Research Handbooks in Sociology series – serie

This insightful Research Handbook provides an in-depth survey of global historical sociology. Expert contributors explore this rich, interdisciplinary field, which sits at the crossroads between history, sociology, and other social sciences including economics, demography, geography, and political science.In an engaging and accessible style, expert scholars and practitioners discuss past and state-of-the-art research, exploring theory, research design, data, empirical results, and ways forward in their field. Key themes include social inequality, social solidarity, institutions, family, and demography. In particular, chapters highlight how both the spatial and temporal aspects of historical sociology are integral to understanding societies. While quantitative datasets are growing bigger and more encompassing, the contributing authors emphasize the continued need for theoretical approaches to bridge the gaps between quantitative and qualitative methods.The Research Handbook on Historical Sociology is an essential resource for students and academics in sociology, history, and economics, as well as researchers and practitioners across the social sciences looking to understand social change over time.

This comprehensive Handbook presents an overview of current research and thinking within the sociology of work. The contributors examine how the organisation and experience of work are shaped by the evolution of global capitalism, trends in political economy, and rapid technological developments.The Handbook explores varied forms and experiences of work – from factory, informal, and agricultural work, to more recent developments like platform work, coworking, neo-craft work, and emotional labour. Contributing authors also reflect on social inequalities in the workplace, interrogating the interplay between class, identity, race, gender, and age, and they address important policy issues, such as the climate crisis, digitisation and artificial intelligence, modern slavery, and the future of work. Each chapter critically evaluates core sociological concepts and theories while also identifying potential future research agendas.The Handbook on the Sociology of Work is a vital resource for scholars and students of sociology, political science, employment studies, and business and management. Practitioners and policymakers will also benefit from the in-depth coverage of such a wide range of contemporary topics in the field.

This Research Handbook explores the role of consumption in shaping the ways in which we live, work and relate to each other. It brings together sociological research from around the globe to investigate how, where and why we buy and use things, and what daily consumer choices and practices reveal about society.Expert authors interrogate the concepts and methods surrounding the sociological imagination of consumption, establishing how our choices and practices can reinforce or challenge wider historical, cultural and economic forces. They combine foundational and contemporary theory with cutting-edge empirical work, spanning domains such as food, fashion, housing, leisure, technology, and sustainability. The Research Handbook showcases a diverse range of methodological approaches, including ethnography, interviews, longitudinal studies, creative and visual methods and comparative approaches. It also addresses urgent contemporary challenges including the climate crisis and the moral and political dimensions of consumption, presenting possibilities for a more sustainable and just future.This Research Handbook is a fundamental resource for scholars and students of sociology, cultural economics, human geography, consumer behaviour and related social sciences. Policy analysts and professionals in sustainability, circular economies and food systems will also benefit from its valuable insights on the social dynamics that shape consumption patterns.

This incisive Research Handbook investigates the complex and multifaceted field of the sociology of leisure. Expert authors explore the social meaning and purpose of leisure in an era defined by postmodernity, post-industrialism, globalization, and digitalization.The Handbook firstly reflects on the history of leisure studies, moving on to analyse its connection to post-structuralism, racism, feminism, gender, and masculinity. Chapters assess leisure in relation to marginalized individuals, asking key research questions such as: how are leisure experiences shared? To what extent is leisure vital to a sense of belonging? In which contexts is leisure characterized negatively? Featuring contributions from leading sociologists of leisure, this Research Handbook pairs historical and contemporary theorizations with detailed empirical research on leisure contexts and social relations. Spanning a diverse range of identities and communities, it highlights the importance of leisure for self-expression, and the relationship between leisure, power, and control.Part of a long-standing and evolving body of scholarship, this Research Handbook on the Sociology of Leisure is an essential resource for academics and students of sociology and leisure scholarship, human geography, and cultural sociology. It is also a vital read for those interested in theoretical engagements and research in leisure studies.

