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Introduction to Sociology - 3e

(63 reviews)

Tonja R. Conerly, San Jacinto College

Kathleen Holmes, Northern Essex Community College

Asha Lal Tamang, Minneapolis Community and Technical College & North Hennepin Community College

Copyright Year: 2021

ISBN 13: 9781711493978

Publisher: OpenStax

Language: English

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Reviewed by Boniface Noyongoyo, Assistant Professor, Marshall University on 2/4/24

The chapters in this book are short and sweet. I should have said concise because there is no room for useless terms and word to understand sociology. read more

Reviewed by LiYing Li, Professor, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 3/30/23

The book is quite comprehensive. It covers all the essential topics in an introductory sociology textbook. read more

Reviewed by Greg Cady, College Instructor, Minnesota State College Southeast Technical on 12/28/22

Consistent with other introduction level textbooks. read more

Reviewed by Shirlene S., Associate Teaching Professor, Wichita State University on 10/7/21

The text will give Sociology students a comprehensive look into today's society and a good understanding of the various Sociological theories that make up how we view society. In addition, the text will also give readers a different outlook on... read more

Reviewed by Jodie Simon, Associate Teaching Professor, Wichita State University on 6/2/21

This textbook provides a good basic comprehensive overview of the key areas of sociological study and does so in concise and yet engaging language. read more

Reviewed by Alex Olsen, Assistant Professor, Umpqua Community College on 5/21/21

The textbook does a great job of covering a wide range of sociological topics. One of my biggest critiques of this textbook is that it doesn't go in depth enough on topics such as race, gender, and class. I've found that I frequently have to... read more

Reviewed by Nicole Jenkins, Adjunct Professor, Howard University on 1/19/21

The text is comprehensive overall in its organization as well as the content within each chapter. Students are given a Section Summary that enhances the comprehensiveness of the material covered in each section. The quizzes available at the end of... read more

Reviewed by Ting Jiang, Professor of Sociology, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 9/5/20

It covers all the topics in the mainstream leading intro textbooks. read more

Reviewed by Jerrod Yarosh, Assistant Professor, USC-Lancaster on 8/13/20

The text provides a substantial number of chapters covering a wide range of content. This provides a text that could be used by a wide range of educators given its scope. A caveat is that the chapters tend to be shorter and less detailed than... read more

Reviewed by Christine Witkowski, Instructor, Midlands Technical College on 8/6/20

In general, this textbook is rather brief in terms of the comprehensiveness of its coverage as compared to other introductory level sociology textbooks. The lack of a definition for social structure is disappointing. The explanation of culture... read more

Reviewed by Kim Smith, Sociology Instructor, Portland Community College on 6/25/20

I am very impressed with the overall summary of the core history, theories, methods, and concepts of Sociology. The table of contents, index, and glossary offer clear topics and concepts for students to read and review. While the focused... read more

Reviewed by Fahri Ercem, Adjunct Professor, Bunker Hill Community College on 6/24/20

This textbook is comprehensive in that it provides a plethora of chapters relating to sociology, which leaves the reader with a comprehensive and encompassing introduction to sociology through an evaluation of the many subject areas within the... read more

Reviewed by Nicole Lambert, Assistant Professor, Massachusetts Bay Community College on 6/23/20

This is a comprehensive textbook in terms of key concepts and terms that would be covered in an introductory course. read more

Reviewed by Amanda Miller, Associate Professor, University of Indianapolis on 5/19/20

On the whole, the book is quite comprehensive in its use of sociological terminology. There are a few more current topics, however, which would need supplementing (e.g. gay marriage, Black Lives Matter.) read more

Reviewed by Christina Adkins, Graduate Assistant/ Teaching Assistant, Marshall University on 3/20/20

This text covers everything and more in an introductory sociology class. It covers material that is not always introduced due to not enough time in a semester. The only downfall may be that not all the information would be able to be thoroughly... read more

Reviewed by Boniface Noyongoyo, Assistant Professor, Marshall University on 3/11/20

The book covers all the main topics that are needed for introduction to Sociology. It even goes beyond the "usual" material and presents some points that are internationally relevant because of globalization. From culture to political changes, the... read more

Reviewed by Mychel Estevez, Senior Instructor, Portland State University on 3/7/20

The book covers more subject areas than the typical introduction textbook (for example, there are more chapters dedicated to different institutions than usual). It also includes some topics that are often not included such as sexuality. There is... read more

Reviewed by Lynda Cooksey, Adjunct Professor, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College on 1/13/20

The textbook covers all the usual topics in an introductory text for Sociology. The order of coverage is also pretty standard, beginning with how sociology developed as a discipline, the founding fathers, the three major theories, and topics of... read more

Reviewed by Heidi Reynolds-Stenson, Assistant Professor, Colorado State University - Pueblo on 12/3/19

