LibGuides: Sociology: Sociology Theory

Search the Lakeland Catalog

Use a Keyword or Subject search to find books about a certain topic. Some relevant terms include:

Sociology
Social history
Social theory
Weber, Max
Functionalism

Browse the Print Collection

Browse the library shelves around the call numbers that relate to your topic to find additional materials. Here are some suggested areas to browse:

HM435-477 History of sociology. History of sociological theory
HM461-473 Schools of sociology. Schools of social thought
HM481-554 Theory. Method. Relations to other subjects

Featured Books on Sociological Theory

Sociological Lives and Ideas by Fred C. Pampel
Call Number: HM478 .P36
Brings to life the fundamental ideas of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, Georg Simmel, and George H. Mead by placing them in the context of each theorists' biography.
Sociology: The Basics by Ken Plummer
Call Number: HM585 .P58
Examines the scope, history and purpose of sociology; ways of understanding 'the social' the state of the world we live in today; suffering and social inequalities; key tools for researching and thinking about 'the social'; the impact of new technologies.

Multimedia: Crash Course Sociology #2

Search Article Databases

SocINDEX with Full-Text
Index, abstracts, and full text for articles and other publications in sociology.
Sociological Collection
Database covering information in all areas of sociology, including social behavior, human tendencies, interaction, relationships, community development, culture and social structure.
Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Index, abstracts, and full text covering topics such as emotional and behavioral characteristics, psychiatry and psychology, mental processes, anthropology, and observational and experimental methods.
APA PsycINFO
Provides abstracts and citations to the scholarly literature in the psychological, social, behavioral, and health sciences. The database includes material of relevance to psychologists and professionals in related fields such as psychiatry, management, business, education, social science, neuroscience, law, medicine, and social work.

Journals Available in Print or Online

Sociological Theory
Publishes work in all areas of theory, including new substantive theories, history of theory, metatheory, formal theory construction, and synthetic contributions.
American Sociological Review
Original works of interest to all areas of sociology in general, new theoretical developments, results of research that advance understanding of fundamental social processes and important methodological innovations.
Sociology
Original articles reviewed anonymously and reviews on all aspects of sociology for members of the British Sociological Association.

Suggested Web Resources

Introduction to Sociology (Lumen Learning)
Free online course provides a comprehensive overview of key sociological topics and encourages students to think critically about the social world.
Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology (OpenStax)
Open online introductory sociology text from OpenStax; this section introduces the three main sociological theories and how they are used to explain social institutions.
Classical Sociological Theory and Foundations of American Sociology (Oregon State University)
Open Access introductory reader to sociological theory. Focuses mainly on classical sociological theory (Marx, Durkheim, Weber), with a final section devoted to Early American Sociology.

Films On Demand

Making Sense of Sociological Theory
Full length film examining the three major perspectives in sociology:
societies as organic structures, societies as economic structures, and societies as social action. A part of the series Understanding Sociology.