Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: Sociologists conduct studies to shed light on human behaviors. Knowledge is a powerful tool that can be used to achieve positive change. As a result, conducting a…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: Sociologists examine the social world, see a problem or interesting pattern, and set out to study it. They use research methods to design a study. Planning the…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: When sociologists apply the sociological perspective and begin to ask questions, no topic is off limits. Every aspect of human behavior is a source of possible investigation.…
Figure 2.1 Many believe that crime rates go up during the full moon, but scientific research does not support this conclusion. (Credit: Arman Thanvir) Chapter Outline 2.1 Approaches to Sociological Research 2.2 Research Methods 2.3 Ethical Concerns As sociology made its way into American universities,…
What Is Sociology? Sociology is the systematic and scientific study of society and social interaction. In order to carry out their studies, sociologists identify cultural patterns and social forces and determine how they affect individuals and groups. They also develop…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: Figure 1.9 The research of Kenneth and Mamie Clark helped the Supreme Court decide to end “separate but equal” racial segregation in schools in the United States. (Credit: University…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section you should be able to: Figure 1.7 Sociologists develop theories to explain social occurrences such as protest rallies. (Credit: David Shankbone/flickr) Sociologists study social events, interactions, and patterns, and they develop theories to explain…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: Figure 1.4 People have been thinking like sociologists long before sociology became a distinct academic discipline: Plato and Aristotle, Confucius, Khaldun, Voltaire, and Mary Wollstonecraft set the stage for…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: What Are Society and Culture? Figure 1.2 Sociologists learn about society while studying one-to-one and group interactions. (Credit: GlacierNPS/Flickr) Sociology is the scientific and systematic study of groups and group…
Figure 1.1 Every day, 7.5 million people use the railways around Mumbai, India. The vast majority of them don’t know each other, but they share much in common as they move together. (Credit: Rajarshi MITRA/flickr) Chapter Outline 1.1 What Is Sociology? 1.2 The History…