title: Sociology (Sociology (McGraw-Hill))
author:  Richard T. Schaefer 
description: Growing up in Chicago at a time when neighborhoods were going through transitions in ethnic and racial composition, Richard T. Schaefer found himself increasingly intrigued by what was happening, how people were reacting, and how these changes were affecting neighborhoods and peoples jobs. His interest in social issues caused him to gravitate to sociology courses at Northwestern University, where he received a B.A. in Sociology. "Originally as an undergraduate I thought I would go on to law school and become a lawyer. But after taking a few sociology courses, I found myself wanting to learn more about what sociologists studied and fascinated by the kinds of questions they raised." This fascination led him to obtain his M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Chicago. Dr. Schaefers continuing interest in race relations led him to write his masters thesis on the membership of the Ku Klux Klan and his doctoral thesis on racial prejudice and race relations in Great Britain. Dr. Schaefer went on to become a professor of sociology. He has taught introductory sociology for 30 years to students in colleges, adult education programs, nursing programs, and even a maximum-security prison. Dr. Schaefers love of teaching is apparent in his interaction with his students. "I find myself constantly learning from the students who are in my classes and from reading what they write. Their insights into the material we read or current events that we discuss often become part of future course material and sometimes even find their way into my writing." Dr. Schaefer is author of the third edition of Sociology: A Brief Introduction (McGraw-Hill, 2000). Dr. Schaefer is also the author of Racial and Ethnic Groups now in its eighth edition, and Race and Ethnicity in the United States, second edition. His articles and book reviews have appeared in many journals, including American Journal of Sociology, Phylon: A Review of Race and Culture, Contemporary Sociology, Sociology and Social Research, Sociological Quarterly, and Teaching Sociology. He served as president of the Midwest Sociological Society in 1994-1995. Dr. Schaefers advice to students is to "look at the material and make connections to your own life and experiences. Sociology will make you a more attentive observer of how people in groups interact and function. It will also make you more aware of peoples different needs and interests  and perhaps more ready to work for the common good, while still recognizing the individuality of each person."
zlib_text: Encyclopedia
  
  of Sociology
  
   **Second Edition**
  
  ![](Images/image01041.jpeg)
  
  Encyclopedia
  
  of Sociology
  
   **Second Edition**
  
  5
  
   **V O L U M E**
  
   **Edgar F. Borgatta**
  
  _Editor-in-Chief_
  
  _University of Washington, Seattle_
  
   **Rhonda J. V. Montgomery**
  
  _Managing Editor_
  
  _University of Kansas, Lawrence_
  
  SOCIOLOGY AMONG THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
  
   **SOCIOLOGY AMONG THE**
  
  of the ancestors is surprising, because ‘‘following **SOCIAL SCIENCES**
  
  advances in the division of labor and specializa-
  
  tion, the works of the classics ceased to be directly The relationship between
  sociology and the other
  
  useful to an average sociologist. To do correct
  
  social sciences is in reality a relationship between research in a specialized
  branch of sociology one
  
  sectors of different disciplines, not between whole does not in fact have to
  read the works—bulky,
  
  disciplines. Sociology is one of the most open
  
  often abstruse, and semi-philosophical in nature—
  
  disciplines toward other disciplines. This ope