Allyn & Bacon / Prentice Hall

Interdisciplinary Studies



Social Science: An Introduction to the Study of Society, 13/E
Elgin F. Hunt, late, Wilson Junior College
David C. Colander, Middlebury College

ISBN-10: 0205524060
ISBN-13: 9780205524068

Publisher: Allyn & Bacon
Copyright: 2008
Format: Paper; 528 pp
Published: 05/01/2007

Suggested retail price: $96.20
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This classic text provides a revised and updated survey of the social sciences, written in an unbiased manner with a multidisciplinary, common sense approach.

The Thirteenth Edition highlights the dramatic political and economic changes that have swept the world in recent years, providing students and instructors with a starting point for lively classroom discussions and debate.

  • A strong multidisciplinary approach. Comprehensive coverage incorporates elements of anthropology, economics, political science, sociology, history, and geography.
  • Focuses on culture and all aspects of the group life of human beings.
  • Its personal, accessible writing style is praised by adopters and their students.
  • Web Questions at the end of each chapter give students an opportunity to use technology and expand their understanding of chapter content beyond the cover of the printed text.
  • Each chapter ends with “Key Points,” “List of Important Terms,” “Questions for Review and Discussion,” “For Further Study” and “Internet Resources.”

 

  • Ch.1 has a new discussion of qualitative analysis and introduces the distinction between causation and correlation.
  • Ch. 2 has an expanded discussion of scientific and religious views of evolution.
  • Chapter 4 includes a new section on multiculturalism and the political debates over monoculturalism vs. multiculturalism.
  • Chapter 5 now discusses the conservation movement, the price of gasoline, and the global economics of oil production.
  • Chapter 6 has a section on technologies used to fight crime, and technology-based crime like identity theft.
  • Chapter 7 now distinguishes the psychoanalytic and cognitive approaches to understanding behavior.
  • Chapter 8 includes both secular and religious histories of marriage.
  • Chapter 10 discusses the GED and high school dropouts.
  • The section on social mobility in Chapter 11 and been rewritten and expanded.
  • Chapter 13 has a new discussion of Republicans, Democrats and political ideology.
  • In Ch. 15 (Governments of the world), the example of Japanese government has been replaced with the Nigerian government in the to achieve better geographic distribution.
  • Chapters 16 and 19 have new material on globalization and the world economy.
  • Ch. 17 now covers patents, copyrights, and intellectual property rights.
  • The Political Science and Economics chapters contain many updated examples and discussions of fast-changing foreign policy issues, and the evolving war on terror.

1. Social Science and Its Methods.

Social Science.

The Methods of Social Science.

Social Science and Society.

Conclusion.

Appendix 1-A, Historical Roots of Social Science.

The Enlightenment.

From Philosophy to Social Science.



2. Human Origins.

The Origin of the Human Species.

The Evolution of Human Beings.

Conclusion.



3. Origins of Western Society.

From the Stone Age to the Agricultural Age.

Early Civilizations.

The Middle Ages (A.D. 500-1453).

The Renaissance.

The Development of Modern Economic and Political Institutions.

Conclusion.



4. Society, Culture, and Cultural Change.

Culture and Multiculturism.

Culture and the Nature of Society.

Cultural Integration.

Culture, Society, and Social Change.

Social Change and Social Problems.

Contrasts Among Cultures.



5. Geography, Demography, Ecology, and Society.

Geography.

Demography.

Ecology: The Interaction of Geography, Demography, and Environment.

Conclusion.



6. Technology and Society.

The Industrial Revolution.

Technology and Globalization.

Technology and Social Change.

Natural Resources, Economics, and Technology.

Technology of the Past.

Technology of the Future.



7. The Individual, Society, and Culture.

Socialization of the Individual.

Personality and Its Development.

Intelligence, Personal Adjustment, and Normality.

Deviance.

Conclusion.



8. The Family.

Variations in the Family Pattern.

Functions of the Family in Society.

Variations of Family Patterns and the Functions of the Family.

The Family in the United States Today.

The Family in Transition.



9. Religion.

The Nature of Religion.

The Great Religions of Today.

The Role of Religion in Society.

The Future of Religion.



10. Education.

Schools as Agencies of Social Control.

The Development of U.S. Education.

Examining the School System.

Interaction of Economics, Politics, and Social Institutions.



11. Social and Economic Stratification.

Types of Social Stratification.

