Matt Henn – författare

Published in 1998, Opinion Polls and Volatile Electorates presents a comparative overview of the development of opinion polling in late-capitalist and post-communist societies. The author considers two related issues to help readers understand the role of polls in political affairs and the prospects for polling in the the future. Firstly, it is argued that there are certain tendencies unfolding in both late-capitalist and post-communist societies (which the author terms Complex Politics) which make polling an increasingly difficult activity. The processes affect the ability of polls to measure public opinion effectively, and to contribute to political democratisation. Secondly, the book examines whether polls extend or inhibit democratic processes. The long-standing debate between advocates and critics of polls is considered and applied to both large-capitalist and post-communist societies. It is concluded that while opinion polls may in certain ways improve democratic practices, they can also be used by powerful special interest groups to frustrate these aims.

Published in 1998, Opinion Polls and Volatile Electorates presents a comparative overview of the development of opinion polling in late-capitalist and post-communist societies. The author considers two related issues to help readers understand the role of polls in political affairs and the prospects for polling in the the future. Firstly, it is argued that there are certain tendencies unfolding in both late-capitalist and post-communist societies (which the author terms Complex Politics) which make polling an increasingly difficult activity. The processes affect the ability of polls to measure public opinion effectively, and to contribute to political democratisation. Secondly, the book examines whether polls extend or inhibit democratic processes. The long-standing debate between advocates and critics of polls is considered and applied to both large-capitalist and post-communist societies. It is concluded that while opinion polls may in certain ways improve democratic practices, they can also be used by powerful special interest groups to frustrate these aims.

Published in 1998, Opinion Polls and Volatile Electorates presents a comparative overview of the development of opinion polling in late-capitalist and post-communist societies. The author considers two related issues to help readers understand the role of polls in political affairs and the prospects for polling in the the future. Firstly, it is argued that there are certain tendencies unfolding in both late-capitalist and post-communist societies (which the author terms Complex Politics) which make polling an increasingly difficult activity. The processes affect the ability of polls to measure public opinion effectively, and to contribute to political democratisation. Secondly, the book examines whether polls extend or inhibit democratic processes. The long-standing debate between advocates and critics of polls is considered and applied to both large-capitalist and post-communist societies. It is concluded that while opinion polls may in certain ways improve democratic practices, they can also be used by powerful special interest groups to frustrate these aims.

Published in 1998, Opinion Polls and Volatile Electorates presents a comparative overview of the development of opinion polling in late-capitalist and post-communist societies. The author considers two related issues to help readers understand the role of polls in political affairs and the prospects for polling in the the future. Firstly, it is argued that there are certain tendencies unfolding in both late-capitalist and post-communist societies (which the author terms Complex Politics) which make polling an increasingly difficult activity. The processes affect the ability of polls to measure public opinion effectively, and to contribute to political democratisation. Secondly, the book examines whether polls extend or inhibit democratic processes. The long-standing debate between advocates and critics of polls is considered and applied to both large-capitalist and post-communist societies. It is concluded that while opinion polls may in certain ways improve democratic practices, they can also be used by powerful special interest groups to frustrate these aims.

A Critical Introduction to Social Research is the new, updated and improved edition of A Short Introduction to Social Research. This book introduces students and researchers to the key ideas and issues that inform research practice. In it, Henn, Weinstein and Foard provide a clear and easy-to-understand route-map to help the reader plan their research project from beginning to end.

A Critical Introduction is perfect for use on introductory methods courses and is also an invaluable guide for the first time researcher embarking on their own small-scale research project.

This new second edition now features updated chapters which reflect recent debates and developments in the field, including:

- New coverage of emancipatory and feminist approaches;

- Comparative research methods, evaluation research, and action research;

- Online research;

- Glossary of key terms;

- Revised further reading sections at the end of each chapter which include peer-reviewed research articles.

This book aims to prepare students and new researchers for their research project. Brilliantly written throughout, this is your essential guide to the theory of research, the practice of research and the best ways to plan and manage your research.

A Critical Introduction to Social Research is the new, updated and improved edition of A Short Introduction to Social Research. This book introduces students and researchers to the key ideas and issues that inform research practice. In it, Henn, Weinstein and Foard provide a clear and easy-to-understand route-map to help the reader plan their research project from beginning to end.

A Critical Introduction is perfect for use on introductory methods courses and is also an invaluable guide for the first time researcher embarking on their own small-scale research project.

