Lindsay Paterson - Böcker

Substantially revised and rewritten in the light of the 1997 General Election and Devolution referendum, the 2nd edition of this widely-used text provides an up-to-date assessment of Scottish politics under Blair and the likely impact of the new Scottish Parliament. The book focuses in particular on Scotland's constitutional position within the UK; its system of policy making; the nature of the Scottish economy; and the changing patterns of party electoral and grass roots politics. An important feature is its focus throughout on the relationship between culture, identity and ethnicity and that between politics and civil society as it has developed since the Act of Union in 1707.

This practical introduction for first time researchers provides a bridge between how to conduct research and the philosophy of social science, allowing students to relate what they are doing to why. It does not provide a set of rigid recipes for social scientists as many methodology books do, rather it stimulates students to think about the issues involved when deciding upon their research design.By discussing standard approaches to research design and method in various social science disciplines, the authors illustrate why particular designs have traditionally predominated in certain areas of study. But whilst they acknowledge the strengths of these standard approaches, their emphasis is on helping researchers find the most effective solution to their problem by encouraging them, through this familiarity with the principles of various approaches, to innovate where appropriate. This text will prove indispensable for social science students of all levels embarking upon a research project, and for experienced researchers looking for a fresh perspective on their object of study.

This practical introduction for first time researchers provides a bridge between how to conduct research and the philosophy of social science, allowing students to relate what they are doing to why. It does not provide a set of rigid recipes for social scientists as many methodology books do, rather it stimulates students to think about the issues involved when deciding upon their research design.By discussing standard approaches to research design and method in various social science disciplines, the authors illustrate why particular designs have traditionally predominated in certain areas of study. But whilst they acknowledge the strengths of these standard approaches, their emphasis is on helping researchers find the most effective solution to their problem by encouraging them, through this familiarity with the principles of various approaches, to innovate where appropriate. This text will prove indispensable for social science students of all levels embarking upon a research project, and for experienced researchers looking for a fresh perspective on their object of study.

Scotland’s education system has been claimed by many to be one of the most successful in the world and its alleged decline in recent decades has generated a great deal of controversy. This book is the first full account of the history of twentieth-century Scottish education, by Lindsay Paterson, a leading specialist in the area.Scottish Education investigates Scotland’s response to the key question faced by all mass systems of education. How can democracy be reconciled with the necessity of selection – both selection of culture in the maintenance of excellence, and selection of people, allocating them to differentiated occupations while also preparing them for life as equal citizens in the common culture of the community? Paterson argues that the Scottish answer to this has been recurrent attempts to give wide access to common types of educational institution, but continuing to define that education in fairly traditional academic terms. This is then also Scotland’s attempt to reconcile the tension between social solidarity and liberal opportunity, between the needs of the individual and the needs of society and its inherited culture. This broad-ranging and stimulating account of a century of Scottish education is organised chronologically into two broad parts: Competition and Opportunity, 1880s–1930s; and Welfare and Individualism, 1940s–1990s. Within these periods are chapters on each of the main sectors of education.Key Features:*Scottish education often claimed to be a world-leader – the facts behind this are explored*Written by one of the most prominent commentators in the area*Topical, in light of on-going controversy surrounding the Scottish Qualifications Authority*Provides background history to the development of Scottish education through the 20th century

Shortlisted for the Saltire Society/NLS Scottish Research Book of the Year Award, 2005Living in Scotland gives an account of the key social changes in Scottish society, describing how it has been transformed over the last two to three decades. Drawing on a uniquely wide range of data from government statistics, social surveys and over-time data sources, the book tells the story of society in Scotland during the approach and arrival of the new century. The authors analyse the large-scale changes which have profoundly altered Scottish society affecting the country’s demography, patterns of work and employment, the distributions of income, wealth and poverty, social class and social mobility, educational opportunities, and patterns of consumption and lifestyle. While Scotland shares many of these social trends with similar western societies, its reaction to them is shaped by its own history and culture. The authors argue that Scotland is now a more affluent, comfortable and pleasant place to live in than just two or three decades ago, but that it remains seriously divided and stratified. A significant minority of its people remain disadvantaged and relatively deprived. This represents the major political and cultural challenge for the new Scotland.Living in Scotland is written by three of the country’s foremost sociologists. Together, they build a picture of a changing Scotland at the beginning of the 21st century.Key Features:* A cd-rom of all the key tables is provided with the book* Written by three of Scotland’s foremost sociologists* Builds a picture of the changing society of Scotland over the second half of the twentieth century* Uses a uniquely wide range of statistical data sources which are set in context and explained in non-technical ways

This book highlights the role of knowledge in school education. It shows that while the Scottish education system used to be among the strongest in Europe, its students’ attainment has dropped in recent years. The book argues that the clue to this decline is the new curriculum which has been in place for two decades. Lindsay Paterson notes the commendable aims of this approach, which includes working across subject boundaries, application of learning to real-world problems and focusing on creativity and citizenship.Studying Scotland’s strong educational reputation in the past and comparing it to other countries, such as Estonia, Singapore, Ireland and Japan, Paterson argues that the most student-centred education is one that is based on knowledge. This is key to students’ understanding, to their personal fulfilment, to their successful careers, and to their ability to make a worthwhile contribution to society.

