Usable Social Science

This volume is a one-of-a-kind contribution to applied social science and the product of a long collaboration between an established, interdisciplinary sociologist and a successful banking executive. Together, Neil Smelser and John Reed use a straightforward approach to presenting substantive social science knowledge and indicate its relevance and applicability to decision-making, problem-solving and policy-making. Among the areas presented are space-and-time coordinates of social life; cognition and bias; group and network effects; the role of sanctions; organizational dynamics; and macro-changes associated with economic development. Finally, the authors look at the big picture of why society at large demands and needs social-science knowledge, and how the academy actually supplies relevant knowledge. Publisher's note Space And Time : Constraints And Opportunities -- Some Dynamics Of Cognition, Judgment, And Bias -- Sanctions In Organizational And Social Life -- Groups, Teams, Networks, Trust, And Social Capital -- How Decisions Are Made -- Organizations And Organizational Change -- Economic Development And Social Change -- Methods Of Research And Their Usability -- Social Change, Social Problems, And Demands For Knowledge -- The Production Of Knowledge In The Social Sciences. Neil J. Smelser And John S. Reed. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 355-409) And Index. Presenting substantive social science knowledge and indicating its relevance and applicability to decision-making, problem-solving and policy-making, this title looks at the big picture of why society at large demands and needs social-science knowledge, and how the academy actually supplies relevant knowledge. Contents Preface Introduction: The Problem and Our Take on It Part One. Arenas of Usability Part Two. The Big Picture of Usability References Index