Sociology: Background Sources

Provides clear, concise, expert definitions and explanations of the key concepts. Presents materials that have historically defined the discipline, but also more recent developments, significantly updating the store of sociological knowledge.

Articles covering core issues such as race, poverty, violence, economics, pregnancy and abortion have been updated and expanded, and completely new articles have been written on topics such as the Internet, privacy and epidemiology.

Examines the global landscape of all the key theories and the theorists behind them and presents them in the context needed to understand the strengths and weaknesses of all the key areas of the discipline.

The Encyclopedia features two major types of entries: definitions, consisting of a paragraph or two, which provide a quick explanation of a methodological term; and topical treatments or essays, discussing the nature, history, application/example and implication of using a certain method. Tackles topics not normally viewed as part of social science research methodology, from philosophical issues such as poststructuralism to advanced statistical techniques.

Provides an authoritative guide to theory and method, the key sub-disciplines, and the primary debates in Sociology.

Aimed primarily at students, with a combination of clear prose, engaging examples, a single author's voice, and its minimal assumptions about the average reader's prior knowledge of sociology and its related fields, makes this a unique and valuable reference work.

Contains more than 2,500 entries on the terminology, methods, concepts, and thinkers in the field, as well as from the related fields of psychology, economics, anthropology, philosophy, and political science.

Surveys the breadth of class strata throughout our history, for high school students to the general public. Class is illuminated in 525 essay entries on significant people, terms, theories, programs, institutions, eras, ethnic groups, places, and much more.

Over 550 entries covering a variety of topics related to criminology, deviant behavior, and other unusual sociological phenomena. Each entry includes a comprehensive definition of the term, concise practical information (such as tables and/or diagrams) and a bibliography.

Provides essays on current areas of research as well as concise, to-the-point definitions of key concepts, ideas, schools, and figures.

Includes more than 300 articles authored by key figures in the field, organized A-to-Z in two volumes. Each article concludes with cross-references to related entries and further readings. A thematic "Reader's Guide" groups related articles by broad areas, such as concepts, theories, research methodologies, etc.

Includes articles specific to countries and to religious traditions, examining the history of family life within these cultures and discussing how families have been affected by political and social change.