From influencing policy decisions to informing public discourse, the following authors and book titles are all examples of how social and behavioral science can have real-world impact.
Learn more about Sage’s commitment to social and behavioral science impact.
Social Science for Social Justice
Social Science for Social Justice is a new book series from Sage that provides a platform for academics, journalists, and activists of color to respond to today’s pressing social issues. Interdisciplinary and international in scope, the series provides rigorous analysis and radical thinking in clear language that is accessible to readers both within and outside of academia.
The series reflects Sage's mission-driven approach to publishing by platforming emerging voices and enabling the dissemination of bold thinking that will inform the work of future generations of scholars and changemakers.
Together Apart: The Psychology of COVID-19
Jolanda Jetten, Stephen D. Reicher, S. Alexander Haslam, Tegan Cruwys
Rooted in systematic research on Covid-19 and previous pandemics, this book describes how people perceive and respond to Covid-19, and how it has impacted a broad range of domains, including lifestyle, politics, science, mental health, media, and meaning in life.
Initially published as an un-proofed draft for free on Social Science Space, the book has gone on to be downloaded more than 40,000 times and has helped to influence government policy in the response to the pandemic.
A Little Guide for Teachers: Diversity in Schools
Bennie Kara
Winner of the inaugural Sage Social Justice Book Award, Diversity in Schools provides starting points for teachers and school leaders to create a curriculum that is as deep and diverse as their students. Building a narrative informed by her own lived experiences, Kara calls on the reader to reflect on their actions and words, and to create a culture where diversity informs every aspect of their teaching and school culture.
In light of the Clanchy controversy, Kara has written on reconciling schools and artists and the need to balance artistic freedom with safeguarding duties for Schools Week.
The Politics of Fear: The Shameless Normalization of Far-right Discourse
Ruth Wodak
The Politics of Fear traces the trajectory of far-right politics from the margins of the political landscape to its very center. It explores the social and historical mechanisms at play and expertly ties these to the “micro-politics” of far-right language and discourse.
The book’s first edition won the Austrian Book Prize for the 2016 German translation in the category of Humanities and Social Sciences. Following the second edition’s publication in 2020, Sage worked with Ruth Wodak to secure op-eds in Newsweek and euronews.
Is Assessment Fair?
Isabel Nisbet and Stuart Shaw
Fairness in educational assessment has become a major talking point and allegations that assessments are unfair are commonplace on social media and in the press. But what does fairness mean in practice and how can we evaluate it?
In the wake of the 2020 exams controversy, Sage worked with Isabel Nisbet to secure an op-ed in Prospects Magazine. The authors have also written The Article, and Nisbet for The Independent and she has appeared on LBC and Times Radio.
The Sage Encyclopedia of Trans Studies
Edited by Abbie E. Goldberg and Genny Beemyn
Transgender studies, broadly defined, has become increasingly prominent as a field of study over the past several decades, particularly in the last ten years. The experiences and rights of trans people have also increasingly become the subject of news coverage, such as the ability of trans people to access restrooms, their participation in the military, the issuing of driver’s licenses that allow a third gender option, the growing visibility of nonbinary trans teens, the denial of gender-affirming health care to trans youth, and the media’s misgendering of trans actors. Having an authoritative, academic resource like The Sage Encyclopedia of Trans Studies can go a long way toward correcting misconceptions and providing information that is otherwise not readily available.
The book has been featured in Library Journal and Publishers Weekly, and the editors hosted a two-part webinar series: Trans Rights: Priorities for the Biden Administration and The State of Trans Studies in the 2020s.
Understanding Racism: Theories of Oppression and Discrimination
hephzibah strmic-pawl
Understanding Racism systematically examines the theories and theorists that have contributed the most to our contemporary understanding of racism in its various forms—making it easier for students to understand the multiple dynamics of how racism operates. The book's systematic organization and pedagogical features will help students think theoretically about race and racism at different levels of analysis, as well as reflect and discuss how to challenge racism.
Women and Leadership: Journey Toward Equity
Lisa DeFrank-Cole and Sherylle J. Tan
Grounded in leadership theory and research, this text delves into the barriers and challenges women face on their leadership journeys, including stereotypes, bias, inequality, discrimination, and domestic responsibilities. The text includes several chapters devoted to strategies and tools for overcoming obstacles, creating structural change, and moving towards greater equity.
Why Don’t Women Rule the World?
J. Cherie Strachan, Lori M. Poloni-Staudinger, Shannon Jenkins, and Candice D. Ortbals
Written by four leaders within the national and international academic caucuses on women and politics, Why Don't Women Rule the World? helps students to understand how the underrepresentation of women manifests within politics, and the impact this has on policy. Grounded in theory with practical, job-related activities, the book offers a thorough introduction to the study of women and politics, and will bolster students’ political interests, ambitions, and efficacy.
During the 2020 U.S. elections, the authors shared critical insight on The Monkey Cage into the importance of a record-breaking number of women running for president.
10% Braver: Inspiring Women to Lead Education
Vivienne Porritt and Keziah Featherstone
Written by leading members of the grassroots #WomenEd movement, this title offers guidance on how to attain and succeed in leadership positions, alongside nuanced analysis and debate of topics including: the gender pay gap, gender stereotyping in schools and beyond, the realities experienced by BAME leaders and how flexible working cultures can redress inequities.
The sequel, Being 10% Braver, offers additional guidance and inspiration.
What do we know and what should we do about…?
The What do we know and what should we do about...? series offers readers short, up-to-date overviews of key issues often misrepresented, simplified or misunderstood in modern society and the media. Each book is written by a leading social scientist with an established reputation in the relevant subject area. The Series Editor is Professor Chris Grey, Royal Holloway, University of London.
The Future of Work
Melanie Simms
What do we know about the current state of work and employment and what does the future of work look like? In this book, Professor Melanie Simms provides a far-reaching overview of paid employment in the UK, examining why we work, how we work, and what the future of work will be like with changing demographics and the introduction of modern technologies.
Social Mobility
Lee Elliot Major and Stephen Machin
In this book, Lee Elliot Major and Stephen Machin reveal the causes of the UK’s low social mobility, explain why it's getting worse, and outline how we reverse this worrying trend, before it’s too late. Lee Elliot Major has written extensively on the topic for The Guardian.
The Irish Border
Katy Hayward
With the UK’s exit from the European Union, the challenge of managing the Irish border as a source and a symbol of British-Irish difference became an international concern. The solution found in the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement gives the Irish border a globally unique status. Author Katy Hayward has since written on the topic for The Conversation and has been interviewed by The New York Times and Bloomberg.
Immigration
Jonathan Portes
At a time when immigration has once again become a deeply contentious political issue, Jonathan Portes provides some much-needed clarity, taking on misinformation and inaccurate reporting to reveal the true economic and social impact of immigration to the UK. He has written on the topic for the Guardian and the book was featured in the Observer.
Fake News
Nick Anstead
Voters need to be informed to make political decisions, but what if their media diet not only prevents them from getting the information they need, but actively shapes inaccurate perceptions of the world? Anstead reflected on the topic in the webinar Fake News in the Post-Trump Era.