Featured Books: August 2019

1. Sociolinguistic: Application and Impact

Edited by Robert Lawson, Dave Sayers – 262 pages

“The recent emphasis on impact and public engagement by funding bodies and academic institutions has given new prominence to this aspect of research, which has always been a key concern of sociolinguists. This very timely collection provides an illuminating account of the rise of the impact agenda, along with inspirational accounts of the ways in which sociolinguists can ‘give back’ to and have impact on the communities with which they work.”

Joan C. BealUniversity of Sheffield, UK

“We have here an array of role-model studies seeking public relevance and impact in very concrete, direct ways. This is sociolinguistics that’s often empowering, always engaging. The volume should be core reading for all students of language and society because it demonstrates clearly why their work matters and how they can make it matter even more”.

Crispin ThurlowUniversity of Bern, Switzerland

Sociolinguistic Research: Application and Impact provides a unique overview of international research projects, showcasing their positive outcomes and offering critical insights and constructive critiques into the meaning of ‘impact’ in contemporary research. The book includes:

  • original findings from cutting-edge research from scholars such as Mary Bucholtz, Walt Wolfram and Peter Patrick;
  • coverage of organizational contexts including education, government, justice, heritage, and the workplace;
  • activities including after-school programmes, workplace training courses, social media campaigns, and video productions;
  • application of research to professional practice including teaching (primary school to university), adjudication, police interviewing, and governmental policymaking;
  • contributors’ personal reflections on the research process and its outcomes, including constructive critiques of institutional definitions of impact.

With chapters spanning research across five continents, Sociolinguistic Research: Application and Impact is essential reading for sociolinguistic researchers, students embarking on sociolinguistic research, and anyone interested in the practical application of research on language and society.

Robert Lawson is Senior Lecturer in the School of English at Birmingham City University, UK.

Dave is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Humanities at Sheffield Hallam University and Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University, UK.

https://www.routledge.com/Sociolinguistic-Research-Application-and-Impact/Lawson-Sayers/p/book/9780415748520

 

2. Blogs and Tweets, Texting and Friending: Social Media and Online Professionalism in Health Care

Sandra M. DeJong – 192 pages

Health care professionals use the internet and social media regularly, and may not be fully aware of how easily their professionalism can be compromised by their actions. Digital technologies disseminate information with unprecedented speed and scope, yet often their content lacks confidentially and/or security. Professional breaches, when they happen, may be both public and impossible to remove. Blogs and Tweets, Texting and friending: Social Media and Online Professionalism in Health Care identifies the dos and don’ts for busy health care professionals, and the potential consequences for careless actions.

The book focuses on 8 broad categories of professionalism relative to digital technology use: liability and maintaining the standard of care; confidentiality and security of patient information; patient and practitioner privacy; libel; conflict of interest; academic honesty, particularly plagiarism; mandated reporting and safety issues; and ‘netiquette’. Additionally, the book presents standards for the use of social media and digital technology in health care.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

  • Case vignettes help illustrate common breaches in professionalism
  • Dos and Don’ts are identified for common technologies and digital practices
  • Suggested standards are provided to limit risk and maintain professionalism
  • Authored by a health care professional for practical, knowledgeable guidance

https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780124081284/blogs-and-tweets-texting-and-friending

 

3. Essentials of Quality with cases and experiential exercises

Victor E. Sower – 416 pages

An Accessible and Engaging Look at Quality Management

Essentials of Quality is presented in a way that is both accessible and engaging. Sower’s refreshingly practical approach arms readers with creative ways to apply quality control techniques to daily operations in order to develop innovative breakthrough improvements. Unique coverage of today’s hot topics supported by interesting and timely examples makes this an ideal resource for both students of business and business managers.

Highlights of the text include:

  • Ways to operationalize the definition of quality in order to develop metrics for measuring and evaluating quality management programs
  • Chapter exercises that increase understanding of the concepts
  • The principles of quality – its history, background, and theory
  • Relevant case studies to help build hands-on experience

https://www.amazon.com/Essentials-Quality-Cases-Experiential-Exercises/dp/0470509597