The textbook hits (almost) all the major topics an introduction to sociology text should. But be aware that it is more comprehensive in its breadth of topics than in its depth of discussion. Many sections felt short compared with other intro.... read more

Reviewed by Pete Martini, Assistant Professor, Manchester University on 6/14/19

The book does a good job on topical material (i.e. it hits all the "big items" in a typical Intro Sociology text). The text is short and sweet in each section and does not feel overburdened. For those of us who go into detail in lecture, this text... read more

Reviewed by Zorian Sasyk, Assistant Professor, E-Resource and Discovery Librarian, Metropolitan State University - Minnesota State on 6/4/19

The text is thorough in its coverage of the introductory aspects of sociology for a contemporary undergraduate audience. It seems equivalent to other introductory texts that I have encountered. read more

Reviewed by Deborah Van Cura, Adjunct Lecturer, LAGCC on 5/16/19

The text provides an excellent introduction to sociology. It includes the usual topics that are covered in all basic introductory texts for a one semester course. I found the glossary and summaries at the end of each chapter very helpful. read more

Reviewed by Paul Kamolnick, Professor, East Tennessee State University on 4/18/19

This text contains the standard chapters found in virtually all textbooks. read more

Reviewed by Shelley Koch, Associate Professor of Sociology, Emory and Henry College on 4/10/19

This book presents as your standard sociology textbook in terms of content and organization, starting with an introduction and then chapters on theory and research, and then content areas. If I were to use a textbook, I think this would be... read more

Reviewed by Alecea Standlee, Assistant Professor, Gettysburg College on 3/12/19

This book covers the major subfields and concepts within sociology. Each chapter provides a solid overview, and covers major thinkers, concepts and vocabulary within the field. read more

Reviewed by Chris Solario, Adjunct Instructor, Western Oregon University on 3/1/19

The book provides an excellent overview of the sociological topic with clear objectives. Each chapter wraps up with key terms, a section summary and both multiple choice and short answer questions that will help students master the material. read more

Reviewed by Dee Malcuit, Associate Professor of Sociology, OhioLink on 12/2/18

Overall, this OER offers a general/brief overview of Introduction to Sociology content. read more

Reviewed by Paul Croll, Associate Professor of Sociology, Augustana College on 11/15/18

This text is comprehensive. It is comparable to the other main Introduction to Sociology alternatives in the market. Comparing the table of contents to other widely-used Intro texts, this text is equally comprehensive. The chapters and subjects... read more

Reviewed by Robert Wengronowitz, Visiting Assistant Professor, Augustana College on 11/8/18

Keirns et al. are very comprehensive. The book covers all the major ares within sociology and in terms of comprehensiveness, is on part with other Intro texts. read more

Reviewed by Lloyd Klein, Associate Professor, Laguardia Community College, CUNY on 5/21/18

The text is extremely comprehensive. Topics covered comprise the traditional menu associated with with most introductory sociology textbooks utilizing the "Ian Robertson" layout that has been customary. This is the cursory summary of the leading... read more

Reviewed by Aysha Bodenhamer, Assistant Professor, Radford University on 3/27/18

The text is very comprehensive, offering chapters on most all major concepts in an introductory sociology text. read more

Reviewed by Peter Grahame, Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania State University - Schuylkill on 2/1/18

This text covers all of the standard areas for an introductory textbook. An index is provided at the end, and each chapter has a list of key terms and definitions. read more

Reviewed by Jill Sturges, Instructor of Record, Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus on 2/1/18

This textbook is an excellent introductory text for Sociology. It cover many of the major components that need to be discussed in an Introductory Sociology class. It includes an easy to read preface and glossary. I was able to effectively find and... read more

Reviewed by Kallie Kantos, Adjunct Instructor , Rainy River Community College on 2/1/18

The book is very detail oriented, but in a way that is not difficult to understand. The learning objectives are clear and concise and placed a the beginning of each chapter. The terms are placed in bold throughout the text, allowing the reader's... read more

Reviewed by Geoff Harkness, Assistant Professor , Rhode Island College on 2/1/18

It's comprehensive, but there’s a kitchen-sink approach. There are 21 full-length chapters, enough for two semesters of full-time coursework. The kitchen-sink approach is especially noticeable in the chapter reviews, which include a glossary of... read more

Reviewed by Allison Wisecup, Associate Professor, Radford University on 2/1/18

The text includes the requisite breadth for an introductory text. I, and I think my students, really appreciate the short quizzes at the end of each chapter. These help them gauge their understanding of the material and prepare for course exams.... read more

Reviewed by Brittanie Roberts, Part-time Sociology Instructor, Portland Community College on 8/15/17

While this text does provide an adequate foundation for students with no prior experience or exposure to the sociological discipline, it lacks alternative perspectives, and is White, and male privilege heavy. While viewing different subjects and... read more

