Book Description

Within the pages of this manual, students become personally involved in research as they learn important analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills, and develop the ability to interpret the contemporary global situation and its impact on their lives. Linking fundamental concepts of sociology with everyday activities, the exercises in each chapter lead students through an array of qualitative and quantitative methods as they test and apply theories. Students experience research as a process of asking questions, defining terms clearly, seeking patterns, and reaching conclusions based on their findings, while avoiding bias. Short essays describing current perspectives on globalization accompany the exercises, addressing political, cultural, social, economic, technological, and religious dimensions. Key Features 25 research exercises may be completed by students in class or independently, providing flexibility for the instructor. Exercises are ready to be assigned as they appear in the text, with convenient tear-out pages. Students investigate intriguing topics such as "Global Ethics," "Violating Folkways," "Bowling Alone," and "McDonald′s Versus Jihad." A variety of research methods are featured: interviews, experiments, functional analysis, content analysis, and more. Extensive follow-up "Discussion" sections help students maximize their understanding. Surveys and qualitative exercises adapted from larger studies allow students to compare their results with national and global patterns of results, which they may explore further through the Web links provided. Intended Audience: This interactive manual follows the format of standard introductory sociology texts, making it an engaging and easy fit for Introductory Sociology or Principles of Sociology courses.