"A significant contribution to the continuing exploration of the issues surrounding the learning potential of young children's play. Holland's writing is engaging, her subject is of considerable interest, and her approach succeeds in challenging many of the taken-for-granted assumptions in several a…
*What is distinctive about urban life?*What key trends have shaped the contemporary city?*How have the city and urban cultures been explained by sociology and cultural studies?This is the first book to explore cities and urban life from the perspectives of both sociology and cultural theory. Through…
“This book bears the hallmark of Open University Press texts. It is well laid out and nicely produced. It manages a good balance between textbook and cutting edge research… The book is impressive in its command of a wide range of writings on sexuality, gender, masculinity and schooling.” - E…
"...a well-rooted resource for bodywork courses and a useful introductory text for a broad audience." Caduceus"It's not a big book but it's got a vast amount of information and knowledge in it. ...if you are interested in getting a good overall picture of the subject you couldn't do better." The Fu…
This book argues that if public services are to be ’reformed’ or ‘improved’, achieving the best possible quality of service is essential.It starts from the premise that citizens and users are the key ‘stakeholders’. They need to be consulted and involved at every stage. Within inevitable…
"Chas Critcher's study is doubly welcome as it discusses theoretical underpinnings thoroughly, and also provides a set of illustrative case studies... This is an important and stimulating book for a range of audiences." VISTA Vol 8 no 3 How are social problems defined and responded to in contemporar…
* Why should offenders be punished - what should punishments be designed to achieve?* Why has imprisonment become the normal punishment for crime in modern industrial societies?* What is the relationship between theories of punishment and the actual penalties inflicted on offenders?This revised and …
At its best Disability Studies is an arena of critical debate addressing controversial issues concerning, not just the meaning of disability, but the nature of society, dominant values, quality of life, and even the right to live. Indeed, Disability Studies is itself the subject of controversy, in t…
“a sharp and impressive book, providing an excellent advanced introductory text to the field. The book combines an impressive range of contextual and theoretical analysis, suggests new directions for research and provides a critically self-aware analysis of methodological issues.” Sociology* Are…
Why is there so much violence portrayed in the media?What meanings are attached to representations of violence in the media?Can media violence encourage violent behaviour and desensitize audiences toreal violence?Does the ‘everydayness’ of media violence lead to the ‘normalization’ of violen…
