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Dimensions of Sociological Theory. David Cheal. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. 2005. 195 pages. Hardback $84.00; paperback $28.95.
In Dimensions of Sociological Theory, David Cheal presents a well organized, easy to read overview of sociological perspectives as they pertain to five debates that he has identified. Rather than being structured by historical timeframe, this book is structured around the five major debates in sociological theory, as described by Cheal. The Introduction to Dimensions of Sociological Theory provides important information that explains the organization of the book. As an undergraduate student (and sometimes even as a graduate student), I rarely read the introduction to a book. I highly recommend that instructors using this book require students to read the Introduction and use it as a tool to explain the debates Cheal presents as well as to discuss the differences between and merits of both a historical timeline and a subject format. Reading and discussing the Introduction sets up the reader for deeper understanding of the book and may alleviate some question about why things seem out of order, in terms of timeframe. The Introduction of the book clearly describes to the reader the organizational approach and explains the debates being addressed in terms of 1) unit of analysis, 2) modes of explanation, 3) key factors to be used in explanations of social evolution, 4) the relationship between sociology and ideology, and 5) structure and agency. The first five chapters cover the process of theoretical development, how theories are used in sociology, and major contributors to each debate.
The five dimensions in this book cover each of the debates introduced to the reader in the Introduction....