Society in Focus
An Introduction to Sociology, Census Update
7th Edition
Published on 19. January 2012
Book
Paperback/Softback
672 pages
978-0-205-18101-8 (ISBN)
Description
Examining the role of mass media and information technology in contemporary society
This specially priced comprehensive introductory text emphasizes the increasing diversity and globalization of societies everywhere, and the special role of mass media and information technology in contemporary society.
Teaching & Learning Experience
Personalize Learning - MySocLab delivers proven results in helping students succeed, provides engaging experiences that personalize learning, and comes from a trusted partner with educational expertise and a deep commitment to helping students and instructors achieve their goals.
Improve Critical Thinking - Encourages students to consider the role of technology and the mass media in society.
Engage Students - Lively design and features throughout keep students interested in chapter content.
Explore Theory - Utilizes the three-theory paradigm model.
Understand Diversity - Comparative global coverage.
Support Instructors - Written activities and assessment in MySocLab offer instructors supplemental materials to help their students succeed.
Note: MySocLab does not come automatically packaged with this text. To purchase MySocLab, please visit: www.mysoclab.com or you can purchase a ValuePack of the text + MySocLab (at no additional cost). ValuePack ISBN-10: 0205171486 / ValuePack ISBN-13: 9780205171484
This specially priced comprehensive introductory text emphasizes the increasing diversity and globalization of societies everywhere, and the special role of mass media and information technology in contemporary society.
Teaching & Learning Experience
Personalize Learning - MySocLab delivers proven results in helping students succeed, provides engaging experiences that personalize learning, and comes from a trusted partner with educational expertise and a deep commitment to helping students and instructors achieve their goals.
Improve Critical Thinking - Encourages students to consider the role of technology and the mass media in society.
Engage Students - Lively design and features throughout keep students interested in chapter content.
Explore Theory - Utilizes the three-theory paradigm model.
Understand Diversity - Comparative global coverage.
Support Instructors - Written activities and assessment in MySocLab offer instructors supplemental materials to help their students succeed.
Note: MySocLab does not come automatically packaged with this text. To purchase MySocLab, please visit: www.mysoclab.com or you can purchase a ValuePack of the text + MySocLab (at no additional cost). ValuePack ISBN-10: 0205171486 / ValuePack ISBN-13: 9780205171484
More details
Edition
7th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Pearson Education (US)
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 274 mm
Width: 213 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
1200 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-205-18101-8 (9780205181018)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Book
07/2010
7th Edition
Pearson
€75.79
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
William E. Thompson was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was the first member of his family to receive a high school diploma. He received his bachelor's degree from Northeastern State University, a master's degree from Missouri State University, and a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University. Professor Thompson has authored and coauthored more than 30 articles in professional journals, including several reprinted in sociology textbooks and readers. He has coauthored a textbook on juvenile delinquency. Thompson also is the author of The Glass House, a nonfiction account of his mother's two year battle with cancer and the lessons about life and living learned from her death and dying.
Professor Thompson began his college teaching career at the University of Tulsa. He spent the next ten years at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. He is currently a professor of sociology and criminal justice and Director of Mayo College, a residential learning community for first-year students, at Texas A&M University - Commerce. He has also taught in the British Studies Program at Kings College, University of London. In 1993 Thompson received an Outstanding Teaching Award from the Texas Association of College Teachers, and in 1994 he won the Distinguished Faculty Award for Research and Teaching at Texas A&M University - Commerce. For fun and relaxation Thompson plays the drums.
Professor Thompson began his college teaching career at the University of Tulsa. He spent the next ten years at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. He is currently a professor of sociology and criminal justice and Director of Mayo College, a residential learning community for first-year students, at Texas A&M University - Commerce. He has also taught in the British Studies Program at Kings College, University of London. In 1993 Thompson received an Outstanding Teaching Award from the Texas Association of College Teachers, and in 1994 he won the Distinguished Faculty Award for Research and Teaching at Texas A&M University - Commerce. For fun and relaxation Thompson plays the drums.
