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Social Problems
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Social Problems
Sociology in Action

Third Edition
Edited by:
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Learning platform
January 2026 | 440 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Social Problems: Sociology in Action, Third Edition is ideal for teachers who want to provide students with an active learning experience that relies less on lecturing and more on discussion, collaboration, and self-directed investigation. Editors Maxine P. Atkinson and Kathleen Odell Korgen offer concrete ways to make use of sociological training in the "real" world by considering sociological solutions to a range of social problems and issues facing society today.

Social Problems is one of the volumes in our "Sociology in Action" (SIA) series of undergraduate sociology texts. The two signature features of this series are (1) a set of carefully developed and assignable learning activities in each chapter; and (2) chapters contributed by authors who are both experts in their subjects and committed to the kind of active learning promoted by the SIA texts.

This text is offered in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.
 
Learning Activities
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
About the Contributors
 
Part I: Inequalities As Social Problems
Kathleen Odell Korgen
Chapter 1: Understanding and Solving Social Problems
What Is a Social Problem?

 
Sociology And the Study of Social Problems

 
Why Are Some, But Not Other, Social Conditions Considered Social Problems?

 
How Can Professional Sociologists—And You—Help Solve Social Problems?

 
How To Conduct Social Scientific Research

 
Conclusion

 
Review

 
Discussion Questions

 
Key Terms

 
Dawn R. Norris
Chapter 2: Analyzing Economic Inequalities
Economic Inequality and Social Problems

 
Explaining Economic Inequality

 
Wealth and Income Gaps: How Much Inequality Exists?

 
The Question of Mobility

 
Social Problems That Cause Economic Inequality

 
Social Problems Caused by Economic Inequality

 
Solving The Social Problem of Economic Inequality: Policies, Movements, And Action

 
Conclusion

 
Review

 
Discussion Question

 
Key Terms

 
Meghan Burke
Chapter 3: Recognizing Racism and Racial Inequalities
What Is Race?

 
What Is Racism?

 
Why Does Racial Inequality Exist?

 
Why Do Racial Inequality and Racism Persist?

 
What Social Problems Relate to Racism and Racial Inequalities?

 
How Can We Challenge and Address Racism and Racial Inequality?

 
Conclusion

 
Review

 
Discussion Questions

 
Key Terms

 
Kris Macomber
Chapter 4: Examining Gender Inequalities
How Does the Social Constructionist Perspective Help Us Understand Gender Inequality?

 
The Roots of Contemporary Gender Inequality: Identifying Patriarchal Culture

 
Contemporary Gender Inequality in the Workplace

 
Men’s Violence Against Women

 
How Do Today’s Gender Expectations Impact Boys and Men?

 
Other Gendered Social Problems

 
Gender-Based Movements and Social Change

 
Conclusion

 
Review

 
Key Terms

 
Jason Crockett
Chapter 5: Focusing on Sex and Sexualities
Sex and Sexualities

 
Social Responses to Sex and Sexualities

 
Enforcing Sexual Norms at The Micro Level

 
Why Attitudes Toward Sex and Sexualities Change

 
Conclusion

 
Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Part II: Global Population Problems
Deborah Lowry
Chapter 6: Preparing for Aging Societies
What Is Population Aging?

 
What Social Problems Accompany Aging Societies?

 
What Are Governments Doing to Prepare for Aging Populations?

 
What Can Local Communities Do to Improve Conditions of Aging?

 
Conclusion

 
Review

 
Key Terms

 
Daniel Herda
Chapter 7: Making Sense of Migration and Immigration
What Is Migration?

 
The Social Construction of Immigrants as a Problem

 
Social Problems Causing Migration

 
Social Problems Affecting Immigrants

 
Social Problems Caused by Immigration

 
Conclusion

 
Review

 
Key Terms

 
Lillian MacNell
Chapter 8: Researching Environmental Problems
The Link Between Environmental and Social Problems

 
The Environmental Costs of Powering Our Lives

 
Recognizing And Curbing Climate Change

 
Food And Agriculture

 
Confronting Environmental Injustice

 
Conclusion

 
Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 9: Contesting Crime
The Social Construction of Crime

 
Mistakes In Claim Construction

 
Class, Race, Gender, and Critical Criminology

 
Social Problems That Cause Crime

 
Conclusion

 
Review

 
Key Terms

 
Amy Sodaro
Chapter 10: Understanding War and Terrorism
Understanding War as a Social Problem

 
Seeing War as a Social Problem

 
War’s Impact on Society

 
Understanding Terrorism as a Social Problem

 
Consequences of Terrorism

 
Confronting War and Terrorism

 
Conclusion

 
Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Part III: Institutional Problems
Rena C. Zito
Chapter 11: Identifying Problems in the Criminal Justice System
The U.S. Criminal Justice System

 
Policing

 
Courts and Corrections

 
Criminal Records

 
Conclusion

 
Review

 
Key Terms

 
Rena C. Zito
Chapter 12: Discovering Problems in the Family
What Is A Family?