22 out of the 26 Chapters are available Open Access on Elgaronline under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License. The complete Handbook containing all 26 chapters is available on Google Play (guide price £10) see link in 'More Information' below.The Handbook of Sociological Science offers a refreshing, integrated perspective on research programs and ongoing developments in sociological science. It highlights key shared theoretical and methodological features, thereby contributing to progress and cumulative growth of sociological knowledge.Reflecting ‘unity in diversity’, chapters explore a wide variety of research fields, ranging from cultural capital, migration, social networks, gender inequality, historical sociology and ethnography to the intersection of sociology and the life sciences. Examining basic methodological standards for theory construction and empirical research, the Handbook exemplifies commonalities between research programmes within these fields.The contributors also explore rigorous sociology related to theory construction, empirical research, and methods, including statistical modelling and the integration of theoretical and empirical research. Forward-thinking and original, the Handbook concludes by illustrating the common core of rigorous sociology, how it can contribute to understanding societal problems and to policy making, and how research into sociological science can continue to thrive in the future.Accessible and engaging, this Handbook will be invaluable for scholars and researchers of sociology and sociological theory, research methods in sociology and social policy, and comparative social policy. Exploring new developments and applications, it will also act as a useful reference guide for policy makers. The Handbook will likewise be an important resource for teaching advanced courses and training graduate students.

Presenting original contributions from the key experts in the field, the Research Handbook on the Sociology of Education explores the major theoretical, methodological, empirical and political challenges and pressing social questions facing education in current times.This Research Handbook covers the theoretical foundations of the discipline; methodological problems; the effects of modernisation; educational systems; benefits of continued education; migration and social integration; and wider policy implications. Chapters discuss education as a life-long process as well as adults returning to education. Schools, families and other social contexts and influences are also considered, as well as skills formation and ways to measure achievement. Offering an analysis of policy outcomes from an empirical social-scientific perspective and emphasising the impact of social and ethnic inequality in educational opportunity, this influential Research Handbook defines the discipline and its agenda for future research.Researchers and students interested in education, sociology and social policy including the effects of inequality will find this Research Handbook a highly relevant reference tool. It also offers an important message for policy makers and other stakeholders in the field of educational policy and training.

Exploring how family life has radically changed in recent decades, this comprehensive Research Handbook tracks the latest developments and trends in scholarly work on the family. With a particular focus on the European context, it addresses current debates and offers insights into key topics including: the division of housework, family forms and living arrangements, intergenerational relationships, partner choice, divorce and fertility behaviour. Bringing together contributions from leading family sociologists, the Research Handbook examines important questions: have family patterns across different countries become more similar, or have differences between countries and social groups increased over time? How diverse are family forms across different countries? How do conventional theories explain these patterns? And what are the major innovations in theorising and describing family behaviour? In order to resolve these key points, the chapters provide an overview of past and present developments in scholarly work on European families. They also present concise overviews of theories, methods, critical debates, empirical findings and pathways for future research. Its analysis of important areas of research in the field will make this Research Handbook a valuable resource for scholars and students of sociology, demography, and family and gender policy. It will also be beneficial for policy experts in these fields.

Exploring the social implications of digital transformation, as well as demonstrating how we might use digital transformation to further sociological knowledge, this incisive Handbook provides an extensive overview of cutting-edge research on the digital turn of modern society.Bringing together contributions from more than 60 experts spanning a wide range of disciplines, Jan Skopek explores how digital technologies inextricably permeate the ways we go about our everyday lives, from how we seek information and carry out economic transactions to how we construct our identities and pursue and maintain social relationships. Chapters investigate timely issues related to social theory and social research in the digital age, including the study of online behaviour, digital social inequalities, and the micro- and macro-level consequences of digital technological change. Covering state-of-the-art quantitative and qualitative research methodologies in digital sociology, this Research Handbook serves as a comprehensive resource for teaching and research in a continually developing field. Cross-disciplinary in scope, this dynamic Research Handbook will be essential reading for a diverse audience of academics, researchers, students, and practitioners, particularly in the fields of sociology, demography, computer and information sciences, economics, business, and psychology.

Providing an up-to-date portrait of the concepts and methods of analytical sociology, this pivotal Research Handbook traces the historical evolution of the field, utilising key research examples to illustrate its core principles. It investigates how analytical sociology engages with other approaches such as analytical philosophy, structural individualism, social stratification research, complexity science, pragmatism, and critical realism, exploring the foundations of the field as well as its major explanatory mechanisms and methods.Chapters examine the ways in which analytical sociology addresses crucial concepts, including norms, structures, context, contingency, action theory, and models of social interactions. Offering an in-depth analysis of cumulative advantage, complex contagions, and network amplification, this comprehensive Research Handbook discusses the range of data sources and methods available to analytical sociologists for empirical research, in particular digital traces, historical archives, game-theoretic models, causal inference techniques, social networks analysis, and agent-based simulations.Creating a new synthesis of the theoretical and methodological resources required to carry out research using analytical sociology tools, the Research Handbook will be a key pedagogical resource for students and scholars of sociology and sociological theory, research methods, demography, social psychology, economics, and computer science.

