Peer Review

Cases on Social Issues: For Class Discussion; 2nd Edition

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Reviewed:: Feb 7, 2026 by Sociology

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

Cases on Social Issues: For Class Discussion – Edition 2” was inspired by students and co-authored by people who are usually under-represented in higher education. These realistic, emotional cases are designed to help students grapple with ethical issues related to discrimination, diversity, equity, inclusion and general social issues in the workplace. These valuable cases are appropriate for upper-level undergraduate or graduate students in the humanities, business, healthcare, agriculture, environmental studies, Indigenous studies, land use studies, law and more. In addition to the background description and scenario, each case comes with modifiable discussion questions, notes on teaching strategies, and a reading list.

Type of Material:

Open (Access) Textbook

Recommended Uses:

The text is adaptable for use in:Upper-level undergraduate or graduate courses in Sociology, Human Resources, Social Work, Business Ethics, or Organizational Behaviour.

Seminar discussions or experiential workshops on inclusion and accessibility.
Facilitator or peer-led learning environments, since each case is self-contained and includes prompts, background readings, and teaching notes.

It can also serve as a stand-alone ethics module, an example to lectures on social inequality, or a basis for reflective writing assignments.

Technical Requirements:

Internet access.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

This open educational resource (OER) develops key learning outcomes related to sociology, equity studies, and applied ethics:

Apply sociological concepts to organizational and workplace contexts.
Analyze issues of power, stigma, and social inequality.
Develop ethical reasoning, empathy, and inclusive decision-making skills.
Examine how structural and cultural factors shape workplace norms, professional behavior, and human rights compliance.
Practice collaborative problem-solving and critical dialogue on diversity, inclusion, and equity in professional settings.

Target Student Population:

College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Graduate School, Professional

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

None

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

This structure of the text demonstrates exceptional instructional design. The scenario integrates contemporary Canadian workplace realities with legal, ethical, and sociological contexts.

The background section situates the issue within broader social and policy frameworks. The scenario and dialogue create authentic complexity — students must navigate the tension between empathy, performance expectations, and workplace hierarchy. The discussion questions invite multidimensional analysis—legal, ethical, structural, and interpersonal—encouraging deep critical thinking.

The material connects naturally to sociological theories of - Labeling and stigma (Goffman, 1963), social construction of reality, organizational culture and social norms, and power and inequality in institutional contexts.

The authors clearly draw on scholarship and current policy frameworks, making the case credible, current, and informed by evidence.

Concerns:

Some adjustments may be needed based on the legal aspects in a particular country.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The casebook is thoughtfully designed to be self-contained, meaning it can stand alone without requiring additional assignments or external context, yet it remains highly flexible for use across different teaching or learning situations. It would likely be used alongside a textbook in a course. Concepts are summarized effectively, making it easy for readers to grasp the main ideas while still encouraging deeper reflection and application. Additionally, all content is properly attributed, with references included, which enhances both its academic integrity and usefulness for further study.

Concerns:

The teaching materials could explicitly link to sociological theory (e.g., symbolic interactionism, structural functionalism, or conflict perspectives on workplace inequality).

Adding brief statistical data (e.g., prevalence) would strengthen empirical grounding.

It mostly refernces Canadian examples and culture.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

Beyond the content itself, the casebook is easy to use and thoughtfully designed with learners in mind. Navigation is intuitive, and the technology requirements are minimal, making access and use smooth without unnecessary registration hurdles. Each section is easily navigated to. Chapters are simmilar in structure. Clear instructions are provided throughout, ensuring that students and instructors can engage with the material confidently.

The text is easy to use. The format is the same for all case studies. It is suitable for anyone with an introductory understanding of workplace diversity or sociology. One class session can yield rich discussion and application.

Colors/Contrast/Emphasis: Strong readability; uses headings and lists rather than color cues.

Navigation: Clear structure with linked sections and named navigation headers.

Graphics: Proper attributions included; missing ALT text and descriptive captions.

Concerns:

ALT text and more detailed image descriptions should be added to meet full accessibility requirements.

No help area is provided.

Other Issues and Comments:: Altogether, this casebook combines scholarly rigor with excellent usability and design, making it a highly effective and enjoyable resource for teaching and learning sociology.
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