Content
IN THIS SECTION:
1.) BRIEF
2.) COMPREHENSIVE
BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Part 1: The Sociological Perspective
Chapter 1: Discovering Sociology
Chapter 2: Doing Sociology
Part 2: The Social Framework
Chapter 3: Culture and Society
Chapter 4: Socialization
Chapter 5: Social Interaction in Everyday Life
Part 3: Social Differentiation and Inequality
Chapter 6: Social Groups and Organizations
Chapter 7: Deviance and Conformity
Chapter 8: Social Stratification and the U.S. Class System
Chapter 9: Global Stratification
Chapter 10: Race and Ethnicity
Chapter 11: Sex and Gender
Chapter 12: Age and the Elderly
Part 4: Social Institutions
Chapter 13: Families
Chapter 14: Education
Chapter 15: Religion
Chapter 16: Politics and War
Chapter 17: The Economy and Work
Chapter 18: Health and Medicine
Part 5: Social Change Chapter 19: Population, Urbanization, and Ecology
Chapter 20: Social Change, Collective Behavior, and the Future
COMPREHENSIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Part 1: The Sociological Perspective
Chapter 1: Discovering Sociology
What Is Sociology?
Sociology and Critical Thinking
Technomedia in Focus
The Development of Sociology
Contemporary Sociology
Looking to the Future: Sociology Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 2: Doing Sociology
Globalization, Diversity, and Types of Knowledge
Sociology and Scientific Knowledge
Types of Research and Research Designs
The Relationship between Theory and Methods
Social Research and the Media
The Technomedia and Research
Looking to the Future: Social Research Today and Tomorrow
Part 2: The Social Framework
Chapter 3: Culture and Society
What Is Society?
Types of Societies
Technomedia and Postindustrial Societies
What Is Culture?
Components of Culture
Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
Globalization and Cultural Diversity
Sociological Approaches to Society and Culture
Looking to the Future: Society and Culture Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 4: Socialization
The Socialization Process
Major Agents of Socialization: A Global View
The Mass Media and Technomedia
Socialization and the Life Course
Desocialization and Resocialization
Understanding Socialization: A Comparative Analysis
Looking to the Future: Socialization Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 5: Social Interaction in Everyday Life
Social Structure
Social Interaction
Social Interaction, Mass Media, and the Technomedia
Sociological Approaches to Interaction in Everyday Life
Looking to the Future: Social Interaction Today and Tomorrow
Part 3: Social Differentiation and Inequality
Chapter 6: Social Groups and Organizations
Social Groups
Formal Organizations
Bureaucracies
Media Organizations and Change
Technomedia, Globalization, and Social Diversity
Looking to the Future: Groups and Organizations Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 7: Deviance and Conformity
Defining Deviance and Conformity: A Global View
Popular Explanations for Deviance
Sociological Analysis of Deviance and Conformity
Deviance, Conformity, and Social Control
Technomedia: Social Control or Out of Control?
Looking to the Future: Deviance and Conformity Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 8: Social Stratification and the U.S. Class System
Understanding Social Stratification
Systems of Stratification
Determining Social Class Ranking
Social Classes in the United States
Poverty: Media Images and Reality
Social Class in the United States: Myth and Reality
Perspectives on Social Stratification
Looking to the Future: The U.S. Class System Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 9: Global Stratification
Globalization and Economic Development
Global Stratification and Quality of Life
Explaining Global Stratification
Transnational Corporations: The Making of New "Haves" and "Have-Nots"
Looking to the Future: Global Stratification Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 10: Race and Ethnicity
Understanding Race and Ethnicity in a Global Society
Prejudice
Discrimination
Race and Ethnicity, Mass Media, and Technomedia
Dominant-Minority Group Relations
Race and Ethnic Diversity in the United States
Looking to the Future: Race and Ethnic Relations Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 11: Sex and Gender
Sex and Gender in a Global Society
Explaining Gender Differences
Sexism: Inequality Based on Sex and Gender
Feminism: The Struggle for Gender Equality
Looking to the Future: Sex and Gender Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 12: Age and the Elderly
Gerontology: The Study of Aging
Aging and Diversity: A Global Perspective
Growing Old in American Society
Sociological Explanations of the Aging Process
Looking to the Future: Age and the Elderly Today and Tomorrow
Part 4: Social Institutions
Chapter 13: Families
What Is a Family?
