  • 11.6 The Benefits and Costs of Being Male
  • 11.7 End-of-Chapter Material

    • Chapter 12: Work and the Economy

  • 12.1 Social Issues in the News
  • 12.2 Economic Development in Historical Perspective
  • 12.3 Types of Economic Systems
  • 12.4 Corporations
  • 12.5 Work and Labor in the United States
  • 12.6 The Military-Industrial Complex
  • 12.7 End-of-Chapter Material

    • Chapter 13: Politics and Government

  • 13.1 Social Issues in the News
  • 13.2 Power and Authority
  • 13.3 Types of Political Systems
  • 13.4 Theories of Power and Society
  • 13.5 Politics in the United States
  • 13.6 War and Terrorism
  • 13.7 End-of-Chapter Material

    • Chapter 14: Social Change and the Environment

  • 14.1 Social Issues in the News
  • 14.2 Understanding Social Change
  • 14.3 Sources of Social Change
  • 14.4 Society and the Environment
  • 14.5 Understanding the Environment
  • 14.6 End-of-Chapter Material

    • Chapter 15: Collective Behavior and Social Movements

  • 15.1 Social Issues in the News
  • 15.2 Types of Collective Behavior
  • 15.3 Explaining Collective Behavior
  • 15.4 Social Movements
  • 15.5 End-of-Chapter Material

    • Chapter 16: Conclusion: Understanding and Changing the Social World

  • 16.1 What Have You Learned From This Book?
  • 16.2 Public Sociology and Improving Society
  • 16.3 A Final Word
    • Instructor’s Manual

    Instructor’s Manual

    The Instructor’s Manual guides you through the main concepts of each chapter and important elements such as learning objectives, key terms, and key takeaways. Can include answers to chapter exercises, group activity suggestions, and discussion questions.

    Instructor’s Manual

    PowerPoint Lecture Notes

    PowerPoint Lecture Notes

    A PowerPoint presentation highlighting key learning objectives and the main concepts for each chapter are available for you to use in your classroom. You can either cut and paste sections or use the presentation as a whole.

    PowerPoint Lecture Notes

    Test Generator

    Test Generator

    Prefer printable tests? Download our test generator and start creating printable tests today! We offer a test generator for both PC and Mac users.

    Test Bank Files for Import to Learning Management Systems

    Test Bank Files for Import to Learning Management Systems

    For your convenience, we've packaged our test items for easy import into Learning Management Systems like Blackboard, Brightspace/D2L, Canvas, Moodle, or Respondus.

    Test Item File

    Test Item File

    Need assistance in supplementing your quizzes and tests? Our test-item files (in Word format) contain many multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short-answer questions.

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    Steven E. Barkan University of Maine

    Steven E. Barkan (PhD State University of New York at Stony Brook) is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Maine. He is the author of four FlatWorld titles (Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World comprehensive and brief versions, Fundamentals of Criminal Justice, and Social Problems). Steve has also authored more than 35 journal articles and book chapters in publications such as the American Sociological Review; Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion; Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency; Justice Quarterly; Mobilization; Review of Religious Research; Social Forces; Social Problems; Social Science Quarterly; and Sociological Forum. Steve is past president of the Society for the Study of Social Problems; served on the council of Alpha Kappa Delta, the international sociology honor society; and is past president of the Textbook and Academic Authors Association (TAA). Steve also received an Outstanding Faculty Award from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Maine and, from TAA, two Textbook Excellence Awards, the President’s Award, the Pynn-Silverman Award for Lifetime Achievement, and induction into its Council of Fellows. Steve sincerely hopes that faculty and students enjoy reading his books in the formats of their choice and welcomes comments at barkan@maine.edu.

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