This book highlights the role of knowledge in school education. It shows that while the Scottish education system used to be among the strongest in Europe, its students’ attainment has dropped in recent years. The book argues that the clue to this decline is the new curriculum which has been in place for two decades. Lindsay Paterson notes the commendable aims of this approach, which includes working across subject boundaries, application of learning to real-world problems and focusing on creativity and citizenship.Studying Scotland’s strong educational reputation in the past and comparing it to other countries, such as Estonia, Singapore, Ireland and Japan, Paterson argues that the most student-centred education is one that is based on knowledge. This is key to students’ understanding, to their personal fulfilment, to their successful careers, and to their ability to make a worthwhile contribution to society.

Uses a unique series of social surveys to study education and social change in ScotlandPresents Scotland's internationally unique series of surveys of school students, from the late 1940s to the new century, with no parallel internationally in its longevity, range of topic, and depthUses Scotland as a case study as it experienced all the major educational changes of the developed world in the second half of the 20th centuryDraws comparison to domestic education reform in England and WalesDraws comparison internationally with the rest of Europe and north America, and especially with France, the Netherlands and IrelandThe social basis of these changes is systematically investigated: who benefited, who did not, did these divides narrow or widen, and what are the consequences for opportunity and civic values?The debate about Scottish independence has been transformed by this growth of education, especially among young people born since the 1960s who have been the main beneficiaries of educational expansion.Scotland developed a series of educational surveys between the late-1940s and the early-21st century that allow the country's experience of education to be studied in systematic detail. No other country has an archive of this length and depth. The surveys include evidence on pupils' curriculum, attainment, subjective experience of school, and destinations after leaving school, as well as details of their social characteristics and of the secondary schools which they attended. By linking also to archival evidence on the histories of schools, the book's analysis investigates the interplay between deliberate policy and wider social change. The transformation of education in this period is accompanied by equally important economic restructuring which has led to unprecedented changes in the way that education relates to lifelong opportunity in the twenty-first century. The book investigates how these changes have underpinned Scotland's civic values, and have contributed fundamentally to shaping the debate about the country's constitutional future.

Scotland developed a series of educational surveys between the late-1940s and the early-21st century that allow the country's experience of education to be studied in systematic detail. No other country has an archive of this length and depth. The surveys include evidence on pupils' curriculum, attainment, subjective experience of school, and destinations after leaving school, as well as details of their social characteristics and of the secondary schools which they attended. By linking also to archival evidence on the histories of schools, the book's analysis investigates the interplay between deliberate policy and wider social change. The transformation of education in this period is accompanied by equally important economic restructuring which has led to unprecedented changes in the way that education relates to lifelong opportunity in the twenty-first century. The book investigates how these changes have underpinned Scotland's civic values, and have contributed fundamentally to shaping the debate about the country's constitutional future.

New Scotland, New Society asks a series of vital questions regarding the attitudes and behaviour of the Scots. Are the ties that bind people to each other and to the democratic system fragmenting? Do people no longer trust each other? How do people relate to each other in terms of social trust? How do they relate to social institutions such as the family and systems of morality? Is constitutional reform restoring that trust? Drawing on the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey and its predecessors, the overall aim of the book is to provide an independent account of public opinion in post-devolution Scotland.Chapters will cover a range of contemporary debates. Attitudes to key issues such as co-habitation, teenage pregnancy, religion, sexuality, abortion, and racial prejudice will be explored. The capacity of Scotland's new political institutions to restore trust will be questioned, and the links between the trust which people have in each other and the trust they have in their institutions will be tested. These attitudes will be set in context over time and also in comparison with the rest of the UK, to see how attitudes have developed, and whether Scottish attitudes are distinctive.Much of the public debate in Scotland in recent years has been about constitutional and political change. This book moves beyond these issues to look at their social basis. It asks whether popular attitudes might actually be even more fundamental than the undoubtedly important constitutional upheaval that Scotland has recently experienced.

This book explores the governance of the UK, and the process of constitutional change, between Scotland’s independence referendum in September 2014 and the UK general election in May 2015. The book will be of interest to students and scholars of UK politics, devolution, constitutional change, public attitudes, and territorial politics.