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Science in Society

  • Textbook
  • © 2005

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About this book

Science/Technoscience has moved to centre-stage in debates over change, power and justice in twenty-first century societies. This text provides a general framework for understanding, combining and applying the rich range of approaches that exist within sociology about science: in particular, the role (and limitations) of science in generating knowledge, and the relationship between scientific knowledge and social progress. Drawing on case studies from the past up until today's new genetics, this is a clear, even-handed and comprehensive introduction to the field.

Reviews

'One of the best introductions I have seen to science studies. Giving more than just a pedantic survey, Matthew David provides a rich and detailed understanding of how social science can address natural science, and offers his own perspective on salient controversies in science.' - Professor Stanley Aronowitz, Graduate Centre, City University of New York

'Matthew David's book is a good place to learn about the many approaches to the sociology of science without being trapped by any one academic fashion.' - Professor Harry Collins, Cardiff University

'The outstanding merits of the text are its extraordinary breadth of coverage of literature and its citation of case studies. An impressive text with an original perspective.' - Professor Barry Barnes, University of Exeter

'Bravo! At last a text in the social studies of science which refuses to fall into the micro/macro divide in the field, but instead seeks to bring perspectives together.' - Professor Hilary Rose, City University, London

About the author

MATTHEW DAVID is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Plymouth, UK. He has researched constructions of environmentalism, new electronic data service in education, and the effectiveness of internet challenges to rural social exclusion, and is the author of many articles, publishing in Sociological Research Online, the International Journal of Social Research Methodology, New Genetics and Society, Telematics and Informatics, Radical Philosophy, Current Sociology, and elsewhere.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Science in Society

  • Authors: Matthew David

  • Publisher: Palgrave London

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2005

  • eBook ISBN: 978-0-230-80204-9Published: 16 March 2017

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: 216

  • Topics: Science and Technology Studies

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