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Making sense of social problems : new images, new issues / edited by Joel Best, Scott R. Harris

Published
Boulder, Colo. : Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2013.
Physical Description
ix, 335 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.
Additional Creators
Best, Joel and Harris, Scott R., 1969 September 16-

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Series
Contents
1. Studying the construction of social problems / Scott R. Harris -- Part 1, The Nature of Claims: 2. Teen suicide: a tale of two communities / Marguerite L. O'Leary and Joel Best; 3. Cell phone use while driving: defining a problem worthy of action / Peter F. Parilla -- Part 2. Claimsmakers: 4. The pet grief industry: framing the problem of pet death / Nancy Berns; 5. The movement linking vaccines to autism: parents and the internet / Victor W. Perez; 6. Old skeletons, pagans, and museums: why ancient human remains are a bone of contention / Tiffany Jenkins -- Part 3, Questioning Experts: 7. Wankers, inverts, and addicts: the scientific construction of sexuality as a social problem / Liahna E. Gordon; 8. Murdered mothers: the social construction of troubling statistics / Keith Roberts Johnson; 9. Prophets in the wilderness: predicting financial collapse / John Barnshaw -- Part 4. The Role of the Media: 10. Abortion and adoption: "choosing life" and the problem of regret / Jennifer L. Dunn; 11. The evolution of internet addiction / David Schweingruber and Michelle Horstmeier; 12. Breaking news on "Nancy Grace": violent crime in the media / Brian A. Monahan and R.J. Maratea -- Partt 5. Policy Outcomes: 13. In the shadow of saturated fat: the struggle to get trans fats noticed / Rachel J. Bacon; 14. Casinos and smoke-free legislation: claimsmaking about policy outcomes / Jenine K. Harris; 15. Global policy outcomes: comparing reactions to post-tsunami aid / Lynn Letukas -- Part 6. Afterword: 16. Three questions for constructionism / Scott R. Harris and Joel Best.
Summary
"Internet addiction. Cell-phone-distracted drivers. Teen suicide. Economic recession. The health risks of trans fats. The carefully selected collection of case studies in Making Sense of Social Problems is designed to help students understand and critically evaluate a wide range of contemporary social issues. The cases are organized to highlight a series of key elements: why "objective" claims deserve critical attention ; how advocates bring attention to issues ; why expert interpretations may change over time ; the role of the media in shaping or distorting concerns ; the consequences of public policy. The introduction, conclusion, and section notes provide a coherent framework for the text. Reflecting the promise of the constructionist approach, the result is a powerful set of tools for systematically investigating social problems. It can be used to advantage as a "stand-alone, " as well as with such texts as Joel Best's Social Problems."--Publisher's website.
Subject(s)
ISBN
9781588268556 (hc : alk. paper)
1588268551 (hc : alk. paper)
9781588268808 (pb : alk. paper)
1588268802 (pb : alk. paper)
Note
"[C]onsists of fourteen case studies of contemporary problems, ranging from pet grief to teen suicide to natural disasters to our current financial crisis. Introductory and concluding chapters outline the constructionists perspective and explain its strengths and weaknesses."--P. ix.
Bibliography Note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 295-326) and index.
View MARC record | catkey: 9143383