Reviewed by Rebecca Vonderhaar, Instructor, Tidewater Community College on 6/20/17

This textbook does a very good job covering all of the critical subjects in Sociology. The way in which the chapters are broken down into smaller subjects allows the the instructor more time to focus on certain issues. The index is very helpful... read more

Reviewed by David Taylor, Instructor, Northshore Technical Community College on 6/20/17

This is a very in-depth look at the fundamentals of Sociology. The 21 chapters give the instructor a variety of materials to choose from but covers quite well the major aspects of each. The index of the book and the glossaries at the end of each... read more

Reviewed by Jordan Durbin, Sociology Faculty, Portland Community College on 6/20/17

The book lacks a chapter on power which is critical for student's understanding of how society works. Overall, the text covers the main subjects covered in an introductory text. The globalization focus is welcomed. It's not possible to click on... read more

Reviewed by Ian Bolling, Faculty Lead: Social Sciences (Full-Professor fo Sociology), Tidewater Community College on 6/20/17

The textbook is comprehensive. I have selected numerous chapters from the textbook, but do not require all of the material in the text for a principles of Sociology class. Thus it is more exhaustive than I need, but have the ability to choose... read more

Reviewed by Jennifer Valentine, Instructor, Sociology, Tidewater Community College on 6/20/17

This text generally covers the same areas and ideas as the physical, paid-for text adopted by my institution. So, all the better that this version is available at no-cost. At the end of each section, there are practice quizzes, reflection... read more

Reviewed by Tiffanye Sledge, Associate Professor, Tidewater Community College on 6/20/17

This is a very comprehensive textbook, yet, with pretty succinct chapters. The book is on par with other textbooks that we have used that are very costly and there did not appear to be any missing concepts. There were no errors aside from the... read more

Reviewed by Sarah Ovink, Associate Professor of Sociology, Virginia Tech on 6/20/17

This is a comprehensive introductory sociology textbook. Its 21 chapters cover a vast array of topics of interest to sociologists, and include some that are often left out of other texts I have used, such as Global Inequality. The variety of... read more

Reviewed by Asha Lal Tamang, Adjunct Professor, North Hennepin Community College on 4/11/17

The textbook is comprehensive covering all the ‘traditional topics’ typically covered in a general Introduction to Sociology course. I would prefer to see addition of two topics: 1) Role of the United Nations in societal change and Sustainable... read more

Reviewed by Aida Ramos , Assistant Professor , George Fox University on 2/8/17

The text covers a wider range of topics in sociology, probably more than one can cover in one semester. I found it's comprehensiveness to be satisfactory with more than enough information. The only critique in this area would be regarding the... read more

Reviewed by Beverly Logan, Adjunct Instructor, Mt. Hood Community College on 12/5/16

Each chapter section has an extensive glossary. Occasionally, key terms are not included nor bolded in the text. It would be helpful to have a separate, clickable comprehensive glossary for each chapter, and ideally for the book, which one can... read more

Reviewed by Jerry Loveless, Sociology Instructor, Portland Community College on 12/5/16

The text overall does a great job covering the relevant content for an introductory course and provides a detailed glossary for key terms at the end of each chapter, while also including a comprehensive index in the back of the book. read more

Reviewed by Amy Ernstes, Lecturer, Sociology Department, University of North Carolina at Greensboro on 12/5/16

I would rate this text as comprehensive. While i might re-arrange the order of the material, in some cases/chapters, overall i find the book as including the main tenants of sociology as needed in an introductory course. (As a minor note, i... read more

Reviewed by Ariane Cox, Lecturer, University of North Carolina at Greensboro on 12/5/16

This book covers the expected chapters and key terms for an Intro textbook. read more

Reviewed by Aimee Krouskop, Instructor of Sociology, Portland Community College on 8/21/16

The comprehensiveness of this text is where I find there is room for most improvement. While I can appreciate length-constraints, there are a considerable number of topics i feel could use more explanation in order to make the concepts accessible... read more

Reviewed by Kaitlin Yanchar, Adjunct Faculty, Social Sciences, Klamath Community College on 8/21/16

Introduction to Sociology covers topics that are sometimes only mentioned in other texts. The authors did an excellent job of including the most important topics of Sociology, including socialization, groups, gender, race, and forms of governance. read more

Reviewed by Jessica Breidinger, Social Science Faculty, Treasure Valley Community College, Ontario, OR on 8/21/16

This textbook seems to provide an excellent introduction to the basic theories and ideas in Sociology however, for those of us who teach a series of General Sociology courses over three terms, essentially dividing the text into thirds, additional... read more

Reviewed by Susan Stalewski, Clinical Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwauee on 8/21/16

