This best-selling introduction to social problems opens with an overview of the sociological tools and perspectives that are used in the study of social problems. The book provides a solid foundation by discussing fundamental changes and problems in the four basic social institutions — economy, government, education, and family — before examining more specific topics, such as health care or poverty. The volume addresses the sociological aspects of sociology and social problems, troubled institutions, the problems of inequality, conformity and deviance and the problems of a changing world. For those interested in the social problems and solutions that face society today.

Social Problems

Politics & Social Sciences

Coleman, James

Cressey, Donald

Social Sciences

HarperCollins, Publishers

Philosophers, social scientists, and laymen have used two perspectives in analyzing social action. One sees man's action as the result of causal forces, and the other sees action as purposive and goal directed. Mathematical treatment of social action has shown this same dichotomy. Some models of behavior describe a causal process, in which there is no place for intention or purpose. Most stochastic models of behavior, whether individual or group, are like this. Another body of work, however, employs purpose, anticipation of some future state, and action designed to maximize the proximity to some goal. Classical microeconomic theory, statistical decision theory, and game theory exemplify this direction. This book examines these two directions of work, and makes original contributions to the second. An introductory chapter outlines these two bodies of work, and casts them in a common frame, to display their similarities and differences. Chapter 2 reviews at length recent work in stochastic processes that makes up the first body of work, which sees social action as the resultant of causal forces. The remaining chapters develop a mathematical framework for the study of systems of social action using a purposive theoretical base. These chapters are designed particularly to contribute to the study of collective decisions, a form of social action that has proved particularly challenging to theoretical analysis. First published in 1973, this became a significant work both in problem solving and in the future career of the author. It is of continuing importance to researchers and students interested in statistical analysis.

The Mathematics of Collective Action

Business & Money

Economics

Routledge

Substantially revised and updated, this is the third edition of a highly popular book which has been helping students for decades. It provides a sound base of linguistic competence upon which students can build with confidence. Comprises twelve thematic modules each including a relevant and contemporary text based on an aspect of French life and culture, associated exercises, and a section on grammar.

Le Francais en Faculte (French Edition)

Reference

Lang, Margaret

Hare, Geoff

Adamson, Robin

Lodge, Anthony

Wakely, Richard

Foreign Language Study & Reference

Adolescents + The Schools

Basic Books

Not a Library Copy, No Dust Jacket Present, Tight Binding, Limited Chipping or Tears to Edges, Limited Markings (Underlining, Notes in Margins), No Creasing, Yellowing of Page Edges

Nigeria: Background to Nationalism

Politics & Government

Univ. Of California Pr.

BOOK DESCRIPTION:The CIRCLE is a fast-moving, action-packed story about a real, notorious gang of teenagers. They cared little about who they stomped, what vandalism they did, or whose car they swiped in their attempts to get back at the "codger" and "bags" of the community.The inside details of the many jobs they pulled, how the kids behave toward each other, and what they really think of adults is plainly revealed.Although the story is about teenagers and written for teenagers it is a gutsy book and not for the squeamish or chicken-hearted. The story will "turn off" most adults but it is MUST reading for those parents who refuse to understand their teenagers as a lesson in what can happen if their kids finally "tune them out".AUTHOR BIO:James A. Coleman is a retired college physics professor. However, he has spent a good deal of time as an unpaid street worker helping troubled youths, especially those who organized into street gangs. The CIRCLE is a fictionalised story of one of these gangs. Coleman is also a well-established author of science books for the layman.

The Circle

Children's Books

Mysteries & Detectives

iUniverse

God never intended for man to live by bread alone. In this book, Living by Bread Alone, the reader will discover that it takes more than physical bread alone to live the abundant life that God planned for mankind. In Living by bread alone, James K. Coleman defines the different kinds of people: natural man, the ordinary believer, and the uncommon believer, and he also shows the proper place of bread in man's life. The reader will learn: how to live by the words of God, how to live by faith and what are the tools that make faith work effectively.

Living by Bread Alone: Man's Quest for the Good Life

Religion & Spirituality

Worship & Devotion

Combining principles of individual rational choice with a sociological conception of collective action, James Coleman recasts social theory in a bold new way. The result is a landmark in sociological theory, capable of describing both stability and change in social systems. 
 This book provides for the first time a sound theoretical foundation for linking the behavior of individuals to organizational behavior and then to society as a whole. The power of the theory is especially apparent when Coleman analyzes corporate actors, such as large corporations and trade unions. He examines the creation of these institutions, collective decision making, and the processes through which authority is revoked in revolts and revolutions. 
 Coleman discusses the problems of holding institutions responsible for their actions as well as their incompatibility with the family. He also provides a simple mathematical analysis corresponding to and carrying further the verbal formulations of the theory. Finally, he generates research techniques that will permit quantitative testing of the theory. 
 From a simple, unified conceptual structure Coleman derives, through elegant chains of reasoning, an encompassing theory of society. It promises to be the most important contribution to social theory since the publication of Talcott Parsons' Structure of Social Action in 1936.

Foundations of Social Theory

Belknap Press

Combining principles of individual rational choice with a sociological conception of collective action, James Coleman recasts social theory in a bold new way. The result is a landmark in sociological theory, capable of describing both stability and change in social systems.
This book provides for the first time a sound theoretical foundation for linking the behavior of individuals to organizational behavior and then to society as a whole. The power of the theory is especially apparent when Coleman analyzes corporate actors, such as large corporations and trade unions. He examines the creation of these institutions, collective decision making, and the processes through which authority is revoked in revolts and revolutions.
Coleman discusses the problems of holding institutions responsible for their actions as well as their incompatibility with the family. He also provides a simple mathematical analysis corresponding to and carrying further the verbal formulations of the theory. Finally, he generates research techniques that will permit quantitative testing of the theory.
From a simple, unified conceptual structure Coleman derives, through elegant chains of reasoning, an encompassing theory of society. It promises to be the most important contribution to social theory since the publication of Talcott Parsons' Structure of Social Action in 1936.

Belnap Press

Drawing on several principles of sociological theory, James S. Coleman and his colleagues construct a new design for American schooling. The authors present compelling evidence on the deficits of our educational system compared to other countries, arguing that the problems are the result of inappropriate incentives for teachers, students, and parents.

Redesigning American Education

Education & Teaching

Schneider, Barbara

Plank, Stephen

Schiller, Kathryn

Schools & Teaching

Perseus

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Coleman, James. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Coleman, James