Open Access Social Science Publications

Stacy Konkiel reports that open access social science publications “grew by 8% (to 38% total) from 2009 – 2011.”

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Red curtain on a stage

The World’s a Stage: Dramaturgical Theory

Erving Goffman’s theory of Dramaturgy draws on metaphors from stage acting to describe the public and private work that individuals maintain in their social interactions with other people. “Front stage” work is the face you show to people in different social contexts. Sometimes our modes of interaction will be different in different situations and with different groups (or “audiences”). Backstage work is how we manage our identities and emotions when we’re alone. We can work on our “performance” or rethink the behaviour we want to reflect to others.

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Evidence-Based Social Policy

Six “What Works” research centres in the UK are promoting evidence-based social policy. This means they carry out research to provide practical solutions to governments.

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Social Media and “The Liquid Self”

Sociologist Nathan Jurgenson argues that social media should be fluid, rather than having users choose which parts of themselves to permanently put on display.

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Close up of a white woman's hand. She holds a card that reads: "Kindess. Pass it on." The beach is in the background

Kindness and the Ethic of Care

In a 2012 national survey of over 2,000 Australians, a team of sociologists found that 95% of people believe that being kind to one another is highly important. A slightly higher percentage of people said they saw themselves as a kind person (97%) and most said they performed an act of kindness at least weekly (90%). Most say that Australian people are kind (82%).

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