While there have been many sociological and psychological studies of humor, few can claim to be funny. Humor may be regarded as a legitimate topic for social scientists, but in general, they present their research rather seriously. In academia, humor tends to be trivialized and dismissed. This is more than just a missed opportunity for otherwise fun-loving academics. In literature, it is readily accepted that comedy is integral to the human condition. To ignore humor is to reject a potentially insightful methodological approach, as the humorous worldview presents unique opportunities for investigating the social. This book constitutes a unique resource, presenting chapters on irony, satire and parody as tools for analysis and means of representation, as well as considering humor in the conduct of research, and offering guidance on getting published. Through presenting examples from across the social sciences, the book seeks to persuade and inspire rather than to prescribe an approach - a closure which would (ironically) be inimical to the multiplicity and ambiguity which characterizes humorous research and lends it its distinctive edge.

While there have been many sociological and psychological studies of humor, few can claim to be funny. Humor may be regarded as a legitimate topic for social scientists, but in general, they present their research rather seriously. In academia, humor tends to be trivialized and dismissed. This is more than just a missed opportunity for otherwise fun-loving academics. In literature, it is readily accepted that comedy is integral to the human condition. To ignore humor is to reject a potentially insightful methodological approach, as the humorous worldview presents unique opportunities for investigating the social. This book constitutes a unique resource, presenting chapters on irony, satire and parody as tools for analysis and means of representation, as well as considering humor in the conduct of research, and offering guidance on getting published. Through presenting examples from across the social sciences, the book seeks to persuade and inspire rather than to prescribe an approach - a closure which would (ironically) be inimical to the multiplicity and ambiguity which characterizes humorous research and lends it its distinctive edge.

Can we imagine different ways of working together to secure better outcomes for children and families? What are the complex issues that underlie the apparently simple call for joined-up services?

Children 's services in many countries around the world are being transformed as part of the call for joined-up working for joined-up solutions . Social, health and educational policy discourses are driven by the idea that effective inter/professional, interagency collaboration is crucial in determining whether service delivery to children and families will succeed or fail. However, the rapid turn from previous inter/professional practices of liaison, consultancy, cooperation and collaboration to more radical and wholescale service integration and sector transformation has not been accompanied either by a well considered research agenda of hard questions nor close scrutiny of its effects and consequences.

The book asks a series of searching and challenging questions:

• What are the complex issues involved in children 's sector transformation for all those involved young people, practitioners, leaders and managers, policy makers?
• How can the silos in which professionals have traditionally been prepared for practice be broken down?
• What are the orthodoxies that surround joined-up working and in what ways should they be challenged?

Written by authors from across the wide range of professional, policy and disciplinary groups involved in this new cross-cutting area of policy and practice, this book provides a critical analysis of the complexities of children 's services transformations. The research in this collection addresses the range of discursive, policy and organizational developments associated with the transformation of children 's services, providing an important and timely analysis of their complexities and is essential reading for all those working in the complex spaces of children 's services.

Can we imagine different ways of working together to secure better outcomes for children and families? What are the complex issues that underlie the apparently simple call for joined-up services?

Children s services in many countries around the world are being transformed as part of the call for joined-up working for joined-up solutions . Social, health and educational policy discourses are driven by the idea that effective inter/professional, interagency collaboration is crucial in determining whether service delivery to children and families will succeed or fail. However, the rapid turn from previous inter/professional practices of liaison, consultancy, cooperation and collaboration to more radical and wholescale service integration and sector transformation has not been accompanied either by a well considered research agenda of hard questions nor close scrutiny of its effects and consequences.

The book asks a series of searching and challenging questions:

• What are the complex issues involved in children s sector transformation for all those involved young people, practitioners, leaders and managers, policy makers?
• How can the silos in which professionals have traditionally been prepared for practice be broken down?
• What are the orthodoxies that surround joined-up working and in what ways should they be challenged?

Written by authors from across the wide range of professional, policy and disciplinary groups involved in this new cross-cutting area of policy and practice, this book provides a critical analysis of the complexities of children s services transformations. The research in this collection addresses the range of discursive, policy and organizational developments associated with the transformation of children s services, providing an important and timely analysis of their complexities and is essential reading for all those working in the complex spaces of children s services.