Presents methods of using data sets to explain the concepts of ecological fallacy and psychological reductionism to beginning methods students. Includes information on variables, an appendix on data and software sources, and statistical results. Suggests that students will learn the concepts described as well as the principle of uncertainty in…

Observes that many undergraduate students find standard lectures on official measures of crime to be rather dry. Discusses a technique to help make police measures more relevant to students through the integration of campus crime statistics into criminology courses. Includes a discussion of potential drawbacks, and provides a sample student…

The initial effort to apply the Keller plan model of individualized learning to teaching research methods in sociology is described. (Author/KM)

Describes the responsibilities and goals of the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the Sociology Department at the University of Kentucky. Emphasizes the importance of advising, liaison activities, curriculum development, and support of good teaching. Contends that the program is a successful approach to increasing enrollments and furthers the…

This article surveys information resources, contemporary issues and trends, and selected instructional strategies useful in teaching undergraduate criminology. Instructional resources reviewed include textbooks, professional journals, and reference works. Twelve issues and trends are identified and three exemplary learning activities are…

Explores new ways of stimulating critical thinking in teaching basic sociology courses and finds the use of paradoxes and dilemmas an effective teaching tool, as they reflect the dialectical nature of sociological analysis. Gives examples of paradoxes and dilemmas, and discusses basic strategies in recognizing and resolving dilemmas. (NL)

Describes an exercise for the first day of courses in introductory sociology. Includes four objectives: (1) telling students what they will be able to do by the end of the class; (2) exposing them to the social construction of reality; (3) showing the power of the sociological imagination; and (4) changing students into participants in their…

Extends the methods of using film as a tool to teach content analysis and examines the use of feature films in teaching ethnographic methods. Explores how feature films are a valuable pedagogical tool in qualitative methods instruction by drawing from an assignment developed for a course on youth subcultures. (DSK)

The authors examined the crowd sections of 20 introduction to sociology textbooks, coding them for the presence of seven crowds myths--claims about crowds that have no empirical support and have been rejected by scholars in the field. The number of myths per book ranges from five to one. The authors conclude by making suggestions for rewriting…

Noting difficult and potentially dangerous situations encountered by students in their internships, this article describes a professional socialization course designed to foster awareness of professional ethics, organizations, journals, and, through case studies, practices. (JDH)

Discusses how the basic concepts from formal logic can be used as a teaching aid in beginning sociology courses. Three sociological arguments are analyzed, to determine their logical structure and the validity of their conclusions. (Author/RM)

Discusses, in the light of an escalating "war on crime," ideas on teaching about the concept of punishment. Offers a framework for understanding punishment's functions. Delineates ideal criteria for applying punishment. Describes processes that influence uniformity. Suggests a method for teaching about punishment and underscores its advantages and…

Provides an overview of the issues associated with using a laptop computer and presentation software during lectures. Illustrates from authors' experience, as well as end-of-semester grades and student evaluations. Concludes that computer presentations can act as useful tools in courses like social statistics and methods. (DSK)

Explores current concerns about the quality of undergraduate education and examines three strategies for improving its quality: (1) providing more opportunities for faculty development, (2) modifying the culture of universities to encourage greater commitment to teaching, and (3) changing the norms of academic disciplines to enhance the status of…

A case study of the recent undergraduate curriculum reorganization process followed by a sociology department in a large south-central state university is presented. A review of the literature concerning possible purposes of and problems in sociology curricula is also presented. (Author/RM)