This new second edition now features updated chapters which reflect recent debates and developments in the field, including:

- New coverage of emancipatory and feminist approaches;

- Comparative research methods, evaluation research, and action research;

- Online research;

- Glossary of key terms;

- Revised further reading sections at the end of each chapter which include peer-reviewed research articles.

This book aims to prepare students and new researchers for their research project. Brilliantly written throughout, this is your essential guide to the theory of research, the practice of research and the best ways to plan and manage your research.

A Critical Introduction to Social Research is the new, updated and improved edition of A Short Introduction to Social Research. This book introduces students and researchers to the key ideas and issues that inform research practice. In it, Henn, Weinstein and Foard provide a clear and easy-to-understand route-map to help the reader plan their research project from beginning to end.

A Critical Introduction is perfect for use on introductory methods courses and is also an invaluable guide for the first time researcher embarking on their own small-scale research project.

This new second edition now features updated chapters which reflect recent debates and developments in the field, including:

- New coverage of emancipatory and feminist approaches;

- Comparative research methods, evaluation research, and action research;

- Online research;

- Glossary of key terms;

- Revised further reading sections at the end of each chapter which include peer-reviewed research articles.

This book aims to prepare students and new researchers for their research project. Brilliantly written throughout, this is your essential guide to the theory of research, the practice of research and the best ways to plan and manage your research.

A Critical Introduction to Social Research is the new, updated and improved edition of A Short Introduction to Social Research. This book introduces students and researchers to the key ideas and issues that inform research practice. In it, Henn, Weinstein and Foard provide a clear and easy-to-understand route-map to help the reader plan their research project from beginning to end.

A Critical Introduction is perfect for use on introductory methods courses and is also an invaluable guide for the first time researcher embarking on their own small-scale research project.

This new second edition now features updated chapters which reflect recent debates and developments in the field, including:

- New coverage of emancipatory and feminist approaches;

- Comparative research methods, evaluation research, and action research;

- Online research;

- Glossary of key terms;

- Revised further reading sections at the end of each chapter which include peer-reviewed research articles.

This book aims to prepare students and new researchers for their research project. Brilliantly written throughout, this is your essential guide to the theory of research, the practice of research and the best ways to plan and manage your research.

This book investigates key trends in youth political participation in the UK, Europe, and the United States since the turn of the century—with a focus on the UK General Election and the US Presidential Election that were both held in 2024. It explores the reasons why many young people seem to have become disillusioned with electoral politics in the aftermath of recent youthquake elections, such as the 2017 UK General Election (with their overwhelming support for the Labour Party) and both the 2008 and 2020 US presidential elections (in support of Obama and Biden). We attribute their disenchantment to failures of public policy (that seem to increasingly favour older generations) and of communication—resulting in political parties’ inabilities to effectively connect with young people on issues that they prioritise and that have meaning for their everyday lives. The book shows how this led to lower turnouts in 2024 in both the UK and the USA and highlights the very low rates of participation amongst youth from lower socio-economic groups. This is potentially dangerous for democracy; if young people continue to feel let down by parties and to abstain from voting, it is likely to lead to more reactive public policy and to increases in the attraction of populist (or extremist) parties and candidates to young people. The book emphasises the need for mainstream parties and candidates to provide a more meaningful youth offer and to mobilise young people through horizontal forms of communication. From a young person’s perspective, the book also shows how (citizenship) education can play an important role in resisting populism and disinformation and in rejuvenating democracy.

This book investigates key trends in youth political participation in the UK, Europe, and the United States since the turn of the century—with a focus on the UK General Election and the US Presidential Election that were both held in 2024. It explores the reasons why many young people seem to have become disillusioned with electoral politics in the aftermath of recent youthquake elections, such as the 2017 UK General Election (with their overwhelming support for the Labour Party) and both the 2008 and 2020 US presidential elections (in support of Obama and Biden). We attribute their disenchantment to failures of public policy (that seem to increasingly favour older generations) and of communication—resulting in political parties’ inabilities to effectively connect with young people on issues that they prioritise and that have meaning for their everyday lives. The book shows how this led to lower turnouts in 2024 in both the UK and the USA and highlights the very low rates of participation amongst youth from lower socio-economic groups. This is potentially dangerous for democracy; if young people continue to feel let down by parties and to abstain from voting, it is likely to lead to more reactive public policy and to increases in the attraction of populist (or extremist) parties and candidates to young people. The book emphasises the need for mainstream parties and candidates to provide a more meaningful youth offer and to mobilise young people through horizontal forms of communication. From a young person’s perspective, the book also shows how (citizenship) education can play an important role in resisting populism and disinformation and in rejuvenating democracy.