Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents: Part I: Introduction: the sociological approach: What is sociology -- Part II: Major social processes: Culture and culture change -- Socialization -- Roles and identities -- Groups and organizations -- Deviance -- Part III: Social institutions: Families -- Education -- Work and the economy -- Health issues -- Religion -- Politics and political movements -- Social movements -- Part IV: Social inequality: Class and status inequality -- Gender relations -- Ethnic and race relations -- Part V: Canadian society and the global context: Global society -- Population and society -- Cities and urbanization -- Mass media and technology -- The environment -- Part VI: Sociological theory and methods: Sociological theory -- Research methods.