BackStage

First of all, who else out there is a social psychologist? Anomie, you are, correct? Who else?

Anyway, how excited am I? I got switched from teaching ethnic and race relations this fall to teaching the social psychology undergraduate class! I was terrified of having my first stand alone (I’ve been an RA these past 3 years) in race. It’s not that I don’t study race, my dissertation is on Latino/a networks, but I am far less comfortable with my knowledge in that area than my knowledge in social psych.

The question: What textbooks do you use? My original thought was to have the students read actual social psychology (just the easy stuff–Stryker 1977, a chapter from his 1980 book, the Delamater 2003 chapter on social exchange, some qualitative research, etc.) but I’ve been told that the students really desire to have a textbook because they like the structure it gives and I should just lecture on the other stuff. So, now I’m looking for a SOCIOLOGICAL social psychology textbook. Anyone know of a good one out there?

Oh, relevant information: It’s supposed to be a junior level class and I will have 30-40 students (much better than the +100 of the race class!). Most will be sociology or criminology majors. I think that the class also gets a fair number of psychology students checking out the competition.

I am assuming assigning a Handbook (Burke or Delamater) would not be the way to go. Maybe that’s wrong. Anyway, hopefully some of you out there can give a first time teacher some tips.