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About the Book: Sociology: A brief introduction The ninth edition of Richard T. Schaefer's Sociology: A Brief Introduction provides students with a comprehensive, up-to-date presentation of sociology. Students learn to think critically about society and their own lives from a wide range of classical and contemporary perspectives. Combining balanced coverage of theory with current research findings, examples that students can relate to, and abundant learning aids and exercises, the new edition continues to encourage the development of sociological imagination. New to the edition is the inclusion of an adaptive diagnostic tool and interactivities to help students master key concepts. Contents Brief Contents 1 Understanding Sociology 2 Sociological Research 3 Culture 4 Socialization and the Life Course 5 Social Interaction, Groups, and Social Structure 6 The Mass Media 7 Deviance and Social Control 8 Stratification and Social Mobility in the United States 9 Global Inequality 10 Racial and Ethnic Inequality 11 Stratification by Gender 12 The Family and Intimate Relationships 13 Religion and Education 14 Government and the Economy 15 Health and the Environment 16 Social Change in the Global Community

Richard T. Schaefer's "Sociology Matters" is a concise introduction to the discipline of sociology. Its straightforward style, streamlined design, and highly focused coverage make it the perfect affordable, ultra brief, introductory text for instructors who use a variety of materials in their course. The new fourth edition includes new chapter opening vignettes and up to date coverage of current topics such as the Virginia Tech shooting and the use of virtual networks such as Facebook.

Three basic premises guide this highly successful introductory text - first that theory and research must be both comprehensive and clear, second that the text must show how sociology is relevant both to the study of society and to students' lives, and third that sociology can play a valuable role in teaching critical thinking skills. To that end, this solid, well-respected text combines a balanced three-perspective approach with excellent student-oriented examples, and distinctive social policy sections in a concise presentation that offers an alternative to full-length books.

This book of readings includes part introductions, a preface to each article, study questions and an index.