The Structure of Sociological Theory

This book integrates new and emerging aspects of sociological theory into a detailed treatment of theories and theorists, providing students with a framework for organizing the many types of sociological theory. In this edition, it is particularly concerned with outlining the changes that have taken place within sociological theory since the first edition of this book was published in the late 1960s. The book is split into seven sections that identify the paradigms of sociological theory: functionalism, evolutionary, conflict, exchange, interactions, structural, and critical. The text offers an in-depth analysis of each theory, and it reflects their emerging, maturing, and continuing traditions. In addition, the book covers the work of key modern figures in each of the paradigms, as well as their founders.