The Field of Sociology......Defining Sociology......What is Sociology?.....Sociology and Other Social Sciences..........

The Sociological Perspective......The Founding Fathers of Sociology.......Auguste Comte.......Karl Marx......Herbert

Spencer.......Max Weber.......Émile Durkheim.......Contemporary Sociology......Theoretical Perspective In Sociology.........

What is Sociological Theory?.........Types of Sociological Theory........Speculative Theories vs. Grounded Theories.........

Grand Theories vs. Miniature Theories.......Macro Theories vs. Micro Theories.........Functions of Sociological Theory..........

Mainline Theories in Sociology..........Evolutionary Theory......... Structural-functionalism.........Conflict Theory........

Symbolic Interactionism........Exchange Theory .........Choosing and Using Sociological Theory.......Theoretical Perspectives

in a Global Age........METHODS OF RESEARCH IN SOCIOLOGY........The Scientific ApproachBasic Principles.......

Steps in Research Process.........Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research.........Issues in Sociological Research........

THE FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIETY........CULTURE........The Meaning of Culture........Components of Culture.........

Culture Orientation........Cultural Diversity........Cultural Change Towards a Global Culture?........SOCIALIZATION.......

Heredity and Environment........The Results of Deprived Socialization........Theories of Socialization.......

Sociological Theories......Psychological Theories.........Agents of Socialization........ Resocialization.........

Total Institutions.....Socialization by Caste, Religion, and Gender......SOCIAL INTERACTION......

Verbal and Non-verbal Communication....Crystallization of Social Interaction......Theories of Social Interacion.......

Dramaturgical Approach...... Ethnomethodology.......The Structure of Social Interaction......

TYPES OF SOCIETIES AND GROUPS........Evolution of Societies.......Hunting and Gathering Societies........

Pastoral Societies........Agrarian Societies ........ Horticultural Societies....... Industrial and Post-industrial Societies.......

Three Typologies.....Mechanical and Organic Solidarity: Émile Durkheim ......Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft:

Ferdinand Tonnies.......... Folk and Urban Societies: Robert Redfield .........Types of Social Groups......Aggregate .........

Societal Group ......Social Group......Associational Group In-groups and Out-groups......Primary and Secondary Groups......

Reference Groups .....Electronic Communities.....Formal Organizations and Bureaucracy.....Size and Group Dynamics........

Social Organization.....DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL CONTROL.....What is Deviance?......The Normality of Crime: Durkheim....

Consequences of Deviance.......Theories of Deviant Behaviour.........Biological Theories .......Sociological Theories ........

Gender and Deviance......Crime and Criminals......Social Control.....Informal Social Control .......Psychological Theories ......

Formal Social Control ........Social Inequality......SOCIAL STRATIFICATION.......Three Systems of Stratification.......

The Estate System......The Caste System......The Class System.......Race, Gender, and Stratification........

Dimensions of Social Stratification........Theories of Stratification........Functional Theory........Conflict Theory........

Global Systems of Stratification........Caste and Class in India........Lifestyles and Life Chances.......Social Mobility........

MINORITIES AND WEAKER SECTIONS........Prejudice and Discrimination.......Patterns of Majority-Minority Relations.......

Minority Responses........Minority Groups in India.......SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS........THE FAMILY.......Types of Families.......

Marriage Patterns.......Functions of the Family......The Future of Marriage and Family........Marriage and Family in India........

Global Trends in Marriage and Family......Domestic Violence......THE POLITICAL ECONOMY.....State and Government.......

Functions of the State.......Social Control.......Defence.......Welfare........Types of States......

Autocracy ...... Totalitarianism.......Democracy......Types of Economy....... Capitalism........Socialism......Mixed Economy........

Democratic Socialism...... Power and Authority........ Theories of Power in Societies........ The Power Elite Model.......

The Indian Political Scene....... Globalization and Corporate Capitalism......EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM......

Functions of Education.......Socialization......Cultural Transmission.....Social Placement......Innovation......

Social Integration......Critical Thinking......Inequality in Education.....Education and the UN Millennium Development

Goals.......Education in India......RELIGION.......Religions among the 'Primitive' People........Elements of Religion.......

Some Related Concepts........Magic.......Sect......Cult........Contemporary Sociological Perspectives on Religion.......

Key Sociological Theories on Religion.........The Functionalist Perspective........The Conflict Perspective.......

Durkheim's Theory of Religion.........Recent Trends in Religion.........Secularization.........Resacralization .......

Fundamentalism........Religion in India........SOCIAL CHANGE......POPULATION AND URBANIZATION........

The Basic Concepts.......Fertility.......Mortality.......Migration......Theoretical Perspectives......