Understanding Social Problems

This up-to-date and accessible text fills an important gap in the market by introducing students to social policy perspectives on social problems. Written in an accessible, student-friendly style, using subheadings, boxed material, tables, and up-to-date examplesEach chapter includes a brief outline of the issues to be explored and question sections to help learning, develop evaluative skills and encourage project workIncludes an annotated guide to further reading, helpful internet addresses, and a bibliography of sources citedChapters can be used independently or in conjunction with others addressing related questions

"This is an excellent introduction to the study of social problems covering a wide range of contemporary issues utilizing theoretical perspectives and empirical data. The accessible student-friendly format will make this book of great value for students across the social sciences." Dr Michael Cahill, University of Brighton "This book is a most useful addition to the literature available to students" Professor Michael Hill, Goldsmith's College, University of London. "This new essay collection makes a distinctive contribution to the literature of British social policy...Justice cannot otherwise be done to 20 essays in a brief review but, taken together, they add up to an excellent volume." Community Care "Students...will find much to engage and encourage them in this book." Lester Parrott, North East Wales Institute.

Margaret May is one of the editors of The Student's Companion to Social Policy (1997) and of the forthcoming Blackwell Dictionary of Social Policy (2001). Edward Brunsdon's publications include contributing to and editing The Social Policy Review (1996-1998) and studies of private welfare (in R Page & S Silburn (eds) British Social Welfare in the Twentieth Century (1999) and welfare management (in S Horton & R Farnham (eds.) Public Management in Britain (1999). Edward Brunsdon and Margaret May are Principal Lecturers in Social Policy in the Department of Sociology and Applied Social Studies at London Guildhall University. Robert Page is currently a Reader in Social Policy at the University of Leicester. He is the author of Stigma (1984) and Altruism and the Welfare State (1996). He is the co-editor (with Vic George) of Modern Thinkers on Welfare (1995) and (with Richard Silburn) of British Social Welfare in the 20th Century (1999).