Family Diversity: A Global Portrait
Sociological Approaches to the Family
U.S. Families: In the Life Course
U.S. Families: A Portrait of Social Diversity
Family Transitions and Family Problems
Looking to the Future: Families Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 14: Education
Education In a Global Society
The Role of Education: A Functionalist Perspective
Education and Social Stratification: A Conflict Perspective
Education and Everyday Life: An Interactionist View
Contemporary Trends in American Education
Mass Media, Computers, and the Technomedia
Looking to the Future: Education Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 15: Religion
Defining Religion
Global Religious Diversity
The Social Organization of Religion
Religion and Society: Three Perspectives
Religious Movements in Focus
Religion and the Media
Technomedia and Religion
Religious Diversity in the United States
Looking to the Future: Religion Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 16: Politics and War
Power and Politics
Types of Authority
Politics and Influence
Technomedia, Influence, and Contemporary Politics
Globalization and Political Systems
Democracy: American Style
War, Nuclear War, and Society
Peace Organizations and Peace Movements
Looking to the Future: Global Politics Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 17: The Economy and Work
Sociology and the Study of the Economy
The Global Economy
The American Economy and Work
Work as a Social Phenomenon
Taking a Closer Look at the Economy and Work
Looking to the Future: The Economy and Work Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 18: Health and Medicine
Health and Sickness: A Global View
Health and Sickness in the United States
Medicine and Health Care: A Cross-Cultural View
Medicine and Health Care in the United States
Media, Technomedia and the Medicalization of American Society
Looking to the Future: Health and Medicine Today and Tomorrow
Part 5: Social Change
Chapter 19: Population, Urbanization, and Ecology
Demography and Global Population
Population Growth
The Growth of Cities and Urbanization
Urban Sociology and Human Ecology
Human Ecology and the Environment
Looking to the Future: Population, Urbanization, and Ecology Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 20: Social Change, Collective Behavior, and the Future
What Is Social Change?
Sociological Approaches to Social Change
Collective Behavior
Social Movements
Looking to the Future: The Media, Social Change, and Life Today and Tomorrow
Technomedia and the Future
Glossary
Bibliography
Name Index
Subject Index
Credits
1.) BRIEF
2.) COMPREHENSIVE
BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Part 1: The Sociological Perspective
Chapter 1: Discovering Sociology
Chapter 2: Doing Sociology
Part 2: The Social Framework
Chapter 3: Culture and Society
Chapter 4: Socialization
Chapter 5: Social Interaction in Everyday Life
Part 3: Social Differentiation and Inequality
Chapter 6: Social Groups and Organizations
Chapter 7: Deviance and Conformity
Chapter 8: Social Stratification and the U.S. Class System
Chapter 9: Global Stratification
Chapter 10: Race and Ethnicity
Chapter 11: Sex and Gender
Chapter 12: Age and the Elderly
Part 4: Social Institutions
Chapter 13: Families
Chapter 14: Education
Chapter 15: Religion
Chapter 16: Politics and War
Chapter 17: The Economy and Work
Chapter 18: Health and Medicine
Part 5: Social Change Chapter 19: Population, Urbanization, and Ecology
Chapter 20: Social Change, Collective Behavior, and the Future
COMPREHENSIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Part 1: The Sociological Perspective
Chapter 1: Discovering Sociology
What Is Sociology?
Sociology and Critical Thinking
Technomedia in Focus
The Development of Sociology
Contemporary Sociology
Looking to the Future: Sociology Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 2: Doing Sociology
Globalization, Diversity, and Types of Knowledge
Sociology and Scientific Knowledge
Types of Research and Research Designs
The Relationship between Theory and Methods
Social Research and the Media
The Technomedia and Research
Looking to the Future: Social Research Today and Tomorrow
Part 2: The Social Framework
Chapter 3: Culture and Society
What Is Society?
Types of Societies
Technomedia and Postindustrial Societies
What Is Culture?
