$24.99 when purchased online
Target Online store #3991
About this item
Highlights
- Across disciplines, critical thinking is praised, taught, and put into practice.
- About the Author: Joel Best is Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware.
- 184 Pages
- Social Science, Methodology
Description
About the Book
"This book offers an introduction to critical thinking for sociologists, [which] involves the evaluation of arguments. Because sociologists tend to use particular forms of argumentation, it is helpful to consider how such arguments might be evaluated. Taking these matters into consideration can improve sociological arguments"--Book Synopsis
Across disciplines, critical thinking is praised, taught, and put into practice. But what does it actually mean to think critically? In this brief volume, sociologist Joel Best examines how to evaluate arguments and the evidence used to support them as he hones in on how to think in the field of sociology and beyond. With inimitable style that melds ethnographic verve with dry humor, Best examines the ways in which sociologists engage in fuzzy thinking through bias, faddish cultural waves, spurious reasoning, and implicit bias. The short chapters cover:- A general introduction to critical thinking and logic in the social sciences
- Sociology as an enterprise
- Key issues in thinking critically about sociological research
- Challenging questions that confront sociologists and a call for the discipline to meet those challenges.
From the Back Cover
"Throughout this engaging and insightful book, Joel Best reminds us that critical thinking is neither a goal nor an achievement but a skill that needs to be practiced and applied with intent and reflection. This is a book that offers something for everyone--from students in introductory sociology courses to seasoned scholars, practitioners, and policymakers."--Brian Monahan, Baldwin Wallace University"In Is That True? Critical Thinking for Sociologists Joel Best pulls off the trifecta. He creates a book that will help undergraduates learn the tools needed to build their critical thinking skills, help graduate students understand some of the most important debates in the profession they aspire to, and confront sociologists when they fail to think critically about their own research."--Kathleen A. Bogle, author of Hooking Up: Sex, Dating, and Relationships on Campus
"Is That True? offers a path toward greater unity and effectiveness to a fragmented and increasingly politicized field. For in order to help build a better world, while maintaining the credibility of their discipline, sociologists must be seekers of truth who follow relevant evidence wherever it leads."--Lawrence T. Nichols, West Virginia University "Joel Best has once again given us an essential tool for social science teaching and learning. Written in an eminently readable style, with clear claims and keen understanding of the consequences of getting it wrong, this must-have primer will strengthen the ways students and faculty think about thinking."--Diane Pike, Augsburg University
About the Author
Joel Best is Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware. He is the author of the best-selling Damned Lies and Statistics, Stat-Spotting, and American Nightmares.
Dimensions (Overall): 8.1 Inches (H) x 5.4 Inches (W) x .8 Inches (D)
Weight: .45 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 184
Genre: Social Science
Sub-Genre: Methodology
Publisher: University of California Press
Format: Paperback
Author: Joel Best
Language: English
Street Date: February 16, 2021
TCIN: 83560456
UPC: 9780520381407
Item Number (DPCI): 247-77-4238
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
If the item details above aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.
Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 0.8 inches length x 5.4 inches width x 8.1 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.45 pounds
We regret that this item cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Guam (see also separate entry under GU), Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., APO/FPO
Return details
This item can be returned to any Target store or Target.com.
This item must be returned within 90 days of the date it was purchased in store, shipped, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or made ready for pickup.
See the return policy for complete information.