Examines the current state of family sociology and the problems in teaching this subject. Presents alternatives to the traditional presentations about the family. (BSR)

To determine if exposure to a sociology course tends to encourage students toward liberal attitudes, an 18-item questionnaire was administered before and after an introductory sociology course at Colorado State University. Results showed an aggregate shift toward liberalism, even when controlling for students' age and professorial style.…

Ironically, introductory textbooks for sociology present a distorted characterization of reality, ignoring race, class, and gender and generalizing from the experience of society's dominant group. New textbooks should have four themes: vital role of sociologists as social critics; diversity as socially constructed; people's role in shaping their…

Whites on winning basketball teams with relatively equal scoring by blacks and whites have more favorable racial attitudes than blacks on winning teams and whites on losing teams. (DE)

Believes that graduate students can gain skills that will help them in the future by participating in the textbook writing process. Describes six activities for graduate students including preparing a text-reader for a course, writing a panel essay for a textbooks, and acting as a textbook intern. (CMK)

Argues that sociology's future is bright. Cites the field's younger, more diverse professoriate; the more qualitative, critical research that will result from reduced educational funding; and opportunities provided by global change. Suggests that the post-Cold War era, ecological crises, and economic transformation will present challenges to…

Reports on a study of the extent of advocacy in research articles appearing in the journal "Social Problems" from 1953 to 1992. Finds that political advocacy has increased sharply over the time period and discusses implications of the findings. (CFR)