[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-detail-40799-en":3,"doc-seo-40799-105":30,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":92},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",{"doc_id":7,"user_id":8,"nickname":9,"user_avatar":10,"doc_module":4,"category_id":11,"category_name":12,"doc_title":13,"doc_description":14,"doc_content":15,"file_id":16,"file_url":17,"file_type":18,"file_size":19,"view_count":20,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":21,"is_downloadable":21,"audit_status":21,"page_count":22,"language":23,"language_code":24,"site_id":25,"html_lang":24,"table_of_contents":26,"faqs":27,"seo_title":13,"seo_description":14,"update_tm":28,"read_time":29},40799,1374391974468,"Eden","https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_29158cc5080c5b710cf443261637dec0",8,"Research & Report","Sociology The Basics","Sociology: The Basics provides an essential introduction to the world of sociology, explaining what sociology is and how sociologists can affect society. The book analyzes key areas of the discipline with concise definitions of major concepts and theories. Chapters cover the nature of human society, the relationship between science and sociology, social institutions, and future directions for the field, including methods of research and sociological theory, with suggestions for further reading.","Sociology: The Basics  \nWhat is sociology?  \nCan sociologists change society?  \nIn a subject which has changed greatly in the last twenty years, this book provides an essential introduction to the world of sociology. The author analyses key areas of the subject as well as presenting concise definitions of sociology’s major concepts and theories.  \nEach chapter covers essential areas of study, including the nature of human society, science and sociology, social institutions and the future of sociology. The book also provides suggestions for further reading. Clearly written, comprehensive and informative, Sociology: The Basics is an indispensable introduction for anyone thinking of studying the subject.  \nMartin Albrow has held Chairs of Sociology in Cardiff and Munich and is Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics and in the University of Cambridge. He is Research Professor in the Social Sciences, Roehampton Institute London. His most recent book is Do Organizations have Feelings? (Routledge 1997) .  \nOther titles in this series include:  \nPolitics: The Basics  \nStephen D.Tansey  \nLanguage: The Basics  \nR.L.Trask  \nPhilosophy: The Basics  \nNigel Warburton  \nSociology:  \nThe Basics  \n􀀁 Martin Albrow  \nLONDON AND NEW YORK  \nROUTLEDGE  \nFirst published 1999  \nby Routledge  \n11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE  \nSimultaneously published in the USA and Canada  \nby Routledge  \n29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001  \nRoutledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group  \nThis edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2003.  \n© 1999 Martin Albrow  \nAll rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system,  \nwithout permission in writing from the publishers.  \nBritish Library Cataloguing in Publication Data  \nA catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library  \nLibrary of Congress Cataloging in  \nPublication Data Albrow, Martin.  \nSociology: the basics/Martin Albrow [p. cm](p. cm).  \nIncludes bibliographical references and index.  \n1. Sociology. I. Title. HM1 .A625 1999 301–dc21 98–56183  \nCIP ISBN 0-203-44918-5 Master e-book ISBN  \nISBN 0-203-75742-4 (Adobe eReader Format) ISBN 0-415-17263-2 (hbk)  \nISBN 0-415-17264-0 (pbk)  \nFor the three Woodies, Nick, John and Stephen and Thomas A-O  \n1  \nContents  \nPreface  \nAcknowledgements  \nThe nature of human society  \nThe world and society  \nFrom species to humanity Humankind and culture Sex and gender Evolution and history  \nShaping the world Money and capital  \nInstitutions and collectivities Countries and nations  \nThe globe  \nHuman society in practice  \nSocial relations  \nTypes of human association Constructing and performing society  \nxi  \nxiii  \n1  \n2 5  \n5 8  \n11  \n13  \n13  \n17  \n20  \n21  \n23  \n23  \n25  \n27  \nContents  \nvii  \nCONTENTS  \n2 The science of sociology 31  \nThe rise of the discipline 31  \nScience and reality 31  \nOrigins 34  \nParadigms and discourse 37  \nMethods of research 41  \nTheory and metaphor 41  \nConcepts in research 43  \nExplanation 46  \nTriangulation 49  \nIntellectual craftsmanship 52  \nProfessional practice 56  \nIdeology and objectivity 56  \nFreedom for values 59  \nProfessionalism 62  \nLifelong learning 65  \n3 Sociological theory 69  \nOld and new directions 69  \nThe old theoretical agenda 69  \nThe contemporary problem for theory 72  \nThe unit of analysis 75  \nPower and critique 77  \nConstituting society 81  \nIdeal types 81  \nMediation 84  \nSociation 90  \nStructuration 94  \nBoundaries and identities 99  \nDifference 99  \nIdentity 101  \nTrust 103  \n4 Social institutions 107  \nFrom functions to practices 107  \nInstitutions in practice 107  \nCONTENTS  \nInstitutional theory 110  \nChanges in the life-spheres 114  \nBeyond state societies 114  \nWork for human needs 119  \nEnvironment as global risk 126  \nThe autonomy of cu","cbCaibpqymTnDFZn","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaibpqymTnDFZn","pdf",1198044,6,1,218,"English","en",105,"# Preface\n# The nature of human society\n# The world and society\n# From species to humanity\n# Shaping the world\n# Institutions and collectivities\n# Human society in practice\n# Social relations\n# Constructing and performing society\n# The science of sociology\n## The rise of the discipline\n## Methods of research\n# Sociological theory\n## Old and new directions\n## Structuration\n# Social institutions\n## Institutions in practice\n# Society in the future\n## Open futures","[{\"question\":\"What does the book explain about sociology and its scope?\",\"answer\":\"It introduces what sociology is and how sociologists can change society, then surveys major concepts and theories across multiple chapters. 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Social institutions chapters move from functions to practices and explore institutional theory, culture, work, and global risk.\"}]",1783315146,549,{"code":4,"msg":31,"data":32},"ok",{"site_id":25,"language":24,"slug":33,"title":13,"keywords":34,"description":14,"schema_data":35,"social_meta":87,"head_meta":89,"extra_data":91,"updated_unix":28},"sociology-the-basics","",{"@graph":36,"@context":86},[37,54,69],{"@type":38,"itemListElement":39},"BreadcrumbList",[40,44,48,51],{"item":41,"name":42,"@type":43,"position":21},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":45,"name":46,"@type":43,"position":47},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":49,"name":12,"@type":43,"position":50},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":52,"name":13,"@type":43,"position":53},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/sociology-the-basics/40799/",4,{"url":52,"name":13,"@type":55,"author":56,"headline":13,"publisher":58,"fileFormat":61,"inLanguage":24,"description":14,"dateModified":62,"datePublished":63,"encodingFormat":61,"isAccessibleForFree":64,"interactionStatistic":65},"DigitalDocument",{"name":9,"@type":57},"Person",{"url":41,"name":59,"@type":60},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-07-20","2026-07-06",true,{"@type":66,"interactionType":67,"userInteractionCount":20},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":68},"ViewAction",{"@type":70,"mainEntity":71},"FAQPage",[72,78,82],{"name":73,"@type":74,"acceptedAnswer":75},"What does the book explain about sociology and its scope?","Question",{"text":76,"@type":77},"It introduces what sociology is and how sociologists can change society, then surveys major concepts and theories across multiple chapters. 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