Category Archives: Social Sciences

Sociologists such as Manuel Castells insist that we are living in a network society. Changes to society have eroded old hierarchies and social structures; moreover, advances in communication technology mean that there has been an increase in connectedness between hitherto … Continue reading →

Research into Broadway musicals highlighted that the composition of the show’s creative team was a key determinant of success. When a team is successful it tends to include a combination of newcomers and experienced incumbents. But crucially, teams that flourished … Continue reading →

Sociological theory is underpinned by the concepts structure and agency. Structure relates to the collective or macro aspects of social organization. Individuals are constrained by the broader social structure within which they are situated. Proponents of structural perspectives argue that human … Continue reading →

In ‘The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism’ sociologist Max Weber highlighted how certain types of Protestantism promoted the pursuit of economic gain and thus underpinned the growth of capitalism. The Calvinist doctrine which underpins Protestantism stated that God … Continue reading →

Sociologist Emile Durkheim drew a distinction between societies which were bound by mechanical solidarity, and those which were characterised by organic solidarity. Mechanical solidarity was prevalent in basic pre-modern societies when cohesion was based upon similarities among individuals in a … Continue reading →

When England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 there was much debate about the seemingly terminal decline of English football. What role can history play in helping us to understand the apparent malaise which gripped the English game circa 2008? … Continue reading →

Dr Dassie Rat has commissioned a detailed cross-cultural analysis of football crowd responses from around the globe. Audio responses from crowds were analysed by our teams of experts to establish collective emotional responses to key game incidents or factors. Data … Continue reading →