Mark Plume – författare

Revealing Our Social World: Fundamentals of Social Research explores the myriad reasons social scientists conduct research and how published findings have the power to inform laws and social policies, influence therapeutic practices, and develop social theory. The text underscores the importance of quality research and the use of the scientific method to avoid the pitfalls of casual observation.The text features five dedicated sections. Section I introduces foundational information about social research, defining its components, outlining the research process, speaking to ethical considerations, and demonstrating the connections between paradigms, social theory, and methods. In Section II, students learn the preparatory steps to take before conducting research in the field. Dedicated chapters cover probability sampling and sample design and qualitative research. Sections III and IV focus on quantitative and qualitative research design and analysis, respectively. The final section of the text explores big data, machine learning, audio, image, video, and social media analytics, and more.Providing students with a comprehensive and valuable introduction, Revealing Our Social World is an excellent resource for courses in social research.

Exploring Sociology: Readings for Introductory Sociology provides students with a carefully selected collection of articles that highlight the influence of social forces on all people regardless of culture, ethnicity, gender, tradition, or faith. The anthology provides readers an introduction to the study of sociology and underscores how our lives are shaped in large part by external forces.Section I familiarizes students with the sociological perspective and ways in which to think sociologically. Section II provides readers with an introduction to social science research methods through a field experiment that investigates handwashing in public bathrooms. In Section III, students learn about the concept of culture, and in Section IV, socialization, group behavior, and conformity. The reading in Section V demonstrates how behaviors usually classified as deviant can be normalized given the right social conditions. Section VI explores various types of inequalities, including class, race, and gender. The final section examines social institutions, including marriage, family, education, religion, the economy, and government, and shows how these institutions form the foundation of modern societies and guide our daily lives.Engaging and approachable, Exploring Sociology is an exemplary supplemental textbook for foundational courses in sociology.