Social Mobility.

Economic and Social Inequality.

Increasing Social and Economic Inequality.



12. Stratification, Minorities and Discrimination

Race and Ethnicity.

Minorities.

Conclusion.



13. The Functions and Forms of Government.

The Primary Functions of Government.

Debates about the Nature of Government.

Forms of Government.

Governments Are Far from Simple.



14. Democratic Government in the United States.

Historical Development of U.S. Government.

The Structure of U.S. Government.

The Political Process.

Evaluation of the Democratic Political Process.



15. Governments of the World.

French Government.

Nigerian Government.

Japanese Government.

Russian Government.

Saudi Arabian Government.

Some Lessons about Governments.

Future Changes in Governments.



16. The Organization of Economic Activities.

The Nature of an Economy.

The Evolution of Economic Systems.

Market Economies.

Globalization and the Changing Nature of the U.S. Economy.

The Socialist Economic System.

The Continuing Evolution of Economies.



17. Government and the Economy.

Government's Direct Role in the Economy.

Government's Indirect Role in the Economy.

Conclusion.



18. International Political Relations.

The State in International Relations.

The Rise of the European Union.

Power in the World Community.

Foreign Policies.

The United States in the World Community.



19. International Economic Relations.

The Terminology of Trade.

Advantages and Disadvantages of International Trade.

Restrictions on International Trade.

Foreign Exchange.

Conclusion.



20. The Political Economies of Developing Countries.

Problems of Developing Countries.

Options of Developing Countries.

Case Studies.

Conclusion.



21. International Institutions and the Search for Peace.

The Problem of War.

The United Nations.

The Outlook for Peace.

Overall

 

"Without qualification, it is, in my view, the best in the field."

-- Ali Al--Taie

     Shaw University

 

"Judged by its detailed subjects, themes, concepts, its very content, and the style of writing, the book is  a salient example of prudent scholarship, pointed learning, and professional manufacturing."

-- Ali Al--Taie

     Shaw University

 

"It provides the foundational knowledge upon which to fuel rich lectures and engaging classroom discussions."

-- Catherine Montsinger

     Johnson C. Smith University

 

"The text is concise and manageable for students from various academic majors outside the social sciences.  It approached the topics from an introductory level yet is stimulating."

-- Catherine Montsinger

     Johnson C. Smith University

 

"Hunt/Colander represents a good choice of topics for a study of the social sciences, with a very thorough look at relevant issues in the various disciplines."

-- Ted Williams

     City Colleges of Chicago

 

 

Chapter 1

 

"Good introduction to the field of social science.  It is simple and direct.  Good example of sample survey."

-- Ted Williams

     City Colleges of Chicago

David Colander is Professor of Economics at Middlebury College.

This classic text provides a revised and updated survey of the social sciences, written in an unbiased manner with a multidisciplinary, common sense approach. The thirteenth edition highlights the dramatic political and economic changes that have swept the world in recent years, providing students and instructors with a starting point for lively classroom discussions and debate.

 

As with every edition, this text has been thoroughly updated. Some highlights of the new edition include:

  • Chapter 1 has a new discussion of qualitative analysis and introduces the distinction between causation and correlation.
  • Chapter 2 has an expanded discussion of scientific and religious views of evolution.
  • Chapter 4 includes a new section on multiculturalism and the political debates over monoculturalism versus multiculturalism.
  • Chapter 5 discusses the conservation movement, the price of gasoline, and the global economics of oil production.
  • Chapter 6 has a section on technologies used to fight crime and technology-based crime such as identity theft.
  • Chapter 7 distinguishes the psychoanalytic and cognitive approaches to understanding behavior.
  • Chapter 8 includes both secular and religious histories of marriage.
  • Chapter 10 discusses the GED and high school dropouts.
  • Chapter 11’s section on social mobility has been rewritten and expanded.
  • Chapter 13 has a new discussion of Republicans, Democrats, and political ideology.
  • Chapter 14, Governments of the World, includes the Nigerian government to achieve better geographic distribution.
  • Chapters 16 and 19 have new material on globalization and the world economy.
  • Chapter 17 covers patents, copyrights, and intellectual property rights.
  • Chapters 18, 19, and 20, the political science and economics chapters, contain updated examples, discussions of fast-changing foreign policy issues, and the evolving war on terror.

View a Sample Chapter PDF:

For Introduction to Social Science


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