22 out of the 26 Chapters are available Open Access on Elgaronline under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License. The complete Handbook containing all 26 chapters is available on Google Play (guide price £10) see link in 'More Information' below.The Handbook of Sociological Science offers a refreshing, integrated perspective on research programs and ongoing developments in sociological science. It highlights key shared theoretical and methodological features, thereby contributing to progress and cumulative growth of sociological knowledge.Reflecting ‘unity in diversity’, chapters explore a wide variety of research fields, ranging from cultural capital, migration, social networks, gender inequality, historical sociology and ethnography to the intersection of sociology and the life sciences. Examining basic methodological standards for theory construction and empirical research, the Handbook exemplifies commonalities between research programmes within these fields.The contributors also explore rigorous sociology related to theory construction, empirical research, and methods, including statistical modelling and the integration of theoretical and empirical research. Forward-thinking and original, the Handbook concludes by illustrating the common core of rigorous sociology, how it can contribute to understanding societal problems and to policy making, and how research into sociological science can continue to thrive in the future.Accessible and engaging, this Handbook will be invaluable for scholars and researchers of sociology and sociological theory, research methods in sociology and social policy, and comparative social policy. Exploring new developments and applications, it will also act as a useful reference guide for policy makers. The Handbook will likewise be an important resource for teaching advanced courses and training graduate students.

This Research Handbook presents the state of the art of empirical sociological research on the causes of, and solutions to, pressing environmental problems. It provides cutting-edge insights into some of the most urgent challenges facing humanity, including anthropogenic climate change and environmental pollution. The contributors argue that profound collective efforts to protect the environment are vital for sustainable development and offer practical solutions to specific contemporary issues.Wide ranging and insightful, this Research Handbook encompasses the causes and consequences of environmental deterioration, the measurement, development and precedents of environmental concern, the determinants of pro-environmental behavior, and the acceptance of environmental policies. Key topics include the development of global CO2 emissions, prices, income and energy demand, climate change knowledge, meta-knowledge and beliefs, the collective risk social dilemma and support for city road tolls. Scholars and students in the environmental social sciences will find this innovative Research Handbook invaluable. Critical case studies also provide important insights and recommendations for environmental decision makers.

This timely Handbook celebrates and contributes to the recent revitalisation of the sociology of knowledge. A diverse group of leading experts from the global North and South provide a state of the art overview of a field, which is developing rapidly with the growth of poststructuralist, postcolonial, and feminist approaches. Fran Collyer and contributing authors explore the theoretical frameworks underpinning the sociology of knowledge and demonstrate how these can address new issues, problems and circumstances. They shed light on how the sociology of knowledge is applied to and impacts contemporary challenges including racial and gender inequality, climate change, and the growth of neoliberalism. They also offer insights into the association between theories of knowledge and other conceptual and theoretical developments such as the sociology of science, constructivism, pragmatism, postmodernism, poststructuralism, and postcolonialism. This Handbook provides a comprehensive map of the area for both early and experienced scholars exploring the broad array of approaches, methods, concepts and theories which are now being applied within this rapidly changing field. The Research Handbook on the Sociology of Knowledge is an essential resource for scholars and students in sociology, and throughout the social sciences, interested in knowledge, its history, production, translation, circulation and exchange.

Engaging with the key debates and issues in a continuously evolving field, Lavinia Bifulco and Vando Borghi bring together contributions from leading social scientists to debate the enduring relevance of public sociology in light of ongoing changes in the social world. This incisive Research Handbook explores the critical authors, texts, and research perspectives foundational to the discipline of public sociology. Multidisciplinary in approach, it advances dialogues between diverse scientific and environmental perspectives and considers how best to design and conduct research in different scientific fields. Chapters discuss current teaching and critical thought within the discipline, identify promising analytical approaches through which to research key aspects of social transformation, and investigate the relationship between sociology and its various publics. Rather than reproducing an already-fixed analytical programme, the Research Handbook explores the potential of public sociology to collaborate and hybridise with novel research paths. Pushing the frontiers of public sociology, this insightful Research Handbook will prove an engaging and invaluable resource for social scientists and sociological communities, as well as for students in the social sciences. Its exploration of the applications of public sociology in empirical research and teaching will further benefit professionals working within public organisations.

