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.
Students across disciplines will learn the building blocks of critical thinking in a sociological context and come away with key concepts to put into practice.
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.
"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
184 pp.5.5 x 8.25Illus: 3 tables
9780520381391$95.00|£80.00Hardcover
Feb 2021