"I am firmly convinced that sociology can play a valuable role in teaching critical thinking skills. Sociology: A Brief Introduction can help students to better understand the workings of their own lives as well as of their society and other cultures." -- Richard T. Schaefer

The Fourth Edition of Sociology: A Brief Introduction, like its predecessors, reflects Rick Schaefer's mission to bring readers a concise, up-to-date text that teaches students how to think critically about society and their own lives from a wide range of classical and contemporary perspectives. Combining balanced coverage of theory with current research findings, distinctive social policy sections, examples and issues of interest to students, and abundant learning aids and exercises, Sociology: A Brief Introduction is a text that will help students to develop a sociological imagination and perspective.

To support and extend the content of the Fourth Edition of Sociology: A Brief Introduction, this text-specific Online Learning Center offers students and professors a variety of resources and activities, including updates to the text's boxes and Internet Connection exercises, quizzes, annotated web links, PowerPoint slides, and more. And, instructors can use any of the material from the Online Learning Center in a course website created using PageOut, a template-driven website development program offered by McGraw-Hill.