This text is used for foundation content in a health sciences diversity course. The coverage of culture, health, medicine, aging, disability, specific ethnic groups is appropriate and presented in a thoughtful and engaging manner that encourages... read more

Reviewed by Andrew Butz, Instructor, Portland Community College, Sylvania on 1/7/16

The book's comprehensiveness is average, or just above average. However, Chapter 21 needs: 'political process' or 'political opportunity theory' (and less detail on framing theory) of S.M.'s; and it should also have *theories* of social change, as... read more

Reviewed by Karen Lewis, Assistant Professor, Dickinson State University on 1/7/16

The Introduction to Sociology text is comprehensive covering all the topics typically covered in a general Introduction to Sociology course. The text is brief and only covers the three main theoretical perspectives so Feminist theory, Rational... read more

Reviewed by Misti Wuori, Adjunct Professor and Director of Extended Learning, Mayville State University on 1/7/16

This textbook is very comprehensive, especially for use in a semester-based (15 week) course. read more

Reviewed by Angela Addae, Graduate Associate, University of Arizona on 6/10/15

The text is fairly comprehensive for an introductory level course, but it often lacks detail--even for an Intro text. For example, the text excludes discussion on feminist perspectives and it fails to attribute theoretical paradigms to the... read more

Reviewed by Kristine Smith, Professor, University of Northwestern - St. Paul on 7/15/14

This textbook provided a comprehensive study of introductory sociology. The engaging graphs, figures and applications extended the mental grasp of the subject matter. The reviews and summaries at the end of the each chapter provided a helpful... read more

Reviewed by Rita Isola, Instructor- Sociology- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Capilano University on 10/9/13

I have rated this textbook's overall comprehensiveness a 2/5 (poor). It does not include Feminist Theory as theoretical perspective. At the end of each chapter the authors discuss the topic from the point of view of the major theoretical... read more

Reviewed by Charles Quist-Adade, Chair and Faculty, Sociology Dept, Kwantlen Polytechnic University on 10/9/13

Yes. The text does a really good job by capturing a wide range of sociological theories, concepts, and issues in both the content and glossary. read more

Reviewed by Neil Guppy, Professor, University of British Columbia on 10/9/13

Yes, see attached comments read more

Reviewed by Murray Shaw, Sociology Instructor, Douglas College on 10/9/13

The coverage of topics in this text is comprehensive. In a 1-semester [4 month] course, out of the 21 chapters, I would use 14 full chapters, and incorporate parts of other chapters. The glossaries and references listed by section at the end of... read more

Table of Contents

  • 1 An Introduction to Sociology
  • 2 Sociological Research
  • 3 Culture
  • 4 Society and Social Interaction
  • 5 Socialization
  • 6 Groups and Organization
  • 7 Deviance, Crime, and Social Control
  • 8 Media and Technology
  • 9 Social Stratification in the United States
  • 10 Global Inequality
  • 11 Race and Ethnicity
  • 12 Gender, Sex, and Sexuality
  • 13 Aging and the Elderly
  • 14  Relationships, Marriage, and Family
  • 15 Religion
  • 16 Education
  • 17 Government and Politics
  • 18 Work and the Economy
  • 19 Health and Medicine
  • 20 Population, Urbanization, and the Environment
  • 21 Social Movements and Social Change

Ancillary Material

  • OpenStax
  • About the Book

    Introduction to Sociology 3e aligns to the topics and objectives of many introductory sociology courses. It is arranged in a manner that provides foundational sociological theories and contexts, then progresses through various aspects of human and societal interactions. The new edition is focused on driving meaningful and memorable learning experiences related to critical thinking about society and culture. The text includes comprehensive coverage of core concepts, discussions and data relevant to a diverse audience, and features that draw learners into the discipline in powerful and personal ways. Overall, Introduction to Sociology 3e aims to center the course and discipline as crucial elements for understanding relationships, society, and civic engagement; the authors seek to lay the foundation for students to apply what they learn throughout their lives and careers.

    The authors, reviewers, and the entire team worked to build understanding of the causes and impacts of discrimination and prejudice. Introduction to Sociology 3e contains dozens of examples of discrimination and its outcomes regarding social science, society, institutions, and individuals. The text seeks to strike a balance between confronting the damaging aspects of our culture and history and celebrating those who have driven change and overcome challenges. The core discussion of these topics are present in Chapter 11 on Race and Ethnicity, and Chapter 12 on Gender, Sex, and Sexuality, but their causes and effects are extensively discussed in the context of other topics, including education, law enforcement, government, healthcare, the economy, and so on. Together and when connected by an instructor, these elements have potential for deep and lasting effects.

    About the Contributors

    Authors

    Tonja R. Conerly, San Jacinto College

    Kathleen Holmes, Northern Essex Community College

    Asha Lal Tamang, Minneapolis Community and Technical College & North Hennepin Community College

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