Components of Culture
Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
Globalization and Cultural Diversity
Sociological Approaches to Society and Culture
Looking to the Future: Society and Culture Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 4: Socialization
The Socialization Process
Major Agents of Socialization: A Global View
The Mass Media and Technomedia
Socialization and the Life Course
Desocialization and Resocialization
Understanding Socialization: A Comparative Analysis
Looking to the Future: Socialization Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 5: Social Interaction in Everyday Life
Social Structure
Social Interaction
Social Interaction, Mass Media, and the Technomedia
Sociological Approaches to Interaction in Everyday Life
Looking to the Future: Social Interaction Today and Tomorrow
Part 3: Social Differentiation and Inequality
Chapter 6: Social Groups and Organizations
Social Groups
Formal Organizations
Bureaucracies
Media Organizations and Change
Technomedia, Globalization, and Social Diversity
Looking to the Future: Groups and Organizations Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 7: Deviance and Conformity
Defining Deviance and Conformity: A Global View
Popular Explanations for Deviance
Sociological Analysis of Deviance and Conformity
Deviance, Conformity, and Social Control
Technomedia: Social Control or Out of Control?
Looking to the Future: Deviance and Conformity Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 8: Social Stratification and the U.S. Class System
Understanding Social Stratification
Systems of Stratification
Determining Social Class Ranking
Social Classes in the United States
Poverty: Media Images and Reality
Social Class in the United States: Myth and Reality
Perspectives on Social Stratification
Looking to the Future: The U.S. Class System Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 9: Global Stratification
Globalization and Economic Development
Global Stratification and Quality of Life
Explaining Global Stratification
Transnational Corporations: The Making of New "Haves" and "Have-Nots"
Looking to the Future: Global Stratification Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 10: Race and Ethnicity
Understanding Race and Ethnicity in a Global Society
Prejudice
Discrimination
Race and Ethnicity, Mass Media, and Technomedia
Dominant-Minority Group Relations
Race and Ethnic Diversity in the United States
Looking to the Future: Race and Ethnic Relations Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 11: Sex and Gender
Sex and Gender in a Global Society
Explaining Gender Differences
Sexism: Inequality Based on Sex and Gender
Feminism: The Struggle for Gender Equality
Looking to the Future: Sex and Gender Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 12: Age and the Elderly
Gerontology: The Study of Aging
Aging and Diversity: A Global Perspective
Growing Old in American Society
Sociological Explanations of the Aging Process
Looking to the Future: Age and the Elderly Today and Tomorrow
Part 4: Social Institutions
Chapter 13: Families
What Is a Family?
Family Diversity: A Global Portrait
Sociological Approaches to the Family
U.S. Families: In the Life Course
U.S. Families: A Portrait of Social Diversity
Family Transitions and Family Problems
Looking to the Future: Families Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 14: Education
Education In a Global Society
The Role of Education: A Functionalist Perspective
Education and Social Stratification: A Conflict Perspective
Education and Everyday Life: An Interactionist View
Contemporary Trends in American Education
Mass Media, Computers, and the Technomedia
Looking to the Future: Education Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 15: Religion
Defining Religion
Global Religious Diversity
The Social Organization of Religion
Religion and Society: Three Perspectives
Religious Movements in Focus
Religion and the Media
Technomedia and Religion
Religious Diversity in the United States
Looking to the Future: Religion Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 16: Politics and War
Power and Politics
Types of Authority
Politics and Influence
Technomedia, Influence, and Contemporary Politics
Globalization and Political Systems
Democracy: American Style
War, Nuclear War, and Society
Peace Organizations and Peace Movements
Looking to the Future: Global Politics Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 17: The Economy and Work
Sociology and the Study of the Economy
The Global Economy
The American Economy and Work
Work as a Social Phenomenon
Taking a Closer Look at the Economy and Work
Looking to the Future: The Economy and Work Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 18: Health and Medicine
Health and Sickness: A Global View
Health and Sickness in the United States
Medicine and Health Care: A Cross-Cultural View
Medicine and Health Care in the United States
Media, Technomedia and the Medicalization of American Society
Looking to the Future: Health and Medicine Today and Tomorrow
Part 5: Social Change
Chapter 19: Population, Urbanization, and Ecology
Demography and Global Population
Population Growth
The Growth of Cities and Urbanization
Urban Sociology and Human Ecology
Human Ecology and the Environment
Looking to the Future: Population, Urbanization, and Ecology Today and Tomorrow
Chapter 20: Social Change, Collective Behavior, and the Future
What Is Social Change?
Sociological Approaches to Social Change
Collective Behavior
Social Movements
Looking to the Future: The Media, Social Change, and Life Today and Tomorrow
Technomedia and the Future
Glossary
Bibliography
Name Index
Subject Index
Credits