Contexts is a quarterly magazine that makes cutting-edge social research accessible to journalists, policymakers, sociologists, and general readers. The magazine includes peer-reviewed feature articles, culture and book reviews, and photography, as well as analysis of the latest social science research. It is a publication of the American Sociological Association.
Type of Material:
Repository of online articles, blogs, reviews, graphs, and images.
Recommended Uses:
Website content may be used for college-course homework, individual study, group projects, and reference.
Technical Requirements:
Internet browser application. Firefox Browser 100.0.1 for Mac for this review.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
By using materials from this website, learners will be able to:
Describe and discuss cutting-edge social research, written in an accessible manner
Identify sociological trends, social change, and the implications of sociological knowledge for policy and public debate
Recognize how sociologists and similar contributors write about and frame contending social and related issues
remain current and engaged with findings across the field of sociology
Target Student Population:
High School, College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Social Science
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Must have ASA membership to access Journal portion of Contexts
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
There is a large variation of material covered on the website. It contains a Blog section for guest posts on various subjects, accepts submissions for possible publishing, has a subscription option and also sells in print. For the purpose of this review, I am scoring on the available information (blog) and usability for finding resources that may be purchased for further use.
Concerns:
There are a number of articles offered but only with the subscription so searching for usable information offered in depth can be time consuming to wade trough “for purchase or membership vs. available to public articles. The blogs are mostly pieces by guest authors.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
The materials on the Contexts website are well suited for sociology and social science instructors to be used and integrated into their curriculum. Most materials would promote greater conceptual understanding and higher-level thinking skills.
Concerns:
Exemplar articles should include appropriate teaching guidance for instructors and how they may be incorporated into the undergraduate sociological curriculum and program learning objectives for sociology majors. Also, better "tagging" of topics and search engine for the website would aid instructors in locating appropriate materials for instructional use.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
Well-designed website that includes the download for the context journal that includes research and scholarly articles, blogs, and website articles with various guest authors. Includes various means in which to get information and large number of different authors lends itself great variation of perspective.
Creative Commons:
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