"Constructing the Social" provides a clear overview on how to do social constructionist research and analysis and an understanding of the concrete implications of social constructionist theory. Each chapter analyzes the historical and cultural contexts of a wide range of key issues including anxiety, the family, intelligence, ageing and depression. The contributors demonstrate that human beings are social agents rather passive reactors or mere processors of information.
In his exploration of the interaction between religion and worldwide social and cultural change, the author examines the major theories of global change and discusses the ways in which such change impinges on contemporary religious practice, meaning and influence. Beyer explores some of the key issues in understanding the shape of religion today, including religion as culture and as social system, pure and applied religion, privatized and publicly influential religion, and liberal versus conservative religions. He goes on to apply these issues to five contemporary illustrative cases: the American Christian Right; Liberation Theology movements in Latin America; the Islamic Revolution in Iran; Zionists in Israel; and religious environmentalism.
Offering an insider's view of the subject, this practical guide demystifies the process of publishing in scholarly journals. The author explains how to increase the chances of having articles accepted, how to market published articles and how to achieve a consistent level of productive publishing.
Designed to help beginners estimate and test structural equation modelling (SEM) using the EQS approach, this book demonstrates a variety of SEM/EQS applications that include both partial factor analytic and full latent variable models. Beginning with an overview of the basic concepts of SEM and the EQS program, the author works through applications starting with a single sample approach through to more advanced applications, such as a multi-sample approach. The book concludes with a section on using EQS for modelling with Windows.
Organizational and Human Resource Management Dimensions
Over the past decade, many companies have adopted new strategies for manufacturing, which have taken their competitiveness on to new planes. A whole array of initiatives, such as FMS, JIT, TQM, CIM, and MRP II, have been introduced. This book deals with the far-reaching significance of these new approaches - collectively labelled "new wave manufacturing". Considerable research evidence as well as practitioners' own experiences make one crucial point time and time again. The organizational as well as the human resource management aspects of these new strategies are critical to their success or failure. The underlying theme which is tackled in this book, therefore, is to what extent do these new operational strategies require a matching set of organizational and HR strategies? By looking at the issues through the joint eyes of production and behavioural analysts, this book provides an unique introduction to the new developments in manufacturing as well as providing an up-to-date assessment of the organizational and H R dimensions to these methods. New Wave Manufacturing Strategies has a vision which goes beyond the "new technology"/advanced manufacturing technology discussions. The chapters have been written in a clear, accessible manner by leading experts from Europe, the USA and Australia as well as from the UK.
In the context of the unique crime problems of the United States, John Hagan advances a new sociology of crime and disrepute that focuses on the criminal costs of social inequality. He connects the diversion of funding away from distressed communities in the USA to increased violence and lack of social mobility for disadvantaged groups which in turn result in the development of `deviance service centers' and `ethnic vice industries'. Hagan further shows the important link between `crime in the streets' and `crime in the suites' and the difference between the two in eluding punishment.
In this volume, a multidisciplinary group of scholars investigate the changing attitudes towards management decisions in today's workplace. Across a variety of areas traditionally reserved for managerial authority - employee hiring and firing, corporate takeovers and plant closings - managers face an increased likelihood of public and legal scrutiny of their decisions and decision-making processes. Formal procedures, decision-making criteria and the use of legal rhetoric within organizations are all addressed in the book.
In this volume, a multidisciplinary group of scholars investigate the changing attitudes towards management decisions in today's workplace. Across a variety of areas traditionally reserved for managerial authority - employee hiring and firing, corporate takeovers and plant closings - managers face an increased likelihood of public and legal scrutiny of their decisions and decision-making processes. Formal procedures, decision-making criteria and the use of legal rhetoric within organizations are all addressed in the book.
By emphasizing how to think strategically about a research project, the author of this innovative book shows readers the important steps of a scientific study - from the formulation of the study to the write-up of results. Illustrative examples from the social, health and behavioural sciences are used throughout to illustrate 40 principles of good research practice.
