Table Of Content

p.i p.ii Writing this book has been a labor of love, for we are passionate about sociology and about teaching sociology. Still, this labor of love has sometimes come at a steep price to others we love. Thus, we dedicate this book to our saints of patience, support, and understanding, Hardy Ballantine, Judy Roberts, and Jeff Korgen, our supportive and beloved spouses, and to our children, who have shared their educational trials and triumphs, giving us food for thought as we wrote. SAGE was founded in 1965 by Sara Miller McCune to support the dissemination of usable knowledge by publishing innovative and high-quality research and teaching content. Today, we publish over 900 journals, including those of more than 400 learned societies, more than 800 new books per year, and a growing range of library products including archives, data, case studies, reports, and video. SAGE remains majority-owned by our founder, and after Sara’s lifetime will become owned by a charitable trust that secures our continued independence. Los Angeles | London | New Delhi | Singapore | Washington DC | Melbourne p.iii p.iv Copyright © 2018 by SAGE Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Ballantine, Jeanne H., author. | Roberts, Keith A., author. | Korgen, Kathleen Odell, 1967– author. Title: Our social world : introduction to sociology / Jeanne H. Ballantine, Wright State University, Keith A. Roberts, Emeritus, Hanover College, Kathleen Odell Korgen, William Paterson University. Description: Sixth edition. | Thousand Oaks, CA : SAGE, [2018] | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2016032136 | ISBN 978-1-5063-6207-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) Subjects: LCSH: Sociology. | Sociology—Cross-cultural studies. Classification: LCC HM586 .B35 2018 | DDC 301—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016032136 This book is printed on acid-free paper. 17 18 19 20 21 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 FOR INFORMATION: SAGE Publications, Inc. 2455 Teller Road Thousand Oaks, California 91320 E-mail: [email protected] SAGE Publications Ltd. 1 Oliver’s Yard 55 City Road London, EC1Y 1SP United Kingdom SAGE Publications India Pvt. Ltd. B 1/I 1 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area Mathura Road, New Delhi 110 044 India SAGE Publications Asia-Pacific Pte. Ltd. 3 Church Street #10-04 Samsung Hub Singapore 049483 Acquisitions Editor: Jeff Lasser Developmental Editor: Jessica Miller eLearning Editor: Gabrielle Piccininni Production Editor: Jane Haenel Copy Editor: Mark Bast Typesetter: C&M Digitals (P) Ltd. Proofreader: Scott Oney Indexer: Nancy Fulton Cover Designer: Rose Storey Marketing Manager: Kara Kindstrom p.v Brief Contents Preface: To Our Readers Instructors: How to Make This Book Work for You A Personal Note to the Instructor Acknowledgments Part I. Understanding Our Social World: The Scientific Study of Society Chapter 1 ● Sociology: A Unique Way to View the World Chapter 2 ● Examining the Social World: How Do We Know? PART II. Social Structure, Processes, and Control Chapter 3 ● Society and Culture: Hardware and Software of Our Social World Chapter 4 ● Socialization: Becoming Human and Humane Chapter 5 ● Interaction, Groups, and Organizations: Connections That Work Chapter 6 ● Deviance and Social Control: Sickos, Freaks, and Folks Like Us PART III. Inequality Chapter 7 ● Stratification: Rich and Famous—or Rags and Famine? Chapter 8 ● Race and Ethnic Group Stratification: Beyond “Us” and “Them” Chapter 9 ● Gender Stratification: She/He—Who Goes First? PART IV. Institutions Chapter 10 ● Family: Partner Taking, People Making, and Contract Breaking Chapter 11 ● Education: What Are We Learning? Chapter 12 ● Religion: The Social Meaning of Sacred Meaning Chapter 13 ● Politics and Economics: Probing Power, Dissecting Distribution Chapter 14 ● Health Care: An Anatomy of Health and Illness p.vi PART V. Social Dynamics Chapter 15 ● Population and Urbanization: Living on Planet Earth Chapter 16 ● Process of Change: We Can Make a Difference! Glossary References Index About the Authors p.vii Detailed Contents Preface: To Our Readers Instructors: How to Make This Book Work for You A Personal Note to the Instructor Acknowledgments PART I: Understanding Our Social World: The Scientific Study of Society Chapter 1 ● Sociology: A Unique Way to View the World What Is Sociology? Ideas Underlying Sociology Sociological Findings and Commonsense Beliefs The Sociological Imagination Questions Sociologists Ask—and Don’t Ask The Social Sciences: A Comparison Why Does Sociology Matter? Why Study Sociology? Sociology in Our Social World: High School Dropouts: Causes, Consequences, and Cures What Do Sociologists Do? What Do Employers Want? Social World Model Social Structures Social Processes Environment of Our Social World Studying the Social World: Levels of Analysis Micro-Level Analysis Meso-Level Analysis Macro-Level Analysis Engaging Sociology: Micro-Meso-Macro Social World Model and This Book Engaging Sociology: Micro-Meso-Macro: An Application Exercise ● What Have We Learned? ● Discussion Questions ● Key Terms ● Contributing to Our Social World: What Can We Do? Chapter 2 ● Examining the Social World: How Do We Know? Development of Sociology Rise of Modern Sociology Sociology’s Major Theoretical Perspectives Micro- to Meso-Level Theories Symbolic Interaction Theory Sociology in Our Social World: Human Language and the Marvel of a College Classroom Rational Choice (Exchange) Theory Meso- and Macro-Level Theories Structural-Functional Theory Conflict Theory Multilevel Analysis Using Different Theoretical Perspectives Middle-Range Theories Theory and Research Methods Ideas Underlying Science How Sociologists Study the Social World Planning a Research Study Designing the Research Plan and Method for Collecting the Data Designing the Research Plan Sociology in Our Social World: Being Clear About Causality p.viii Sociology in Our Social World: The Hull House Circle—Historical Content Analysis in Sociolog y Selecting a Sample Collecting the Data Making Sense of the Data Analyzing the Data Presenting the Findings Ethical Issues in Social Research Putting Sociology to Work: Public Sociology Engaging Sociology: How to Read a Research Table Sociologists in Action—Kristin Kenneavy: Using Sociology to Improve Campus Life and Gain Marketable Skills ● What Have We Learned? ● Discussion Questions ● Key Terms ● Contributing to Our Social World: What Can We Do? PART II: Social Structure, Processes, and Control Chapter 3 ● Society and Culture: Hardware and Software of Our Social World