Research Methods is an essential guide to carrying out a research project. Each of the focused chapters introduces and explains an aspect of social research to readers who may have no experience or knowledge of this subject. The emphasis is on how to do various different methods, how to decide which is the most appropriate, and how to analyse the data. The book also includes examples of good practice from a range of social science disciplines.

The number of pupils excluded from school has risen sharply over the past few years. To a great extent, this can be directly attributed to the increased competition between schools, following the introduction of the 1988 Education Reform Act. Many schools are concerned that children with behavioural problems will damage the image of the school and so can be reluctant to admit these pupils to the classroom. However, little has been done to follow up what happens to these pupils once they have been excluded from school, or to examine ways in which their exclusion might be prevented. This collection, written from a range of professional perspectives, examines current trends in exclusion, including the consequences of exclusion. It also gives practical guidance on preventative strategies, based on real life experiences and examines how professionals such as teachers, social workers and other support agencies can work together to help to avoid exclusion.

Rethinking Northern Ireland provides a coherent and critical account of the Northern Ireland conflict. Most writing on Northern Ireland is informed by British propaganda, unionist ideology or currently popular 'ethnic conflict' paradigm which allows analysts to wallow in a fascination with tribal loyalty. Rethinking Northern Ireland sets the record straight by reembedding the conflict in Ireland in the history of an literature on imperialism and colonialism. Written by Irish, Scottish and English women and men it includes material on neglected topics such as the role of Britain, gender, culture and sectarianism. It presents a formidable challenge to the shibboleths of contemporary debate on Northern Ireland. A just and lasting peace necessitates thorough re-evaluation and Rethinking Northern Ireland provides a stimulus to that urgent task.

First published in 1999. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

In his remarkable ethnography of computer engineers, Gary Downey investigates the interface between the human body and the machine. Drawing on interviews, observations and personal interaction with engineers, Downey documents the everyday power of technologys dominant image in our society.
Downey argues that we need to appreciate how deeply connected we are to The Machine, and that it would be hugely beneficial if we could understand ourselves and machines as partially configured of the other - we as part machines, machines as part humans. In this way, we can begin to see both the power and the limitations of technology.

In his remarkable ethnography of computer engineers, Gary Downey investigates the interface between the human body and the machine. Drawing on interviews, observations and personal interaction with engineers, Downey documents the everyday power of technologys dominant image in our society.
Downey argues that we need to appreciate how deeply connected we are to The Machine, and that it would be hugely beneficial if we could understand ourselves and machines as partially configured of the other - we as part machines, machines as part humans. In this way, we can begin to see both the power and the limitations of technology.

This is a study of the ways in which changing social expectations among Indian Catholics confronted the Roman Church with new questions, as well as giving fresh urgency to the old problem of the persistence of caste among Christians. Low-caste restiveness prompted different reactions among European missionaries and high-caste Indian priests, and the socio-economic significance of religious conversion became a problem that reached the level of the Apostolic Delegate, and eventually of the Pope. The English brought their social attitudes to India, where they became racial attitudes while retaining their triple functions of supporting authority structures, protecting vested interests and providing psychological reinforcement, Roman Catholic missionaries came from different European countries and brought with them different national attitudes to social mores. A major question asked in this book is how far such national differences were reflected in attitudes to caste, class and sexual behaviour, how similar were the attitudes of Indian Christians, and how far the functions of such attitudes remained constant.

Talking Sense in Science is a highly practical guide to getting the most out of primary science lessons through talking with children. This clearly written and straightforward book helps teachers to support understanding by developing their own interaction in the classroom. Each idea is described, illustrated and followed by a short task to develop teaching skills. This book looks at ways of understanding in science, and scientific language as well as how talk can support practical activities. Douglas Newton also addresses the ideas of what to say, when to say it and how to say it, with a view to developing understanding through science conversation. Examples given in the book span the range of primary school science topics, and provide an ideal sourcebook for lesson ideas. Talking Sense in Science is an essential buy for primary teachers who want an accessible way to improve their practice and their pupils' understanding in science. It is also an ideal learning tool for student teachers.

