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Understanding Social Problems, 12th Edition

Linda A. Mooney, Molly Clever, Crosby Hipes

  • Copyright 2026
  • {{checkPublicationMessage('Published', '2025-03-03T00:00:00+0000')}}
Starting At $84.95 See pricing and ISBN options
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Understanding Social Problems 12th Edition by Linda A. Mooney/Molly Clever/Crosby Hipes
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Overview

Challenge students to think critically about complex social issues using the latest data and relevant examples in Mooney/Clever/Hipes’ “Understanding Social Problems” 12th Edition. The award-winning authors offer theoretically rich, evidence-based discussions of pressing social issues of our time, including growing political polarization around the world, ongoing global conflicts, the long-term impacts of COVID-19, repercussions of national elections and emerging social movements. This edition's micro- to macro-level of analysis focuses first on problems related to healthcare, drugs and alcohol, families, crime and violence, racial, ethnic and gender inequality and LGBTQ+ status before examining the larger problems of poverty and economic inequality, population growth and aging, environmental issues, science and technology and world conflict. This text is also available in MindTap.

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Meet the Authors

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Linda A. Mooney

Linda A. Mooney, Ph.D., is an emeritus faculty member at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. In addition to social problems, her specialties include sociology of law, criminology and juvenile delinquency. Dr. Mooney has served as senior author for 12 editions of this prominent text. She has also published in national as well as international journals, including Social Forces, Sociological Inquiry, Sex Roles, Sociological Quarterly, Sociology and Social Research and Teaching Sociology. Dr. Mooney has won numerous teaching awards, including the University of North Carolina, Board of Governor's Distinguished Professor for Teaching Award.

Molly Clever

Molly Clever, Ph.D., is an associate professor of sociology and public service at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV. Her teaching interests include social conflict, war, social movements, community engagement and issues related to political and economic inequality. Dr. Clever has been published in Teaching Sociology and has authored numerous articles and book chapters focused on community engagement, teaching and learning practices as well as the changing nature of war and military organizations.

Crosby Hipes

Crosby Hipes, Ph.D., is an associate professor of criminal justice and sociology at WVU Tech in Beckley, WV. His expertise and research background are on stigmatized populations and inequality, specifically related to mental illness labels and criminal records. Dr. Hipes has earned two competitive WVU-wide fellowships: the IDEA Teaching Fellowship and the Bridge Faculty Research Fellowship. His work has appeared in such journals as Social Science Research, Sociological Forum, Society & Mental Health, Armed Forces & Society, and the book Unequals: The Power of Status and Expectations in Our Social Lives (Oxford University Press).

Table of Contents

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Part I: SOCIOLOGY AND THE STUDY OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS.
1. Thinking about Social Problems.
Part II: PROBLEMS OF WELL-BEING.
2. Physical and Mental Health and Health Care.
3. Alcohol and Other Drugs.
4. Crime and Social Control.
5. Family Problems.
Part III: PROBLEMS OF INEQUALITY.
6. Economic Inequality, Wealth, and Poverty.
7. Work and Unemployment.
8. Problems in Education.
9. Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration.
10. Gender Inequality.
11. Sexual Orientation and the Struggle for Equality.
Part IV: PROBLEMS OF GLOBALIZATION.
12. Population Growth and Aging.
13. Environmental Problems.
14. Science and Technology.
15. Conflict, War, and Terrorism.

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Each MindTap product offers the full, mobile-ready textbook combined with superior and proven learning tools at one affordable price. Students who purchase digital access can add a print option at any time when a print option is available for their course.

This Cengage solution can be seamlessly integrated into most Learning Management Systems (Blackboard, Brightspace by D2L, Canvas, Moodle, and more) but does require a different ISBN for access codes. Please work with your Cengage Learning Consultant to ensure the proper course set up and ordering information. For additional information, please visit the LMS Integration site.

Standalone Digital Access — Ultimate Value

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  • ISBN-10: 8214147662
  • ISBN-13: 9798214147666
  • RETAIL $89.95
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  • ISBN-10: 8214147700
  • ISBN-13: 9798214147703
  • RETAIL $84.95

  • ISBN-10: 821414762X
  • ISBN-13: 9798214147628
  • RETAIL $224.95
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Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

FOR STUDENTS

MindTap for Mooney/Clever/Hipes's Understanding Social Problems, 1 term Instant Access

ISBN: 9798214147666
MindTap for Mooney/Clever/Hipes’ “Understanding Social Problems” 12th Edition, is the digital learning solution that powers students from memorization to mastery. MindTap gives you complete control of your course to provide engaging content, challenge every student and build students' confidence. MindTap organizes all of your students' course materials -- readings, multimedia, activities and assessments -- into a learning path that guides them through their sociology course. MindTap for Mooney/Clever/Hipes’ “Understanding Social Problems” 12th Edition, includes activities that help students understand their implicit biases, develop a sociological imagination and master important chapter concepts. Determine what your students already know through the What Do Sociologists Know? activity. Students will explore common misconceptions that people bring to the study of sociology. Offer application practice with the Apply Your Knowledge activity and nurture your students’ sociological imaginations with the What Would You Do? scenario exercises. Students can check their comprehension of core concepts and theories by using the auto-graded Check Your Understanding and End of Chapter Quiz activities. Students can also extend their learning and make connections to their own lives through curated video content in the Social Problems YouTube channel found under Additional Resources. With MindTap, you can customize the eBook and assignments, emphasize the most important topics and add your own material, notes and bookmarks. In MindTap, you have the flexibility to reorder textbook chapters, add your own notes and bookmarks and embed a variety of content, thus personalizing course content to meet your students’ needs. In addition, the Progress App in MindTap is a built-in gradebook that helps you track students’ progress and engagement as well as pinpoint areas where students may need more support.