America's problems: Social issues and public policy

Professors Currie and Skolnick place special emphasis on the underlying economic causes of social problems and the social policies that fail to address them. The text's research-oriented approach introduces students to the empirical aspects of sociology by discussing how research is done and how data is compiled and analyzed. A comparative perspective on major topics exposes students to American social problems in context to other nations. This edition provides in-depth coverage of current social and political issues, such as downsizing, the growing gap between the rich and the poor, and the crisis in health care.