Coleman, James S.

Related Category: Sociology: Biographies

1926–95, American sociologist, b. Bedford, Ind. A graduate of Columbia (Ph.D., 1955), where he was influenced by Paul Lazarsfeld, Coleman achieved recognition with two studies on problem solving: An Introduction to Mathematical Sociology (1964) and Mathematics of Collective Action (1973). After terms at Stanford Univ. and the Univ. of Chicago, Coleman taught at Johns Hopkins Univ. (1959–73). While there he chaired the commission that published Equality of Educational Opportunity (1966), which is known as the Coleman report. In 1973 he returned to Chicago, where he taught sociology and was a director of its National Opinion Research Center. His other major works include Youth: Transition to Adulthood (1973), High School Achievement (1982), and Individual Interests and Collective Action (1986).