Sociology Textbook Overview and Cengage Learning

Book Title and Subtitle

• Introductory Sociology in Comparative Perspectives
• Lou Antolihao

Contributors

• Regional Director, Marketing: Melissa Chan
• Senior Marketing Manager: Charles Ho
• Senior Editorial Manager: Lian Siew Han
• Assistant Editorial Manager: Tanmayee Bhatwadekar
• Senior Development Editors: Kenneth Chow, Ng Wei Yi
• Development Editors: Iris Poh, Cecile Zhang
• Senior Regional Manager, Production and Rights: Pauline Lim
• Production Executive: Rachael Tan
• Copy Editor: Maureen Tan
• Cover Designer: Benson Tan
• Compositor: International Typesetters
• Cover Image: Roberto Rizzi/iStock

Book Contents

• Preface
  • The book's primary objective is to present introductory sociology in an Asian context using cases and scholars from the region.
  • The subtitle was changed from "Introductory Sociology in Asian Contexts" to "Introductory Sociology in Comparative Perspectives" to highlight regional and global interfaces shaping contemporary sociology.
  • The text is broadly divided into five parts: (1) Ideas, (2) Identities, (3) Interactions, (4) Institutions, and (5) Issues.
  • Part 1 (Ideas) looks into education and learning, sociological theories, and research practices.
  • Parts (2-4) provide comparative discussions on a country from East or Southeast Asia and another from a different region.
  • Part 5 (Issues) reviews the semester.
• Chapter 1: Sociological Orienteering
  • Focuses on sociological approaches used to understand society.
  • Highlights personal compass, cultural map, and social terrain aspects.
  • Introduces sociological imagination and sociological orienteering.
• Chapter 2: Sociological Theories
  • Introduces key sociological theories (functionalist, conflict, interactionist, and reorientationist)
• Chapter 3: Sociological Research
  • Discusses methodologies used in sociological research (positivist, critical, interpretive, and comparative historical).
  • Covers research ethics and practical guidelines.
• Chapter 4: Race and Ethnicity
  • Explores concepts of race and ethnicity and how these categories are socially constructed.
• Chapter 5: Gender and Sexuality
  • Examines gender and sexuality as social constructs.
  • Discusses concepts like sexism, gender socialization, and gender discrimination.
• Chapter 6: Social Class and Social Stratification
  • Explores social stratification systems (servitude, caste, estate, class).
  • Discusses social class and social inequality.
• Chapter 7: Culture
  • Examines culture, including cultural universals, cultural particulars, and cultural diffusion.
• Chapter 8: Groups and Organizations
  • Defines types of organizations (normative, coercive, and utilitarian).
  • Examines the processes and problems of bureaucracies and multinational corporations.
• Chapter 9: Deviance and Social Control
  • Defines deviance and social control.
  • Explores different types of deviance (victimless, hate, professional, organized, white collar, cyber, and transnational) and associated sanctions.
• Chapter 10: Family
  • Discusses the concept of family as a social institution.
  • Types of family structures, functions, and changes across societies
• Chapter 11: Religion
  • Analysis of religion as a social institution
  • Types of religious organizations
  • Expounding on the concept of secularization
• Chapter 12: Politics, Economics, and the Nation-State -Examines the nature of political, economic, and social structures of nation-states. -Focuses on globalization
• Chapter 13: Pandemics and Social Change
  • Discusses pandemics in history and their social impact
  • Covid-19 pandemic
• Chapter 14: The Environment and Social Change
  • Explores the relationship between society and environment in a global context
  • Environmentalism and social movements
• Chapter 15: Armed Conflicts and Social Change
  • Discusses armed conflicts and their impacts
  • Focuses on social and political consequences of armed conflicts among/within societies