Critical intersectional scholarship enhances researchers’ and scholar-activists’ ability to open novel research frontiers. This forward-thinking Research Handbook demonstrates how to pursue fluid and innovative research approaches, identify differences from traditional methodologies, and overcome the common challenges faced when carrying out intersectional research. A transdisciplinary group of contributors offer their experience and expertise to provide an overview of key research topics, qualitative and quantitative approaches, and empirical examples of integrating intersectionality research with other critical practices. Examining the foundational texts that explain historical developments in systems of oppression and interdisciplinary research on marginalized communities, state-of the-art chapters explore the intersections emerging in studies of gender and sexuality, capitalism, white supremacy, nationalism, colonialism, climate emergencies, imperial decline, and public health. Reconsidering the ways in which scholar-activists carry out research, the Research Handbook demonstrates how an intersectional gaze and a continued commitment to social justice moves us closer to producing valuable research and, ultimately, transforming knowledge. Advancing innovative and multidisciplinary approaches, this incisive Research Handbook will be an invaluable tool for scholars and researchers hoping to undertake meaningful intersectional research. Its empirical findings will further benefit practitioners tasked with designing intersectional policy.

The development of health across an individual’s life depends on many factors, but social determinants play a vital role. This timely Handbook simultaneously uses theoretical, descriptive, explanatory and policy approaches to explore health inequalities related to income, education, occupational status, social capital, and also biological and genetic factors.World- leading experts define and present the most prominent research topics, perspectives, and findings in the field and pose critical questions from within and beyond the research community. Structured into five parts this handbook addresses theories, methods, single stages of the life course, long-term perspectives on the whole life course, and policies. It helps readers understand the complexity of health sociology while also investigating important mechanisms and solutions through which health inequalities can be reduced.Providing a comprehensive, multi- and interdisciplinary analysis of topics and approaches to health inequalities, this Handbook will be an inspiring resource for researchers seeking to expand their knowledge and tackle new research questions. Advanced students of sociology, demography, epidemiology, public health and related fields will also benefit.

Emphasising the social, critical and situated dimensions of the urban, this comprehensive Research Handbook presents a unique collection of theoretical and empirical perspectives on urban sociology. Bringing together expert contributors from across the world, it provides a rich overview and research agenda for contemporary urban sociological scholarship.Chapters highlight the macro-historical context of the urban, and conduct a critical and reflexive review of mainstream theories and concepts. They examine key debates in urban sociology, analysing varied approaches to gentrification, neighbourhood effects, race and gender. Looking beyond the dominant anglophone academic sphere, contributors explore case studies from diverse world regions and local settings. Ultimately, the Research Handbook clarifies and advances the wide range of contemporary sociological approaches to urban studies.The Research Handbook on Urban Sociology will prove to be a vital read for researchers and students across sociology, geography, anthropology, urban planning and design, economics and political science. It will also be of great benefit to practitioners and policy-makers seeking to better understand the urban space.

This comprehensive Research Handbook explores a wide range of issues, challenges, and critical debates associated with the sociology of ageing, incorporating international perspectives on the global social megatrend of ageing populations. Engaging with the theoretical foundations of research within the discipline, methodological advances, critical debates, and empirical findings, it considers the future of the field and its implications for policymaking.Chapters explore societal and institutional changes associated with ageing and the age structuring of society, as well as how ageing impacts individuals, families, and their changing roles and relationships. Leading experts in the field cover key topics including diversity and inequality, civic engagement, family and care relations, the impact of digitalisation, and globalisation and institutional perspectives. They offer a forward-looking analysis of the field, highlighting important case studies and empirical findings to signpost the future of sociology of ageing research.This book is a valuable resource for students and academics in the fields of sociology, gerontology, and social policy. The Research Handbook on the Sociology of Ageing is also an insightful resource for policymakers and other stakeholders.

This extensive Research Handbook surveys historical and contemporary patterns within research on the sociology of gender. It clarifies key definitions and examines influential factors such as race, age, and occupation. Introductory chapters provide significant foundational scope for research on the sociology of gender. Following this, a diverse array of contributors present insights into important and emerging concepts such as femininities, masculinities, intersex identities, sexuality, and transnational feminisms. Within the Research Handbook, gender is explored on multiple levels, from individual to institutional, and it ultimately paints a comprehensive picture of the sociology of gender that crosses continents and develops an inclusive perspective. This Research Handbook is beneficial to students of sociology and social policy, as well as those studying gender within other disciplines such as business and management. Researchers and academics looking for contemporary analyses will also find this to be an important resource.

