Play from birth to twelve and beyond

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Michael Harris

"Only one generation in history (ours) will experience life both with and without the Internet. For everyone who follows us, online life will simply be the air they breathe. Today, we revel in ubiquitous information and constant connection, rarely stopping to consider the implications for our logged-on lives. Michael Harris chronicles this massive shift, exploring what we've gained--and lost--in the bargain. In this eloquent and thought-provoking book, Harris argues that our greatest loss has been that of absence itself--of silence, wonder, and solitude. It's a surprisingly precious commodity, and one we have less of every year. Drawing on a vast trove of research and scores of interviews with global experts, Harris explores this "loss of lack" in chapters devoted to every corner of our lives, from sex and commerce to memory and attention span. The book's message is urgent: once we've lost the gift of absence, we may never remember its value"--

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Pia Christensen and Allison James

Sociologists can choose from an increasingly diverse range of methods in their research with children. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the methodological innovations and developments in the field, both qualitative and quantitative.

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Mary Zey

Prevailing, highly conservative rational choice theories are challenged in this illuminating volume. Mary Zey and other outstanding contributors expand our understanding of decision-making theory by presenting evidence that points to the wide range and complexity of human decision making. Labeled deviations from formal rationality, other models of decision making--habit, emotion, and moral and ethical values--are shown to be alternative and dominant, not deviating motives behind decision making. Written at an accessible level, this volume examines criticisms of rational choice models (rational choice, public choice, neoclassical economic theories) from a wide range of perspectives within and external to the rational choice model. In Parts II and III, the chapters concentrate on micro and macro alternatives to rational choice models, including a balance of theoretical and empirical pieces. This is the first volume to assemble and further legitimize the alternative models of decision making. Decision Making is essential reading for scholars and students of organization studies, socio-economics, management, sociology, economics, psychology, political science, business ethics, and policy studies.

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Paul B. Paulus and Bernard A. Nijstad

'Group Creativity' summarizes the developments in the research on the processes involved in group or team creativity and innovation. The volume draws from a broad range of perspectives such as cognition, groups, creativity, information systems and organizational psychology.