Are there books on the history of sociology (or social psycology) told through the sociologists? [more inside]
posted by elationfoundation on Oct 25, 2009 - 2 answers

I used to enjoy a podcast titled "Josh in Japan" produced by an ordinary guy living in Japan who talked about his daily experiences adjusting to Japanese culture. I am looking for other podcasts in this vein. [more inside]
posted by Piscean on Oct 15, 2009 - 4 answers

What is the most important scientific question of our time? [more inside]
posted by Demogorgon on Oct 12, 2009 - 44 answers

What are some sociology phd programs where I would be supported in (where research is already being done) studying the interaction between social-psycology (micro-interaction) and culture. [more inside]
posted by elationfoundation on Oct 8, 2009 - 2 answers

What are the traits documented to be universal across all cultures? Trying to google it, but with no luck. [more inside]
posted by bunny hugger on Sep 23, 2009 - 23 answers

Looking for examples of artists using scientific, sociological, mathematical, ethnographic, or psychological devices in their practice. Bonus points for funny. [more inside]
posted by SebastianKnight on Sep 12, 2009 - 20 answers

A few years ago I formulated a sociological theory about the evolution of terms used to refer to those afflicted by certain classes of disabilities, whether physical or mental, in which more functional members of the class resent being "bundled" with less functional members and are hence in a constant, mostly subconscious, quest for differentiation. This leads to development of ever more benign terms ("handicapable!") which themselves quickly become associated with the whole, therefore perpetuating the cycle. The theory seemed obvious to me when I thought of it, but I've yet to see it espoused or debunked elsewhere. Have you? Or, failing that, do you see any obvious arguments for or against it? [more inside]
posted by The Confessor on Aug 8, 2009 - 23 answers

Looking for light, sociological holiday reading material... [more inside]
posted by FuckingAwesome on Jul 31, 2009 - 13 answers

What "rules of thumb" or "instincts" of the human mind are commonly applicable? [more inside]
posted by pbh on Jul 21, 2009 - 23 answers

What do we know about gregariousness in human behavior? [more inside]
posted by bru on Jul 7, 2009 - 14 answers

Choosing a bachelor's degree program if I want to be a mediator: social science or sociology (or something else?) [more inside]
posted by Danila on Jun 25, 2009 - 17 answers

Where do i find some of the top professors and researchers (in universities) doing Micro-Sociology (interaction or social mechanism based). This is the level of research that I wish to focus my research on, I just cant seem to find the researchers using that level of analysis. Also, are there some seminal texts in the micro sociology fields. [more inside]
posted by elationfoundation on Jun 11, 2009 - 8 answers

What are the chances that I will be able to get a job outside of my discipline following completion of the PhD? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 22, 2009 - 13 answers

Is there anything in real life like Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, formerly Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters minus the mutants? [more inside]
posted by MrMulan on Apr 8, 2009 - 17 answers

Who are the best magazine and newspaper feature writers, past and present? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Apr 8, 2009 - 20 answers

Where can I find religious publications (any religion) on the topic of trust? [more inside]
posted by arcticwoman on Apr 6, 2009 - 11 answers

Can you recommend some books to me similar to the sociology-of-a-subculture style of Hunter S. Thompson's Hell's Angels, Sudhir Venkatesh's Gang Leader for a Day and Bill Buford's Among the Thugs? [more inside]
posted by Ufez Jones on Mar 15, 2009 - 26 answers

Some months ago, I came across a map created by (I think) a sociologist, depicting one student's daily travel routines in (I think) Paris. It shows clearly that the subject's life clusters closely around home, work, and university. It is not from Strange Maps, and Google is not helping. Has anyone else seen this?
posted by ecmendenhall on Mar 14, 2009 - 5 answers

Why/how do people cultivate mystique through Facebook profiles? [more inside]
posted by GIMG on Feb 25, 2009 - 28 answers

Can you please recommend some books on daily life, home life, and general society in the UK and the US in the 1840s - 1880s for me? I already have What Jane Austen Ate, and What Charles Dickens Knew and An Elegant Madness. It doesn't have to be specifically on daily life- creative nonfiction like Larson's The Devil in the White City or Johnson's The Ghost Map are awesome, too.
posted by headspace on Feb 16, 2009 - 13 answers

Please help me learn more about cultures different from my own? [more inside]
posted by netbros on Jan 15, 2009 - 12 answers

Looking for a history of Iceland... [more inside]
posted by heylight on Jan 3, 2009 - 4 answers

Help me find scholarship on Asian Massage Parlors [more inside]
posted by TigerCrane on Dec 9, 2008 - 4 answers

Good books that about a type of person/subculture/etc., which does not necessarily hang out together or think of itself as a group? [more inside]
posted by toomuchkatherine on Dec 2, 2008 - 3 answers

KinkFilter: Is there currently any sociological research on sexual kinks, specifically long-term BDSM relationships? My friend and I were talking a couple days ago, and we were wondering if D/s dynamics were more common among certain demographics (i.e., college-educated, middle class, particular ethnic groups, certain religions, etc.), and I decided that MeFi might know if anyone was publishing on this stuff.
posted by aliceinreality on Nov 26, 2008 - 14 answers

Help me find an essay about a woman working in an affluent toy store during the holiday season and a life like baby doll is the hot ticket item but nobody wants to adopt the minority baby dolls or the "mutant" display doll. [more inside]
posted by thewalrusispaul on Oct 31, 2008 - 3 answers

