Making Sense of Social Theory: A Practical Introduction

This compact introductory text offers a coherent overview of sociological theory. Explaining sociology's seminal discoveries with an elegant simplicity that not only makes them easily understood, Charles H. Powers also conveys sociology's intellectual coherence as a discipline. Unlike most authors, he treats sociology as a serious science, thus providing readers with a set of theoretical principles that summarizes the discoveries made by major contributors to sociological thought. These principles cover sociology's core theories and affirm its explanatory power for understanding face-to-face, organizational, and societal events. Making a compelling case that theory and research are symbiotic, this book will be invaluable for students who want to understand how sociological theory and sociological research can be meaningfully intertwined. It offers a clear and compelling view of theory as a tool that should both inform and be informed by the research process. After finishing this text, readers will be armed with useful insights, will see sociology as more unified and coherent, and will embrace the power of the discipline to offer meaningful explanation.