Sociology For Dummies

Get a handle on sociology principles and practice the fun, easy way!Sociology takes a scientific approach to what each of us does in his or her own way: try to make sense of the complex social world we live in. That's why from secondary school cliques to ethnic identity, online shopping habits to sex crimes, no aspect of life is off-limits to the sociologist. Whether you're a student who'd like to know more about the subject before enrolling in a course, a journalist or marketer looking to expand your professional toolkit or simply one of the 6 billion social beings on planet Earth searching for answers, Sociology For Dummies is the quickest, easiest way to get up to speed on sociology concepts, trends, tools and techniques.* Meet the parents - become acquainted with sociology's origins and its pioneers, principles, terms and concepts, and who practises sociology today* Sociology-coloured glasses - learn how to see through the eyes of a sociologist and get a fresh perspective on culture, society and social networks, and how you fit into the big picture* Divided we stand - discover why inequality is so important to sociology and the roles of social stratification, status, sex, gender, ethnicity and religion* The ins and outs of the Ins and Outs - find out what sociologists know about governments, social movements, corporations, religions and other forms of social organisation, and how they work, or don't* From cradle to grave - gain important insights into how every aspect of our lives is inextricably tied to the societies we live in and what understanding society can tell us about ourselves - past, present and futureOpen the book and find:* The who, what and where of sociology* How to look at society scientifically* Sociological research methods* The roles of race, class, sexand religion* All about think tanks and social research institutions* The sociology of politics and social movements* Business applications for sociology* Career opportunities for sociologists outside academiaLearn to:* Recognise major concepts and theories* Analyse the role of multiple identities in Europe today* Understand crime, deviance and the surveillance society* Conduct sociological research and analyse the results