An Introduction to Sociology - Softcover

"Ken Browne's text is an excellent introduction to sociology for students of all ages and aptitudes - clearly structured, well-organized and written in a way that is both informative and accessible. With the 4th edition, the best GCSE Sociology text just got even better..." Chris Livesey, Sociology Central "An excellent, informative and engaging introduction to sociology. This book just gets better and better. The clear layout allows the reader to access the material easily. The content is enhanced by useful web references making this a really valuable resource. Ken Browne asks the reader to see this book "as your friend": this is a friend that any new student of sociology would want to spend a lot of time with." Stuart Booker, Chesterfield College "In a world increasingly characterized by information overload, we are in ever more need of a guide who can separate the wheat from the chaff, who can show the difference between opinions and evidence, and perhaps most importantly indicate the ways in which research, when properly used by politicians and practitioners, can help to improve the lives of our fellow citizens. I am delighted once again to have the chance to recommend Ken Browne as just such a guide for anyone embarking upon the path to sociology." Laurie Taylor

Thoroughly revised and fully updated, this fourth edition of An Introduction to Sociology provides an accessible and engaging introduction to sociology, without oversimplifying or passing over the important and exciting insights sociology has to offer. Building on the book's existing achievements, Ken Browne has restructured the fourth edition to focus on the core issues in sociology considered in introductory courses, covering all the substantive topics and many of the options specified by the main GCSE examining boards. The new edition has been completely updated to reflect contemporary social changes, including the latest statistics and topical illustrative examples. New material is to be found throughout, such as extended treatment of family and household diversity, the effects of new media technologies, citizenship, political participation and protest, and the links between sociology, social problems and social policymaking in a range of contexts. The book has been carefully designed to support and extend students' learning: summaries of key issues, a clear glossary, and a lively range of activities and discussion points, all add to the book's value as a learning and teaching resource. Student-friendly cartoons, tables, diagrams and photographs - as well as a fresh internal design - also enliven the text, presenting sociology as an exciting and relevant topic to students of all ages, interests and abilities. The new edition of this highly successful textbook will prove invaluable to anyone taking an introductory sociology course, especially at GCSE and related levels. Students taking Access, nursing, and health and social care courses will also find the book provides an easy-to-follow and thoughtful introduction to studying sociology.