Christopher Bradley, Troy University, Division of Social Sciences
David L. Briscoe, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
W. Trevor Brooks, Austin Peay State University
James A. Crone, Hanover College
April Cubbage, Saddleback College
David R. Dickens, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Jamie M. Dolan, Carroll College (MT)
Amy Donley, University of Central Florida
Kevin Doran, Indiana University, Bloomington
Obi N. I. Ebbe, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Maureen Ellis-Davis, Bergen Community College
Sandra Enos, Bryant University
Lance Erickson, Brigham Young University
Jo Ry-Anne Feller, Palm Beach State College
Stephanie Funk, Hanover College
Loyd R. Ganey Jr., Western International University
Skylar C. Gremillion, Louisiana State University
Mary Grigsby, University of Missouri–Columbia
Chris Hausmann, University of Notre Dame
Todd A. Hechtman, Eastern Washington University
Robert B. Jenkot, Costal Carolina University
Kristina Jensen, Boise State University
Keith Kerr, Blinn College
Lisa L. Kuecker, Western New Mexico University
Leslie C. Lamb, State University of New York, Empire State College Center for Distance Learning
Naomi Latini, Troy University
Elaine Leeder, Sonoma State University
Jason J. Leiker, Utah State University
Stephen Lilley, Sacred Heart University
David A. Lopez, California State University, Northridge
Crystal V. Lupo, Auburn University
Akbar Madhi, Ohio Wesleyan University
Gerardo Marti, Davidson College
Laura McCloud, Ohio State University
Meeta Mehrotra, Roanoke College
Melinda S. Miceli, University of Hartford
Leah A. Moore, University of Central Florida
Nirmal Niroula, Coastal Carolina University
Boniface Noyongoyo, University of Central Florida
Katy Pinto, California State University at Dominguez Hills
R. Marlene Powell, University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Suzanne Prescott, Central New Mexico Community College
Antonia Randolph, University of Delaware
Olga Rowe, Oregon State University
Paulina Ruf, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Sarah Samblanet, Kent State University
Martha L. Shockey-Eckles, Saint Louis University
Toni Sims, University of Louisiana–Lafayette
Terry L. Smith, Harding University
Frank S. Stanford, Blinn College
Tracy Steele, Wright State University
Rachel Stehle, Cuyahoga Community College
Amy Stone, Trinity University
John Stone, Boston University
Hephzibah V. Strmic-Pawl, Coastal Carolina University
Stephen Sweet, Ithaca College
Debra K. Taylor, Johnson County Community College
Ruth Thompson-Miller, Texas A & M University
Tim Ulrich, Seattle Pacific University
Natasha Vannoy, Logan University
Thomas L. Van Valey, Western Michigan University
Connie Veldink, Everett Community College
Dennis Veleber, Montana State University Northern
Kristie Vise, Northern Kentucky University
Chaim I. Waxman, Rutgers University
Lisa Munson Weinberg, Florida State University
Debra Welkley, California State University at Sacramento
Matthew West, Bevill State Community College
Debra Wetcher-Hendricks, Moravian College
Deborah J. White, Collin County Community College
Jake B. Wilson, University of California, Riverside
Laurie Winder, Western Washington University
Robert Wonser, College of the Canyons
Luis Zanartu, Sacramento City College
John Zipp, University of Akron
Part I Understanding Our Social World: The Scientific Study of Society
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Can an individual make a difference in the world or in a community? How does your family influence your chances of gaining a college degree and a high-paying job? If you were born into a poor family, what are your chances of becoming wealthy? How does your level of education impact your likelihood of marrying—and staying married? Why are Generation Zers less likely to have sex than Generation Xers? How can sociology help you understand and be an effective member of society?
Those are some of the questions you will be able to answer as you develop a deeper understanding of our social world. Sociology is valuable because it gives us new perspectives on our personal and professional lives and because sociological insights and skills can help all of us make the world a better place. Sociology can change your life—and help you change the world.
By the time you finish reading the first two chapters, you should have an initial understanding of what sociology is, what you can gain from studying sociology, the roots of the sociological perspective, and how sociologists carry out research. We invite you to view our social world through a sociological lens and learn how you can use sociology to make a difference in your life, your community, and the world.
Chapter 1 Sociology A Unique Way to View the World
▲ Sociology involves a transformation in the way one sees the world—learning to recognize the complex connections among our intimate personal lives, large organizations, and national and global systems.
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