Understanding Social Change
Will be published approx. on 17. February 2005
Book
Hardback
375 pages
978-0-19-726314-3 (ISBN)
Description
These essays not only describe the major changes in British society in recent years, but seek to understand and explain what is happening.
One of the themes running through this book is that, while there have been rapid changes in overall levels, there have been slower changes in relativities, and this analytical distinction is absolutely fundamental to a proper understanding of contemporary society.
The book also considers the wide variety of mechanisms that underlie these changes, in particular processes of social interaction. The complex and often ill-understood nature of these mechanisms may be a major reason why so much social reform has proved ineffective. The verdict on social reforms in education, gender inequalities and ethnic inequalities is rather negative; and sociologists have long been concerned about the unintended consequences of social action, and in the policy field these are frequent. By highlighting the complexities of the causal mechanisms, sociological research can make a major contribution to policy and public debate.
While these papers do not claim that sociology will provide all the answers, they demonstrate that it has made real progress in understanding the social changes that Britain has experienced in recent decades.
One of the themes running through this book is that, while there have been rapid changes in overall levels, there have been slower changes in relativities, and this analytical distinction is absolutely fundamental to a proper understanding of contemporary society.
The book also considers the wide variety of mechanisms that underlie these changes, in particular processes of social interaction. The complex and often ill-understood nature of these mechanisms may be a major reason why so much social reform has proved ineffective. The verdict on social reforms in education, gender inequalities and ethnic inequalities is rather negative; and sociologists have long been concerned about the unintended consequences of social action, and in the policy field these are frequent. By highlighting the complexities of the causal mechanisms, sociological research can make a major contribution to policy and public debate.
While these papers do not claim that sociology will provide all the answers, they demonstrate that it has made real progress in understanding the social changes that Britain has experienced in recent decades.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Scholars and students of social studies and social policy
Illustrations
numerous graphs, tables and line drawings
Dimensions
Height: 243 mm
Width: 163 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
721 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-726314-3 (9780197263143)
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
Persons
Anthony Heath, Professor of Sociology, University of Oxford; Fellow of the British Academy, John Ermisch, Professor of Sociology, Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex; Fellow of the British Academy, and Duncan Gallie, Professor of Sociology, University of Oxford; Fellow of the British Academy
Content
Introduction
The Puzzling Rise in Childbearing Outside Marriage
Why Did Class Inequalities in Educational Attainment Remain Unchanged over Much of the Twentieth Century?
Is Failure Inevitable? The Recent Fate of Secondary School Reforms Intended to Alleviate Social Disadvantage
The Puzzle of Work: Insecurity and Stress and Autonomy and Commitment
Entrapment in Unemployment: Motivational Deficiency or Structural Constraint?
Gender and Pay: Some More Equal than Others
Explaining Ethnic Minority Disadvantage
The Puzzle of Retirement and Early Retirement SARAH HARPER and PETER LASLETT
The Social Origins of Depression and the Role of Meaning
What are New Religious Movements Doing in a Secular Society?
Victims' Rights in England and Wales at the Beginning of the Twenty-first Century
The Puzzling Rise in Childbearing Outside Marriage
Why Did Class Inequalities in Educational Attainment Remain Unchanged over Much of the Twentieth Century?
Is Failure Inevitable? The Recent Fate of Secondary School Reforms Intended to Alleviate Social Disadvantage
The Puzzle of Work: Insecurity and Stress and Autonomy and Commitment
Entrapment in Unemployment: Motivational Deficiency or Structural Constraint?
Gender and Pay: Some More Equal than Others
Explaining Ethnic Minority Disadvantage
The Puzzle of Retirement and Early Retirement SARAH HARPER and PETER LASLETT
The Social Origins of Depression and the Role of Meaning
What are New Religious Movements Doing in a Secular Society?
Victims' Rights in England and Wales at the Beginning of the Twenty-first Century