Working in the fields of education, health and social care demands a great deal of energy, effort and commitment on the part of the practitioner or trainee. When a research project is added to a workload the pressures can be great, particulary if the would-be-researcher is not confident about the process involved. The Hard-pressed Researcher provides practical guidance on how to undertake a research project. It has been written specially for practitioners and students in the fields of education, health and social care and assumes no specific knowledge of the research process. This revised and updated version of the first edition covers the major modes of research (experimental research, survey work, case study, interpretative research and action research) and provides step-by-step guidance from conceptualization through to report writing. Each chapter provides sources for further reading and the book ends with a series of statistical tables. All those studying or working in the caring professions will welcome the very straightforward and sympathetic approach of the authors, both of whom have considerable experience in the supervision of research work.

Paul Adelman seeks to explain the Liberal Party's dramatic transformation in political fortune. This clear, objective up-to-date account of the history of the Liberal Party covers the key period, 1910-1931. Focusing on liberal decline and drawing upon the different views forwarded by historians to account for this phenomenon, it discusses liberal decline before World War 1, the impact of the war on the liberals and the divisions that grew in the party after December 1916 between followers of Asquith and Lloyd George. A number of general factors are also covered, the impact of social and economic change, the effects of the Reform Act of 1918 and the rise of the Labour party. An ideal text for A-level and undergraduate students of history and politics.

In recent years there has been growing debate among sociologists about the concept of class and its relevance to the highly industrialised world of the late twentieth century. This book makes available in a single volume all of the key contributions to this debate and takes it a step further with a number of specially commissioned pieces. An editorial introduction which sets the main arguments in context, additional commentary and two alternative conclusions help to make this a unique text for a subject that remains crucial yet highly contentious.

School experience is the most significant part of learning to be a teacher. It can also be the most confusing, stressful and challenging. Initially, it can be very daunting to walk into someone else's classroom and try to prepare and teach effective lessons to someone else's class. It helps to have a clear idea of what to expect and to know how other people have coped, and in this book, Denis Hayes looks at what life is like for the student-teacher in the classroom. With plenty of down-to-earth and practical advice, he offers strategies for dealing with challenging situations and positive encouragement to help them succeed. The book covers four main areas: principles - summarises the fundamentals of successful teaching placement - provides detailed advice about preparing for, and prospering in, school placements, including case studies of trainee teachers' experiences practice - looks at practical issues in the classroom, including lesson planning, teaching skills, assessment and evaluation, and managing the classroom environment progress - covers applying for jobs and interview strategies, with newly qualified teachers talking about how they managed in their first few months. This text will be invaluable to anyone training to be a primary teacher and about to embark on his or her teaching experience. It will also be a useful resource for teacher mentors and course leaders of BEd, BA (Ed) and PGCE programmes.

The theories of Talcott Parsons' are enjoying a revival in the world of sociology. Rather than following closely the complex original prose in an effort to explain the theory in its minutiae, Holmwood presents a highly readable non-technical critique of several of the strongest underlying sociological themes and shows how, although flawed in many respects, these themes have been recurring, in different forms, in the theories of those critical of his work.

This book is one of a set of eight innovative yet practical resource books for teachers, focussing on the classroom and covering vital skills for primary and secondary teachers. The books are strongly influenced by the findings of numerous research projects during which hundreds of teachers were observed at work. The first editions of the series were best sellers, and these revised editions will be equally welcomed by teachers eager to improve their teaching skills. Successful primary teachers operate in many different ways, but they have one thing in common - an ability to manage their classrooms effectively. Without the skills required to do this, the most inspiring and knowledgeable teacher will fail. In Class Management in the Primary School, Ted Wragg helps teachers to clarify their own aims and to find the strategies which will work for them. Topics covered include: *first encounters *establishing the rules *management of *time and space *coping with specific discipline problems There are certain skills that teachers possess that are of paramount importance - class management is one of those areas. Effective classroom management can be the single most influential factor in getting it right and is a core teaching skill that both trainee and experienced teachers should constantly be improving on.

