Revealing Our Social World

Based on over twenty years of classroom experience, Revealing Our Social World: An Introduction to Sociology is written with the teaching sociologist in mind. Humorous, accessible, and informal, the book introduces non-major students to the basic theories, concepts, and terms of sociology. Revealing Our Social World: A Brief Introduction to Sociology is organized into four sections, the first of which discusses the basics of the sociological perspective and imagination, along with the development of sociology as a discipline. In the second section the material examines how people fit into their social landscapes. This section features topics such as culture, socialization, groups, social institutions, and deviance. The third section addresses various forms of inequality, while the fourth examines the structure of "the daily grind" as it applies to marriage and family, religion, education, politics, and the economy. Each chapter lays out the basic elements of the topic using vivid cross-cultural examples and includes suggested readings, practical activities, and a section titled "There's an App for That." Revealing Our Social World: A Brief Introduction to Sociology is a fresh and engaging text for introductory sociology courses at the undergraduate level. Mark Plume earned his Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Southern California. Dr. Plume has been teaching sociology for more than twenty years and is currently a professor at Reynolds Community College, where he teaches traditional and on-line courses in introductory sociology, marriage and family, and cultural and physical anthropology. Dr. Plume also teaches sex and gender and research methods at Virginia Commonwealth University. His research interests include alcoholic families, gender, and social class. His most recent work examines millennials and their belief in the afterlife. He is a member of the American Sociological Association and the Gerontological Society of America. Dr. Plume, his wife, and their miniature schnauzer make their home in central Virginia.

Revealing Our Social World: Fundamentals of Social Research explores the myriad reasons social scientists conduct research and how published findings have the power to inform laws and social policies, influence therapeutic practices, and develop social theory. The text underscores the importance of quality research and the use of the scientific method to avoid the pitfalls of casual observation. The text features five dedicated sections. Section I introduces foundational information about social research, defining its components, outlining the research process, speaking to ethical considerations, and demonstrating the connections between paradigms, social theory, and methods. In Section II, students learn the preparatory steps to take before conducting research in the field. Dedicated chapters cover probability sampling and sample design and qualitative research. Sections III and IV focus on quantitative and qualitative research design and analysis, respectively. The final section of the text explores big data, machine learning, audio, image, video, and social media analytics, and more. Providing students with a comprehensive and valuable introduction, Revealing Our Social World is an excellent resource for courses in social research.

Exploring Sociology: Readings for Introductory Sociology provides students with a carefully selected collection of articles that highlight the influence of social forces on all people regardless of culture, ethnicity, gender, tradition, or faith. The anthology provides readers an introduction to the study of sociology and underscores how our lives are shaped in large part by external forces. Section I familiarizes students with the sociological perspective and ways in which to think sociologically. Section II provides readers with an introduction to social science research methods through a field experiment that investigates handwashing in public bathrooms. In Section III, students learn about the concept of culture, and in Section IV, socialization, group behavior, and conformity. The reading in Section V demonstrates how behaviors usually classified as deviant can be normalized given the right social conditions. Section VI explores various types of inequalities, including class, race, and gender. The final section examines social institutions, including marriage, family, education, religion, the economy, and government, and shows how these institutions form the foundation of modern societies and guide our daily lives. Engaging and approachable, Exploring Sociology is an exemplary supplemental textbook for foundational courses in sociology.

Exploring Sociology: Readings for Introductory Sociology provides students with a carefully selected collection of articles that highlight the influence of social forces on all people regardless of culture, ethnicity, gender, tradition, or faith. The anthology provides readers an introduction to the study of sociology and underscores how our lives are shaped in large part by external forces. Section I familiarizes students with the sociological perspective and ways in which to think sociologically. Section II provides readers with an introduction to social science research methods through a field experiment that investigates handwashing in public bathrooms. In Section III, students learn about the concept of culture, and in Section IV, socialization, group behavior, and conformity. The reading in Section V demonstrates how behaviors usually classified as deviant can be normalized given the right social conditions. Section VI explores various types of inequalities, including class, race, and gender. The final section examines social institutions, including marriage, family, education, religion, the economy, and government, and shows how these institutions form the foundation of modern societies and guide our daily lives. Engaging and approachable, Exploring Sociology is an exemplary supplemental textbook for foundational courses in sociology.

Based on over twenty years of classroom experience, Revealing Our Social World: A Brief Introduction to Sociology is written with the teaching sociologist in mind. Humorous, accessible, and informal, the book introduces non-major students to the basic theories, concepts, and terms of sociology. Revealing Our Social World is organized into four sections, the first of which discusses the basics of the sociological perspective and imagination, along with the development of sociology as a discipline. In the second section the material examines how people fit into their social landscapes. This section features topics such as culture, socialization, groups, social institutions, and deviance. The third section addresses various forms of inequality, while the fourth examines the structure of "the daily grind" as it applies to marriage and family, religion, education, politics, and the economy. Each chapter lays out the basic elements of the topic using vivid cross-cultural examples and includes suggested readings, practical activities, and a section titled "There's an App for That." Revealing Our Social World is a fresh and engaging text for introductory sociology courses at the undergraduate level.

In this brief text, two leaders of the Teaching Sociology movement encourage students’ development of their sociological imaginations through role-taking. Assuming the role of a child living in poverty in India or of a member of an African tribe, students learn to re-envision their global society. An innovative, integrated framework provides core sociological concepts, while features such as Contributing to Our Social World enable students to “do” public sociology. Our Social World: Condensed Version presents the perspective of students living in the larger global world.

This book provides a critical introduction to the ways in which digital technologies have enabled new types of interactions, experiences and collaborations across a range of platforms and media, profoundly shaping our socio-cultural landscapes. These discussions are grounded in classical sociological concepts; community, the self, gender, consumption, power and exclusion and inequality, to demonstrate the continuities that exist between sociological studies of ‘real’ world phenomena and their digital counterparts. Examining the various debates around methods in digital sociology in recent years, this book provides an accessible and engaging guide to using methodologies to study digital technology. From the moment we wake up until we go to bed, many of us constantly use digital technologies. Our mobile phones have become our maps, banks, newspapers and entertainment consoles. What′s more, they allow us to be constantly connected with the people in our lives. This book will equip you to analyse digital media in your own work. The book offers a broad guide to the various areas of our lives that are impacted by digital technology, from the virtual communities that we form on social media to the impact that digital technology has on our identity through a ′sociology of selfies′. With chapters on leisure, work, privacy and methods, this is an essential introduction for students in the areas of sociology, digital media, and cultural studies. Learning features include: - Annotated further reading in every chapter - Case studies that illustrate theory - Learning objectives and questions throughout - Historical and theoretical context in every chapter

Inspire your students to develop their sociological imaginations in Our Social World. Focused on deep learning rather than memorization, this book encourages readers to analyze, evaluate, and apply information about the social world; to see the connection between 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 used across chapters to see the complex links between various micro- to macro-levels of the social system, students will develop the practice of using three levels of analysis, and to view sociology as an integrated whole, rather than a set of discrete subjects.