Introductory sociology textbooks are one of the disciplinary sites that illustrate both the prominent place, and many uses, of theory in sociology. This article examines the place of theory in a selection of introductory sociology textbooks published in Australia, Britain and the US. It identifies the emergence of theory as a separate topic warranting its own sections or chapters, and considers the historical changes in explicit advice provided about the nature and use of theory in sociology. It also illustrates some of the uses of theory exhibited there that go beyond those directly addressed in textbook advice.
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Broom, Leonard and Selznick, Philip (1955) Sociology: A Text with Adapted Readings. Evanston, IL: Row, Peterson and Company.
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Clegg, Stewart (1992) `How to Become an Internationally Famous British Social Theorist', The Sociological Review40(3): 576—98.
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Congalton, Athol A. and Daniel, Ann E. (1976) The Individual in the Making: An Introduction to Sociology. Sydney: Wiley.
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Connell, R.W. (1997) `Why is Classical Theory Classical?', American Journal of Sociology102(6): 1511—57.
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Cotgrove, Stephen (1967) The Science of Society: An Introduction to Sociology . London: George Allen and Unwin .
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Cuff, E.C. and Payne, G.C.F. (1979) Perspectives in Sociology. London: George Allen and Unwin.
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Fichter, Joseph H. (1957) Sociology. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
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Fulcher, James and Scott, John (1999) Sociology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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Giddens, Anthony (1989) Sociology. Cambridge: Polity Press.
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Goldthorpe, John E. (1968) An Introduction to Sociology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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Hankins, Frank Hamilton (1928) An Introduction to the Study of Society: An Outline of Primary Factors and Fundamental Institutions. New York : Macmillan.
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Haralambos, Michael with Heald, Robin (1980) Sociology: Themes and Perspectives. Slough: University Tutorial Press.
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Haralambos, Michael, van Krieken, Robert, Smith, Philip and Holborn, Martin (1996) Sociology: Themes and Perspectives: Australian Edition. Melbourne: Addison Wesley Longman.
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Heilbron, Johan (1995) The Rise of Social Theory, trans. Sheila Gogol . Cambridge: Polity Press.
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Hodges, Harold M. Jr (1971) Conflict and Consensus: An Introduction to Sociology . New York: Harper and Row.
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Horton, Paul B. and Hunt, Chester L. (1964) Sociology. New York: McGraw-Hill.
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Kuklick, Henrika (1999) `Assessing Research in the History of Sociology and Anthropology', Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences35(3): 227—37.
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Macionis, John J. (1992) Society: The Basics. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
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MacIver, Robert M. (1937) Society: A Textbook of Sociology. New York: Farrar and Rinehart.
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Mitchell, G. Duncan (1959) Sociology: The Study of Social Systems. London: University Tutorial Press.
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Oromaner, M. (1980) `Influentials in Sociological Textbooks and Journals, 1955 and 1970', The American Sociologist15(3): 169—74.
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Park, Robert E. and Burgess, Ernest W. (1924) Introduction to the Science of Sociology, 2nd edn. Chicago, IL: Chicago University Press.
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Platt, Jennifer (1995) `The United States Reception of Durkheim's The Rules of Sociological Method', Sociological Perspectives38: 77—105.
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Popenoe, David (1971) Sociology. New York: Apple Century Crofts.
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Sargent, Margaret (1983) Sociology for Australians. Melbourne: Longman Cheshire.
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Waters, Malcolm (1989) Sociology One: Principles of Sociological Analysis for Australians. Melbourne: Longman Cheshire.
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Worsley, Peter (1970) Introducing Sociology. Harmondsworth : Penguin.
29.
Young, Kimball and Mack, Raymond W. (1959) Sociology and Social Life . New York: American Book Company .
30.
Zeitlin, Irving M. (1981) The Social Condition of Humanity: An Introduction to Sociology. New York: Oxford University Press.