Franz Boas's 1940 Race, Language and Culture is a monumentally important text in the history of its discipline, collecting the articles and essays that helped make Boas known as the 'father of American anthropology.' An encapsulation of a career dedicated to fighting against the false theories of so-called 'scientific racism' that abounded in the first half of the 20th-century, Race, Language and Culture is one of the most historically significant texts in its field - and central to its arguments and impact are Boas's formidable interpretative skills. It could be said, indeed, that Race, Language and Culture is all about the centrality of interpretation in questioning our assumptions about the world. In critical thinking, interpretation is the ability to clarify and posit definitions for the terms and ideas that make up an argument. Boas's work demonstrates the importance of another vital element: context. For Boas, who argued passionately for 'cultural relativism,' it was vital to interpret individual cultures by their own standards and context - not by ours. Only through comparing and contrasting the two can we reach, he suggested, a better understanding of humankind. Though our own questions might be smaller, it is always worth considering the crucial element Boas brought to interpretation: how does context change definition?

Religion, Culture and Spirituality in Africa and the African Diaspora explores the ways in which religious ideas and beliefs continue to play a crucial role in the lives of people of African descent. The chapters in this volume use historical and contemporary examples to show how people of African descent develop and engage with spiritual rituals, organizations and practices to make sense of their lives, challenge injustices and creatively express their spiritual imaginings. This book poses and answers the following critical questions: To what extent are ideas of spirituality emanating from Africa and the diaspora still influenced by an African aesthetic? What impact has globalisation had on spiritual and cultural identities of peoples on African descendant peoples? And what is the utility of the practices and social organizations that house African spiritual expression in tackling social, political cultural and economic inequities? The essays in this volume reveal how spirituality weaves and intersects with issues of gender, class, sexuality and race across Africa and the diaspora. It will appeal to researchers and postgraduate students interested in the study of African religions, race and religion, sociology of religion and anthropology.

Focusing on the role of provincial leadership in the initiation and implementation of economic reform, this text studies economic decentralization in eight Chinese provinces. In each area, resource allocation and acquisition of foreign capital and investment are investigated.

How can managers motivate their employees? After conducting detailed field studies of work groups in settings as diverse as insurance company offices and regatta sailboats, Judith Komaki has identified two key behaviours that seem to distinguish effective from ineffective managers; monitoring workers' performance and communicating consequences. Drawing on her research over the last ten years, Komaki combines behavioural and cognitive theories of leadership and puts forward a new model for the study of leadership from an operant perspective.

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This text explores the often confused and complex relationship between comedy and social difference. Recognizing the ways in which comedy has been used to sustain, challenge or change power relationships in society if offers numerous readings of comedy and comedians in Britain, America and Australia.;In addressing comedy's social, political and historical significance, the contributors consider comedy in relation to class, region, age, politics, gender, sexuality, the body, ethnicity and nationhood. Bringing together producers, consumers and practitioners of comedy, this book provides analysis of a wide range of comedy genres, texts and performers: women in British comedies such as "Butterflies" and "Fawlty Towers" ; blokes, beer and "Viz" ; political correctness in comedy; immigration, the Marx Brothers and Jewish comedy in the United States; comedy and identity in post-war Australian humour; queer readings of "Morecambe and Wise" and the male double act; black radical comedy in Britain and America; bodies, breasts and smut in "Carry-On" ; new lesbian comedy; "The Golden Girls", "Cheers", "Friends" and changing American society. Contributors include Michael Bowes, Frances Gray, Da

In a world seemingly surfing a wave of unprecedented affluence, it is sobering to be reminded that only thirty out of nearly two hundred countries can really be classified as advanced industrialized countries. Eighty per cent of the world's population lives in the developing world. This popular, concise introduction scrutinises the developing world, its varied political institutions and the key social, economic and environmental issues at the heart of contemporary debates. Wide-ranging and clearly written, Politics and Society in the Developing World begins by providing a brisk survey of the major theoretical and methodological interpretations of the social impact of development. It then details the factors which determine the parameters of the developing world before moving on to examine its infrastructure and the crises currently facing it. The book also covers the social and economic contexts of developing societies, the international arena and its impact on the developing world, state-building and the tension between dictatorship and democratization. The book focuses on four policy areas: aid, trade, tourism and the environment.