I found my dream school, but everyone is telling me to apply to secondary choices. I need to find sociology PhD programs that value public sociology and have solid social psychology/organizational theory focuses. [more inside]
posted by elationfoundation on Oct 21, 2008 - 2 answers

I'm trying to find a psychological/sociological study on men and women's views of the ideal female body type. [more inside]
posted by Jaltcoh on Oct 19, 2008 - 6 answers

Help clarify C. Wright Mill's "The Sociological Imagination" to me! [more inside]
posted by Phire on Oct 13, 2008 - 1 answer

What are some good books on the social dynamics of science? [more inside]
posted by abirae on Oct 13, 2008 - 16 answers

Today, I have an MS in sociology from a state school. Four years from now, I'd like to be starting at a high-quality social science PhD program. How do I get there? [more inside]
posted by McBearclaw on Oct 12, 2008 - 7 answers

What are your favorite books and sites/blogs about psychology and sociology. I have become increasingly interested in these subjects after reading Cialdini's 'Influence' and Ariely's 'Predictably Irrational'. I have read a few of Maslow's books and find them fascinating. I would be bored stiff reading the DSM or Freud. I am interested in social psychology, i/o psychology, and things like Group Think, Propinquity, and the Ben Franklin Effect.
posted by kaizen on Oct 1, 2008 - 18 answers

I am looking for an article or a study, which I only dimly remember, that was a statistical/demographic account of which USA states had in-migration or out-migration of people with college degrees. [more inside]
posted by Mr. Justice on Sep 23, 2008 - 5 answers

What are the reasons for and against constitutionally requiring a specific national language? [more inside]
posted by netbros on Aug 28, 2008 - 74 answers

I was thinking today about the idea of choice. The existentialists talked about choice all the time- How every human has the "burden of choice". In other words, we all have the "burden" of free will, the choice to do something or to not do something. I know my philosophy knowledge is rudimentary at best, but I guess my question is: when did this idea of choice emerge? Primitive man had no luxury of choice, everything was about survival- So at what point did humans develop the idea of having a choice?
posted by ISeemToBeAVerb on Jul 22, 2008 - 22 answers

Are we a monogamous species? [more inside]
posted by netbros on Jul 14, 2008 - 30 answers

What have been the most important books in social science (including psychology, political science, sociology, anthropology, economics, "applied" social sciences like marketing, and so on) of the past 50 years?
posted by Malad on Jun 3, 2008 - 19 answers

What one book will allow others to gain the truest insight into the soul of each city or region [more inside]
posted by reenum on May 6, 2008 - 16 answers

What's some speculative fiction that uses magic or fictional technology to explore psychology, sociology, or political science in a deep way? I'm not as much interested here in fabulous monsters or space operas or even deep thinking about physics -- I'm interested in books that explore the nature of the mind and/or human society by imagining a world that worked differently.
posted by shivohum on Apr 13, 2008 - 45 answers

I am 96% sure that I have read/heard from a reputable source that murderers, especially serial killers, are an inherent reflection of Western society, and that both actual murderers and fictional portrayals are important significant elements. Part A: Is this just a half-remembered bit of dialogue from some prime-time criminal procedural, and Part B: if not, where is it from? [more inside]
posted by sarahkeebs on Mar 24, 2008 - 11 answers

In On Drink and Everyday Drinking Kingsley Amis lauds two American researchers who allegedly concluded that without alcohol, Western civilisation would have collapsed in 1912. They are briefly named as Hoyt and Roths in the first book. I cannot find anything further online about these marvellous people, and the books in question are lightweight potboilers with no references. [more inside]
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen on Mar 17, 2008 - 2 answers

I am looking for documentaries dealing with online culture, the Internet, video games and the like. [more inside]
posted by Quartermass on Mar 8, 2008 - 19 answers

Explain the persistence of bad (as in seriously out of date) haircuts. [more inside]
posted by bad grammar on Mar 6, 2008 - 47 answers

How can I best involve myself in the Social/Political cause against Water Privatization? [more inside]
posted by albernathy0 on Mar 6, 2008 - 4 answers

Please help me look for a statement by Craig Calhoun: Mediation reminds the spectator that he/she is fortunate. What book or article? [more inside]
posted by drea on Feb 26, 2008 - 2 answers

"He's got scratch arms." Help me identify the sociology video that contains this unforgettable dialogue from a four year old child. [more inside]
posted by anazgnos on Feb 26, 2008 - 4 answers

Is there a version of this representing attitudes from people within the US about their neighboring states? [more inside]
posted by bjork24 on Feb 20, 2008 - 28 answers

I have been asked at the last minute to incorporate some Bakunin into my paper (due Friday) on 19th Century theories of community. Not having read any Bakunin before, and not having much time to work on this, I am in a bit of a pickle. I am more than happy to do the relevant reading if only I can identify it. Can someone who has read Bakunin please recommend to me some specific pieces I should read? I am interested in ideas of what community is and should be, how it is created and maintained, why it is necessary, etc. For reference, the major theorist I am drawing on for this paper is Ferdinand Tonnies.
posted by arcticwoman on Feb 13, 2008 - 2 answers

Help this jack-of-some-trades find a job. [more inside]
posted by McBearclaw on Jan 8, 2008 - 5 answers

Looking for a simple, free (for commercial use) social network mapping / graphing tool [more inside]
posted by bifter on Jan 2, 2008 - 8 answers