OER Text materialPopulation and UrbanizationPopulation Growth and DeclineSociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World, 19.1 (Population and Urbanization) & 19.2.1 (Population and Growth Decline). 19.1 introduces the population shift in Michigan  and provides an overview of consequences that come from population declines.  19.2.1 provides concise definitions of the concepts. It also has a good explanation of population growth, and how demographers use knowledge of the concepts to make predictions about population growth. This section also includes global and U.S. population statistics from 1950 to predictions in 2050.

OER Text materialDemography and PopulationUrbanizationRural LifeIntroduction to Sociology 2e, by OpenStax, 20.1 (Demography and Population) & Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World, 19.3 (Urbanization) & 19.4 (Rural Life). In section 20.1 of OpenStax, the source reviews population changes in Africa, The United States and Europe, and briefly addresses immigration patterns.  Section 19.3 of Sociology addresses the population growth of urbanization and introduces the human ecology school. It describes types of residents in cities and problems that can emerge in urban life including economic problems, overcrowding, housing, pollution, traffic, public education and crime.  It identifies a limited number of global urbanization patterns across the globe. The short section on rural living in 19.4 of Sociology provides a limited discussion that contrasts the urban and rural life. It goes into some detail about rural problems with health, education, poverty, and domestic violence.

OER Text materialPopulation Growth and DeclineSociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World, 19.2.1. This section introduces Mathusian ideas on population growth and the means to sustain that population (i.e. food production).  It also provides evidence that the growth Malthus anticipated has not been realized and critiques those who have adopted Malthusian theories as veiled forms of racism in the 1970s. The only alternative theory to Malthusian theory provided is demographic transition theory, which links population growth to technological development. Additionally, this section discusses the declines in birthrates, and policies that encourage women to have more children.

OER Text MaterialSociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World, Section: 10.3This section defines race and racism and discusses theoretical perspectives on prejudice. The differencebetween prejudice and discrimination is explained. The section also includes a great discussion of the relationshipbetween prejudice and public policy, as well as the broader implications of prejudice.

OER Text MaterialSociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World, Section: 10.1This section provides an overview of racial and ethnic relations in the U.S. over time. The section is an okoverview, but lacks detail. There is a picture of a lynching included in this section. This may be problematic forsome and instructors should use with caution.

OER Text MaterialSociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World, Section: 10.2This section does a great job critiquing the biological conceptualization of race and discusses why race is socially constructed. Ethnicity is also defined and ethnic identity is briefly discussed. Examples such as former president Barack Obama and Tiger Woods are used to illustrate the challenge of placing people into racial categories. These examples are currently relevant, but may need updated in several years. Race and ethnicity are defined and the terms compared. This section provides a fine overview of these concepts.

OER Text MaterialSociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World, Section: 10.4This section provides an overview of individual and institutional racism. There is not enough discussion of colorblind or aversive racism. This chapter should be supplemented with sources that further illustrate types of racism. Section 5 also includes a discussion of white privilege which may align with this learning outcome as well as an outcome on the impacts of race.

OER Text MaterialSociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World Chapter, Sections: 10.4-6Section 4 discusses the impact of discrimination within various institutions. Section 5 discussedinequality and white privilege. Section 6 discusses issues specific to 21 st century racial and ethnic relations,specifically affirmative action and immigration.

OER Text Material Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World, Section: 10.2This section does a great job critiquing the biological conceptualization of race and discusses why race is socially constructed. Ethnicity is also defined and ethnic identity is briefly discussed. Examples such as former president Barack Obama and Tiger Woods are used to illustrate the challenge of placing people into racial categories. These examples are currently relevant, but may need updated in several years.

OER Text MaterialSociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World, Section: 17.317.3 – Sociological Perspectives on Religion:Summarize the major functions of religion.Explain the views of religion held by the conflict perspective.Explain the views of religion held by the symbolic interactionist perspective.Sociological perspectives on religion aim to understand the functions religion serves, the inequality andother problems it can reinforce and perpetuate, and the role it plays in our daily lives (Emerson,Monahan, & Mirola, 2011). Table 17.1 “Theory Snapshot” summarizes what these perspectives say.Limited content on Weber’s work on Religion.

OER Text MaterialSociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World, Chapter 17Religion in the United States - Section 17.5Describe the extent and correlates of religious affiliation.Explain the different dimensions of religiosity.Describe the correlates and consequences of religiosity.The United States is generally regarded as a fairly religious nation. In a 2009 survey administered by theGallup Organization to 114 nations, 65% of Americans answered yes when asked, “Is religion animportant part of your daily life?” (Crabtree, 2010). In a 2007 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Lifesurvey, about 83% of Americans expressed a religious preference, 61% were official members of a localhouse of worship, and 39% attended religious services at least weekly (Pew Forum on Religion & PublicLife, 2008). These figures show that religion plays a significant role in the lives of many Americans.Types of Religious Organizations – content in OER – Section 17.4​ - provides additional information forthis learning objective.

OER Text MaterialSociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World, Sections: 17.1-2 

OER Text MaterialSociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World, Chapter 17Section 17.2​ Key World Religions Today (​provides some content through the exploration of Cross Cultural Perspectives of Religion - page 656)Today the world’s largest religion is Christianity, to which more than 2 billion people, or about one-thirdthe world’s population, subscribe. Christianity began 2,000 years ago in Palestine under the charismaticinfluence of Jesus of Nazareth and today is a Western religion, as most Christians live in the Americasand in Europe. Beginning as a cult, Christianity spread through the Mediterranean and later throughEurope before becoming the official religion of the Roman Empire. Today, dozens of Christiandenominations exist in the United States and other nations. Their views differ in many respects, butgenerally they all regard Jesus as the son of God, and many believe that salvation awaits them if theyfollow his example (Young, 2010).

OER Text Material Stages of the Sociological Research Process“Eye on Society: Doing Sociological Research” (Chapter Two) Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social WorldList the major stages of the sociological research processDescribe the different types of units of analysis in sociologyExplain the differene between an independent variable and a dependent variableResearch Design in SociologyThis section lists the major advantages and disadvantages of surveys, experiments and observational studies Good general content – section 2.2 and 2.3 - Missing content covering “defining the problem” within the steps of the social science research process

OER Text MaterialEye on Society: Doing Sociological ResearchEthical Issues in Social Science This section describes two kinds of ethical issues and/or guidelines that characterize sociological research.Sociological Research in the Service of Society Should the primary aim of sociological research be to help improve society, or should its primary aim be to discover social knowledge for its own sake? There is no right or wrong answer to this question. However, following in the spirit of the early American sociologists, this book hopes to show the relevance of sociological knowledge and insights, as derived from sound, objective research, for addressing many of the social issues facing American society and various nations around the world.

OER Text Material“Eye on Society: Doing Sociological Research” (Chapter Two) Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social WorldSoicology as a Social Science. This section will cover the following:Explain what is meant by saying that sociology is a social science.Describe the difference between a generalization and a law in scientific research.List the sources of knowledge on which people rely for their understanding of social reality and explain why the knowledge gained from these sources may sometimes be faulty.List the basic steps of the scientific method.General good content for the introduction to the social science research process