This Research Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the changing landscape of human partnerships, integrating diverse theoretical and empirical perspectives. Leading scholars explore the complex interplay between individual life trajectories, societal norms, and legal frameworks in shaping modern relationships.The Research Handbook on Partnering across the Life Course is an interdisciplinary collaboration by researchers in demography, sociology, psychology, and law. Chapters discuss marriage, cohabitation, and relationships, covering LGBTQ+, long-distance, arranged, polyamorous, and living apart together (LAT) partnerships. They address partnerships across the life course, from formation, including online dating and hook-up culture, to break-ups, re-partnering, and partnerships in later life. The contributing authors analyse the dynamics within a partnership, focusing on key aspects like sex, money, and children, as well as related factors such as family, health, gender, and migration, along with their impacts. Ultimately, the Research Handbook examines diversity in partnerships across the globe and explores the roles of the economy and the welfare state.Presenting innovative insights on relationship dynamics, this Research Handbook is a crucial resource for students and scholars across the social sciences working on family and gender studies.

The Research Handbook on the Sociology of Emotion investigates the role of emotions in key institutions understood as the frames and fabrics of society. It takes a critical look at society-framing institutions such as the state, the military, the market, and international organizations. The Research Handbook presents Marxist, Simmelian and Eliasian theory to explore contemporary institutions as emotional rule regimes operating at individual, institutional and structural levels. Chapters question cognitivist approaches to the state, courts, social sciences, the workplace, nationalism, education, migration, cross-border family, and religion, investigating the ambivalent and conflicting emotions associated with each and shedding light on the emotional logics intertwined with institutional work. Taking stock of what the sociology of emotions teaches us about the institutions, societies, and states in which we live, the Research Handbook formulates a novel agenda for future research in this burgeoning field. Highlighting the emotional cultures and emotional rule regimes nested in institutions, this innovative Research Handbook will be a thought-provoking read for students and scholars of sociology and sociological theory, cultural sociology, sociology of emotions and social psychology.

Talk about globalization is all around us. It is far rarer that suitable definitions of what globalization is, and accounts of the many ways in which global connections and interdependencies affect and shape us, are provided. This is precisely what this Research Handbook offers: sociological conceptualizations of what globalization entails; interdisciplinary approaches to its many dimensions; critical analyses of today’s complex interplays of the global, the local and the political; up-to-date empirical accounts of the effects of globalization on life courses in contemporary societies and cutting-edge discussions of the historical, methodological and ethical questions our global interconnections present for the social sciences. This Research Handbook takes stock of the state of the art in sociological research on globalization and the contributors outline future trajectories for this, one of the most pressing and challenging sociological themes of our time.

With original contributions from leading experts in the field, this cutting-edge Research Handbook combines theoretical advancement and the newest empirical research to explore the sociology of organizations as mesa-level mediators of individual and societal outcomes.Covering the major theoretical foundations of the topic, this innovative Research Handbook analyses critical and contemporary sociological theory and examines the purposes and goals of a diverse range of organizations in a variety of contexts. Chapters detail original research that investigates labour relations, ethical and sustainable environmental practices, race, gender, class, sexuality, media, religion, politics, and alternative economic models.This Research Handbook will prove an engaging and informative read for students and scholars of organization studies, labour policy, sociology, political science, economics, management, philosophy, and social psychology. With its global, interdisciplinary scope, it will also be invaluable to practitioners and policymakers working within a vast range of organizations.

This timely Handbook provides an essential guide to the major topics, perspectives, and scholars in the sociology of health and medicine. Contributors prove the immense value of a sociological understanding of central health and medical concerns, including public health, the COVID-19 pandemic, and new medical technologies.Through critically analysing the wide variety of approaches taken by sociologists of health and medicine, this Handbook explores what makes the field distinctive. Chapters cover the full human life span and review key theoretical viewpoints as well as significant empirical themes, drawing on cutting-edge research. The diverse selection of contributors offer insights into important areas of health and medical development including precision medicine, epidemics and pandemics, data-intensive medicine, AI, neuroscience, and future hospitals. The chapters also examine the implications of COVID-19 across various domains of health, medicine, and healthcare.Covering key questions, debates, and emerging perspectives, this Handbook will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars in sociology, public health, and science and technology studies. It will also be an important guide for policymakers and practitioners seeking to develop effective health policies and programs.