Summary
Contents
What is youth? How do we understand youth in its social and cultural context?In this timely and sought-after title, Cieslik and Simpson provide a concise and readily accessible introduction to the interdisciplinary field of youth studies. Drawing upon the latest research and developments in the field, as well as discussing the fundamental ideas underlying the disciplines as a whole, it offers a comprehensive yet unpacked understanding of youth as a social phenomenon. Illuminating the many abstract and contested concepts within youth studies, this book offers explanations to questions such as: • How might we define youth? • How can we understand young people in relation to their social identities and practices? • What is the relationship between youth and social class? • How do youth cultures develop? • How can we understand youth in a globalized perspective? Key Concepts in Youth Studies stands out as a natural companion for students on youth studies, sociology, criminology and social science programmes. It will also be useful for youth practitioners such as social workers and teachers. Key Concepts in Youth Studies stands out as a natural companion for students on youth studies, sociology, criminology and social science programmes. It will also be useful for practitioners in area of social work and youth and community development.
Researching Youth
Researching Youth
Although research is a status-laden term, it remains difficult to define. This is because research covers a broad range of activities that can differ in many ways. Research can be used to describe inquiry with the main purpose of contributing to disciplinary knowledge. Equally research may describe an activity with the main purpose of informing policy-making and practice. Research can involve fieldwork to collect new data (primary data) or it may involve reviewing and appraising data from studies already completed by others (secondary data). Youth research therefore can be undertaken for different purposes and can have different aims. Given these differences youth research is usually described broadly. For example, Alderson and Morrow (2004: 9) define social research with young people as ...
