Sociology

Sociology: Made Simple covers issues being discussed in contemporary sociology.
The book tackles Sociology with regard to its definition, social sciences, theories, and different approaches (i.e., positivism, functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and Marxist sociology). The text also discusses social class in Britain; family life in contemporary Britain; the main aspects of the sociology of education; and studies in youth culture. The effects of mass media, industrialization, work, poverty, welfare, state, politics, and distribution of power in the process of social control are also considered. Each chapter of the book is provided with lists of further reading.
Students engaged in sociology course and general readers will find the book invaluable.

Contenu

Preface

1 What Is Sociology?

Sociology and the Social Sciences

Sociology and Science

Early Sociology

Emile Durkheim

Max Weber

Karl Marx

Different Approaches

Positivism

Functionalism

Symbolic Interactionism

Phenomenology and Ethnomethodology

Marxist Sociology

Two Sides of the Same Coin?

Where's the Evidence?

Positivist Research

Interpretive Research

Ethnography

In Conclusion

Revision

Further Reading

2 Social Class in Britain

Test Your Class-Consciousness

Subjective and Objective Definitions of Social Class

The Middle Class and the Working Class

The Upper Class

Income and Wealth

Economic and Cultural Definitions of Social Class

What About Women?

Does Class Count?

The Embourgeoisement Debate

Social Stratification

Distributing Resources

Marx' Theory of Class

Criticisms of Marx' Theory of Class

Max Weber's Theories of Stratification

In Conclusion

Revision

Further Reading

3 The Family

Human Nature or Social Convenience?

The Functions of the Family

The Family and the Economic System

Subsistence Economies

Socialist Economies

The Family in Socialist Societies

Capitalist Economies

The Family in Capitalist Societies

Family Problems

Changing Roles within the Family

Revision

Further Reading

4 Education

Informal and Formal Education

The Historical Context

Beginnings

Secondary Education for All

Views on Segregation

Tripartite Schooling

Research and Party Politics

Conservative Government

The Current Situation

The Social Functions of Education

Education and the Economic System

Education and the Social System

Education and the Political System

Education as an Agency of Social Control

Social Factors Affecting Educational Failure

In Conclusion

Revision

Further Reading

5 Studies in Youth Culture

Defining Culture

Subculture and Culture

Culture and Economics

The Creation of Culture

Adolescence and Culture

The Social Class Factors

Youth Culture

Why Study the Workers?

Ruling by Consent

The Swinging Sixties?

The Re-emergence of Class

The Response to Social Changes in the Fifties and Sixties

Youth Cultural Response: Mods and Skinheads

Youth Cultures in Context

Counter-School Culture

Girls and Youth Culture

In Conclusion

Revision

Further Reading

6 The Mass Media

One-Way Communication

The Media Business

Independent Television and Radio

The BBC

Broadcasting and the State

Areas of Concern

The Effects of Broadcasting

The Press

The Growth and Development of the British Press

Centralized Control

Indoctrination or IncofOGation?

What is News?

It Can't Be All Bad!

Revision

Further Reading

7 Industry and Industrial Change

The Industrialization of Britain

The Organization of Labor

Industrial Change

Industry and Capitalism in the North-East before the Second World War

Industrial Decline-A Regional Problem?

Industry and Capitalism in the North-East after the Second World War

Industrial Decline-An Inner City Problem?

The Class Factor

Capitalist Concentration

Government Intervention

The Impact of Science and Technology

Automation

Microelectronic Processors

A New Industrial Revolution?

Support for Small Businesses

The Pattern of Industrial Change-A Summary

Revision

Further Reading

8 Working Lives

The Definition of Work

Studies of Work

Job Satisfaction

The Influence of Work on Leisure Activities

The Culture of Work

Middle-Class Culture of Work

Working-class Culture of Work

Shop-Floor Culture

Cultural Weaknesses

'Enlightened' Management

The Professions

The Old' and the 'New' Professions

Professions and Other Workers

Professional Status and Social Respect

Sociological Disagreement

Professionalization

Social Work

Women in the Workforce

Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination

The Equal Opportunities Commission

Unemployment

Revision

Further Reading

9 Poverty and Welfare

State Intervention

The Discovery of Poverty

Industrialization and the Growth of Capitalism

The Turn of the Century

Poverty and Unemployment Between the Wars

The Beveridge Report

Women Dependants

Other Legislation

The Appointed Day

Post-War Developments

Definitions of Poverty

Absolute Poverty

Relative Poverty

Affluent Britain?

Housing

Rediscovering Poverty

The Government's Poverty Program

'Blaming the Victims'

'Blaming the System'

Cutting the Welfare State

Jobs Threatened

State Care or State Control?

Revision

Further Reading

10 Politics and Power

Power

The Distribution of Power

Ruling Class

EHtism

Pluralism

Power and the Ruling Class

Wealth and Income

Shareholdings

The Controllers of British Industry

Business and Government

Elitism and Power

Pluralism and Power

Legitimacy

The Pluralist Interpretation of Legitimation

The Process of Legitimation-A Marxist Analysis

Hegemony

Political Acquiescence

Politics and Power

Revision

Further Reading

Glossary

Index