Making Sense of Social Problems : New Images, New Issues / ed. by Scott R. Harris, Joel Best.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Bacon, Rachel J., Contributor.

Barnshaw, John, Contributor.

Berns, Nancy, Contributor.

Best, Joel, Contributor.

Best, Joel, Editor.

Dunn, Jennifer L., Contributor.

Harris, Jenine K., Contributor.

Harris, Scott R., Contributor.

Harris, Scott R., Editor.

Horstmeier, Michelle, Contributor.

Jenkins, Tiffany, Contributor.

Johnson, Keith Roberts, Contributor.

Letukas, Lynn, Contributor.

Maratea, R. J., Contributor.

Monahan, Brian A., Contributor.

O’Leary, Marguerite L., Contributor.

Parilla, Peter F., Contributor.

Perez, Victor W., Contributor.

Schweingruber, David, Contributor.

Series:

Social Problems, Social Constructions Series

Social Problems, Social Constructions

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource (335 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Boulder : Lynne Rienner Publishers, [2022]

Language Note:

In English.

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; and 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.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

1. Studying the Construction of Social Problems

Part 1. The Nature of Claims

Introduction

2. Teen Suicide: A Tale of Two Communities

3. Cell Phone Use While Driving: Defining a Problem as Worthy of Action

Part 2. Claimsmakers

4. The Pet Grief Industry: Framing the Problem of Pet Death

5. The Movement Linking Vaccines to Autism: Parents and the Internet

6. Old Skeletons, Pagans, and Museums: Why Ancient Human Remains Are a Bone of Contention

Part 3. Questioning Experts

7. Wankers, Inverts, and Addicts: The Scientific Construction of Sexuality as a Social Problem

8. Murdered Mothers: The Social Construction of Troubling Statistics

9. Prophets in the Wilderness: Predicting Financial Collapse

Part 4. The Role of the Media

10. Abortion and Adoption: “Choosing Life” and the Problem of Regret

11. The Evolution of Internet Addiction

12. Breaking News on Nancy Grace: Violent Crime in the Media

Part 5. Policy Outcomes

13. In the Shadow of Saturated Fat: The Struggle to Get Trans Fats Noticed

14. Casinos and Smoke-Free Legislation: Claimsmaking About Policy Outcomes

15. Global Policy Outcomes: Comparing Reactions to Post-Tsunami Aid

Part 6. Afterword

16. Three Questions for Constructionism

References

The Contributors

Index

About the Book

Notes:

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 29. Jun 2022)

ISBN:

1-68585-049-9

OCLC:

1334343695