An Invitation to Social Construction
3rd Edition
Published on 1. May 2015
Book
Hardback
272 pages
978-1-4462-9647-9 (ISBN)
Description
This new edition of Kenneth J. Gergen's celebrated text An Invitation to Social Construction is now even more accessible for students, offering a clear and thorough introduction to one of the most significant movements in contemporary social science.
The Third Edition includes:
updates reflecting the many new developments in theory, research, and practice
a more student-friendly, personal writing style
three new chapters on education, and therapy and health care, and organizations
key insights into how social construction can help support you in your research projects, from start to finish.
An Invitation to Social Construction is the must-read text for all social science students, academics and practitioners wishing to learn about social constructionism, along with the forms of inquiry and practice central to its impact.
The Third Edition includes:
updates reflecting the many new developments in theory, research, and practice
a more student-friendly, personal writing style
three new chapters on education, and therapy and health care, and organizations
key insights into how social construction can help support you in your research projects, from start to finish.
An Invitation to Social Construction is the must-read text for all social science students, academics and practitioners wishing to learn about social constructionism, along with the forms of inquiry and practice central to its impact.
Reviews / Votes
This third edition, enriched with three new chapters, remains an exciting introduction to the premises of social constructionism. As Gergen unfolds, in his own personal style, the ideas of dialogue, co-action and relationship one finds oneself relating to the book in the most engaging way. The book is inspiring for both the newcomer and the experienced pursuer of knowledge-making in constructionist terms. -- Thalia Dragonas Ken Gergen has taken all that is good in his second edition of the definitive Invitation to Social Construction, updated it, and made it even smarter. There is no more vibrant and engaging launch point for understanding contemporary social constructionism. -- Jonathan Potter The author succeeds in introducing the reader into social construction. He emphasizes that this perspective critically attempts to look at what acts as "the truth" without leading to nihilism. The combination of the scientific with the social and personal through the work makes it very accessible and easily readable. In short, the book is a comprehensive introduction to social construction, not just for novice and advanced researchers, but also for students. -- Sofie De BusMore details
Edition
3rd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 242 mm
Width: 170 mm
Weight
639 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4462-9647-9 (9781446296479)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Book
12/2022
4th Edition
SAGE Publications Ltd
€158.10
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Kenneth J. Gergen is a Senior Research Professor in Psychology at Swarthmore College, and the President of the Taos Institute. He is internationally known for his contributions to social constructionist theory, technology and cultural change, the self, aging, education, and relational theory and practices. His major writings include, Realities and Relationships: Soundings in Social Construction, The Saturated Self: Dilemmas of Identity in Contemporary Life, and Relational Being: Beyond Self and Community. His most recent work Beyond the Tyranny of Testing: Relational Evaluation in Education (with Scherto Gill) offers a relational constructionist alternative to the destructive practices of testing and grading in education. Gergen lectures throughout the world, and has received numerous awards for his work, including honorary degrees in both the U.S. and Europe.
Content
CHAPTER 1: SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION - FROM "WHAT IS" TO "WHAT COULD BE"
Together We Construct our Worlds
The Social Origins of the Real and the Good
Grounding Dialogues on Social Construction
From Deconstruction to Reconstruction
Reflective Pragmatism: The Working Vocabularies of the World
CHAPTER 2: CONSTRUCTING THE REAL AND THE GOOD
The Language We Live By
Everyday Conversation: The Power of the Unremarkable
Institutional Realities: Foucault on Power
Identity Politics: To Be or Not To Be
CHAPTER 3: HORIZONS OF HUMAN ENQUIRY
From Empiricism to Constructionism
Research Traditions in Transformation
Discourse Study: Exploring Constructed Worlds
Imagination in Action: Qualitative Enquiry
CHAPTER 4: THE RELATIONAL SELF
Generative Theory
Individualism: Separation and its Discontents
Self as Relationship: First Steps
Self as Relationship: The Emerging Vision
Mind as Relational Action
Multi-Being: What Shall We Become Together?
CHAPTER 5: DIALOGUE - CONFLICT AND TRANSFORMATION
Exploring Dialogue: Key Concepts
Dialogue and Difference
Toward Transformative Dialogue
CHAPTER 6: EDUCATION AS RELATIONAL PROCESS
Knowledge as Socially Constructed
Education as Relational Process
The Challenge of Student Evaluation
CHAPTER 7: THE HELPING PROFESSIONS - CO-CONSTRUCTION IN ACTION
Therapy as Social Construction
Collaborative Means to Human Well-being
Meaning and Medicine
CHAPTER 8: MAKING MEANING IN ORGANIZATIONS
Organizing Through Language
Relational Organizing: Key to the Future
The Organization as System
CHAPTER 9: SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION IN QUESTION
Realism: "But there is a World Out There!"
The Challenge of Moral Relativism
Missing Ingredients: The Body and Power
The Challenge of Moral Relativism
Together We Construct our Worlds
The Social Origins of the Real and the Good
Grounding Dialogues on Social Construction
From Deconstruction to Reconstruction
Reflective Pragmatism: The Working Vocabularies of the World
CHAPTER 2: CONSTRUCTING THE REAL AND THE GOOD
The Language We Live By
Everyday Conversation: The Power of the Unremarkable
Institutional Realities: Foucault on Power
Identity Politics: To Be or Not To Be
CHAPTER 3: HORIZONS OF HUMAN ENQUIRY
From Empiricism to Constructionism
Research Traditions in Transformation
Discourse Study: Exploring Constructed Worlds
Imagination in Action: Qualitative Enquiry
CHAPTER 4: THE RELATIONAL SELF
Generative Theory
Individualism: Separation and its Discontents
Self as Relationship: First Steps
Self as Relationship: The Emerging Vision
Mind as Relational Action
Multi-Being: What Shall We Become Together?
CHAPTER 5: DIALOGUE - CONFLICT AND TRANSFORMATION
Exploring Dialogue: Key Concepts
Dialogue and Difference
Toward Transformative Dialogue
CHAPTER 6: EDUCATION AS RELATIONAL PROCESS
Knowledge as Socially Constructed
Education as Relational Process
The Challenge of Student Evaluation
CHAPTER 7: THE HELPING PROFESSIONS - CO-CONSTRUCTION IN ACTION
Therapy as Social Construction
Collaborative Means to Human Well-being
Meaning and Medicine
CHAPTER 8: MAKING MEANING IN ORGANIZATIONS
Organizing Through Language
Relational Organizing: Key to the Future
The Organization as System
CHAPTER 9: SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION IN QUESTION
Realism: "But there is a World Out There!"
The Challenge of Moral Relativism
Missing Ingredients: The Body and Power
The Challenge of Moral Relativism