Are human beings less violent than before? Why do we adopt certain moral and political judgements? Why is the gap between rich and poor getting bigger? How do we decide which criminal policies are effective? What is the Population Challenge for the 21st Century? What is social science? In Big Ideas in Social Science, David Edmonds and Nigel Warburton put these and more of our society’s burning questions to 18 of the world’s leading social scientists including Steven Pinker, Ann Oakley, Lawrence Sherman, Kate Pickett, Robert J. Shiller and Doreen Massey. The result is a collection of thought-provoking discussions that span the fields of sociology, politics, economics, criminology, geography and many more.From the people who brought us the Philosophy Bites series, Big Ideas in Social Science is a fascinating and accessible introduction to the key ideas and findings of the social sciences. The interviews for this book are based on a series of podcasts, Social Science Bites, sponsored by SAGE. Social Science Bites was inspired by the popular Philosophy Bites podcast (www.philosophybites.com), which was founded by David and Nigel in 2007 and has so far had 26 million downloads. Philosophy Bites has spawned three books, Philosophy Bites, Philosophy Bites Back and Philosophy Bites Again.

Big Ideas in Brief provides an accessible and easily understood tour of 200 key concepts that really matter. The ideas covered come from a wide range of subjects - Philosophy, Religion, Science, Politics, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology and the Arts. A series of short and lively articles accompanied by 100 illustrations introduce a host of diverse topics, all explained simply and clearly.

In this volume teacher educators explicitly and implicitly share their visions for the purposes, experiences, and commitments necessary for social studies teacher preparation in the twenty-first century. It is divided into six sections where authors reconsider: 1) purposes, 2) course curricula, 3) collaboration with on-campus partners, 4) field experiences, 5) community connections, and 6) research and the political nature of social studies teacher education. The chapters within each section provide critical insights for social studies researchers, teacher educators, and teacher education programs. Whether readers begin to question what are we teaching social studies teachers for, who should we collaborate with to advance teacher learning, or how should we engage in the politics of teacher education, this volume leads us to consider what ideas, structures, and connections are most worthwhile for social studies teacher education in the twenty-first century to pursue.

The Social Science Encyclopedia, first published in 1985 to acclaim from social scientists, librarians and students, was thoroughly revised in 1996, when reviewers began to describe it as a classic. This third edition has been radically recast. Over half the entries are new or have been entirely rewritten, and most of the balance have been substantially revised. Written by an international team of contributors, the Encyclopedia offers a global perspective on key issues within the social sciences. Some 500 entries cover a variety of enduring and newly vital areas of study and research methods. Experts review theoretical debates from neo-evolutionism and rational choice theory to poststructuralism, and address the great questions that cut across the social sciences. What is the influence of genes on behaviour? What is the nature of consciousness and cognition? What are the causes of poverty and wealth? What are the roots of conflict, wars, revolutions and genocidal violence? This authoritative reference work is aimed at anyone with a serious interest in contemporary academic thinking about the individual in society.

"Through six successful editions of Power and Society, Thomas R. Dye has encouraged readers to pursue their interests in the social sciences by illustrating how important these disciplines are to understanding many conditions of our lives." "As Dye introduces readers to the central concepts of sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, history, and psychology, he links elements of these disciplines through a dynamic and unifying theme: the manifestation of power in society. With this idea in mind, readers gain a real sense of social scientists' interests as they explore power in the context of social problems such as racism, sexism, poverty, crime, violence, urban decay, and international and ideological conflict." "Dye's presentation includes analyses of social science research studies and the contributions of masters of social thought such as Bertrand Russell, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Evocative discussions are enhanced with case studies and cross-national perspectives to highlight critical ideas, including the power and society theme." "The approach of learning to understand power as an integral part of our social world continues with great impact in this seventh edition. Among the new topics readers will find how men and women view their relations today; evolutionary psychology: the mating game; the burdens of government debt; Native Americans: an historical overview; social scientists look at sex in America; treating mental illness; a brief history of the cold war; the long history of women's protests; sexual harassment and the law; and should we limit the terms of Congress members?"--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved