Book excerpt: Sociology: A Complete Introduction is designed to give you everything you need to succeed, all in one place. It covers the key areas that students are expected to be confident in, outlining the basics in clear, jargon-free English and providing added-value features like summaries of key experiments and even lists of questions you might be asked in your seminar or exam. The text is split into four parts, with an emphasis throughout on understanding and treating all concepts with clarity and precision. The first part covers theoretical issues including research methods. Part two looks at the social environment, including urbanization, work, politics, religion and the mass media. The final two parts examine global society and the position of the individual. It is structured to mirror the way Sociology is taught on many A Level and university courses with each chapter covering a key introductory area. By the end you'll have a clear understanding of the essential principles of sociology.