This book examines the crisis in Ukraine, tracing its development and analysing the factors which lie behind it. It discusses above all how the two sides have engaged in political posturing, accusations, escalating sanctions and further escalating threats, arguing that the ease with which both sides have reverted to a Cold War mentality demonstrates that the Cold War belief systems never really disappeared, and that the hopes raised in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union for a new era in East-West relations were misplaced. The book pays special attention to the often ignored origins of the crisis within Ukraine itself, and the permanent damage caused by the fact that Ukrainians are killing Ukrainians in the eastern parts of the country. It also assesses why Cold War belief systems have re-emerged so easily, and concludes by considering the likely long-term ramifications of the crisis, arguing that the deep-rooted lack of trust makes the possibility of compromise even harder than in the original Cold War.

Focusing on the role of provincial leadership in the initiation and implementation of economic reform, this text studies economic decentralization in eight Chinese provinces. In each area, resource allocation and acquisition of foreign capital and investment are investigated.

For 2nd and 3rd year courses in Irish Politics, European Politics, or Comparative Politics, International Relations or Economic Development. This book provides an up-to-date analysis of Ireland's place on the world stage, exploring its international relations, evolving economic power, changing relationship with the EU, its political role in the world and its changing relationship with England and Northern Ireland. The book traces Ireland's development from a rural and isolated country to one that has emerged as an influential player on the international stage. It looks at the continuing difficulties with the North, Ireland's role of prominence in Europe and the way in which it has benefited from economic globalisation.

Contents:
Contributors: Michael Bowes, Frances Gray, Dave Huxley, Chris Lee, John McCallum, Maggie Morgan, Like Pickering and Jane Littlewood, Laraine Porter, Mark Simpson, Stephen Small, Paul Wells, Frances Williams

Status, Power, and Legitimacy presents methodological, theoretical, and empirical essays by Joseph Berger and Morris Zelditch, Jr.--two of the leading contributors to the Stanford tradition in the study of micropro-cesses. This three-part volume brings together major contributions to the development of this tradition, in addition to a number of newly written essays published here for the first time. Berger and Zelditch integrate the essays and relate them to a larger body of theory and research as they explore the importance of a generalizing orientation in sociology. Their view of theory as flux and process, the blending of social process with theory-building, produces a picture of the social world in line with the great tradition of George Herbert Mead, Max Weber, and Georg Simmel.

Status, Power, and Legitimacy explores the relation between the scope of a theory and testing, applying, and developing it; the relation between abstract, general theories and empirical generalizations; and how to use an understanding of this relation to construct theories that are neither historically nor culturally bound. In the first part, Berger and Zelditch discuss strategies of theory construction, the development of abstract, general theories of social processes, and the different ways in which theories grow. Status processes are the focus of the second part, which includes: the formation of reward expectations; the role of status cues in interaction; the evolution of status expectations; and the application of status characteristics theory to male-female interaction. Lastly, the authors dissect power and legitimacy: the effect of expectations on power; the legitimation of power and its effect on the stability of authority; and legitimation under conditions of dissensus.

This volume is a fine theoretical effort of great depth and breadth. Berger and Zelditch review the background of each paper, place the new concepts and principles introduced by each paper in context and examine subsequent research generated by the paper. They carve out new research areas in the social world of class, status, power, and authority. This volume will be of interest to those in the fields of sociology and, in particular, social theory.