 
Social Construction Of Families As Problems

 
Family Problems As Social Problems

 
Social Problems Affecting Families

 
Conclusion

 
Review

 
Key Terms

 
Erinn Brooks
Chapter 13: Pursuing Equity in Education
Education and Schooling

 
The Purpose of Education

 
Social Problems in Education and Schools

 
Reforms That Can Improve Education Systems

 
Conclusion

 
Review

 
Key Terms

 
Gregory T. Kordsmeier
Chapter 14: Prioritizing Health and Health Care Inequalities
Understanding Health And Health-Related Social Problems

 
How Social Problems Affect Health

 
Social Problems And Inequalities In The Health Care System

 
Facing Health Challenges Collectively

 
Conclusion

 
Review

 
Key Terms

 
Kathleen Odell Korgen and Maxine P. Atkinson
Chapter 15: Realizing the Power—and Vulnerability—of Institutions
Why Does A Society Need Social Institutions?

 
Why Do Institutions Fail?

 
The Rise of Authoritarian Governments

 
Declining Confidence In Institutions In The United States

 
How Can Social Problems Weaken Institutions?

 
How Can We Save Our Social Institutions?

 
Conclusion

 
Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Appendix: Addressing Social Problems Through Service-Learning
 
Glossary
 
References
 
Index
Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
  • The new edition is available in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.
    • Flashcards and note-taking tools help students better prepare for class.
    • NEW! Audiobook Player allows students to listen to text content, boosting comprehension and retention. It offers flexible, on-the-go access, engaging both reluctant readers and auditory learners, improving the overall reading experience.
    • The Offline Reading option in the Student Dashboard offers greater accessibility to Vantage’s reading content, regardless of where students are or how strong their internet connection may be.
  • Updated Content: Information, figures, and examples have been refreshed throughout the book to reflect the latest data and developments.
  • New and Revised Activities: Numerous learning activities have been revised to clarify instructions and prevent reliance on AI, while many new activities have been added to enhance student engagement.
  • Expanded Discussions: Several chapters feature expanded discussions on critical topics, such as economic inequality, the motherhood penalty, leave for new fathers, ageism, internal ageism, environmental crime, and the connection between pornography and violence against women.
  • Enhanced Focus on Social Issues: Expanded content on inequality in the healthcare system, recent changes to family structures, work-life balance demands, and the power and vulnerability of institutions, including authoritarianism and effective organizing strategies.
KEY FEATURES:
  • Each chapter is contributed by an expert in that subject who also uses active learning techniques in his or her own classroom.
  • Several Confronting Social Problems learning activities in each chapter provide instructors with an abundance of ready-to-use activities for a wide range of instructional settings.
  • Choose from a variety of activity types including personal reflection, content and data analysis, collaboration and group activities, observations, and short guided-research projects.
  • Consider This discussion questions encourage students to think more deeply about concepts for in-class discussions or assignments.
  • Sociologists in Action boxes spotlight the work of a student or a professional sociologist to illustrate how students can use sociological tools to make a positive impact on problems facing society.
  • The concluding chapter, "Realizing the Power—and Vulnerability—of Institutions," explores an emerging social problem: public loss of faith in institutions like government and the media.
  • A service-learning appendix provides step-by-step instructions on how to design and implement a service-learning feature into a social problems course, including online and large lecture.
  • Chapter Summaries emphasize key chapter content as a quick study reference, helping reinforce material.
  • Check Your Understanding questions help students stop and self-assess whether they comprehend the key points of every section.
  • Key terms and a glossary reinforce and define concepts to encourage on-the-spot comprehension.
  • The activity guide for instructors includes the complete text of every activity, along with extensive teaching notes.
  • Assignable data analysis activities enable students to access and use statistical information created from more than 400,000 government and non-government datasets.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Preface, Chapters 1-2

Vantage Reference: 
Social Problems - Vantage Learning Platform

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