Social Science

Betts (Univ. of Oxford, UK) delivers a clear, concise introduction to the theories, methods, and central tenets of the social sciences in this latest volume of Oxford’s Very Short Introductions series. Betts excels in balancing specific examples with more sweeping overviews in order to accomplish his goals within a very strict word count. This book is appropriate for a general audience or lower-level undergraduates, particularly based on the care taken to define terms and explain research methods in an approachable way. Readers deciding on an area of study without knowledge of the social sciences will benefit the most from this title. * L. deLaubell, Choice *

Alexander Betts is Professor of Forced Migration and International Affairs at the University of Oxford. He was the Associate Head of the Social Sciences Division. He is an interdisciplinary social scientist whose research focuses on refugees and migration. His books include The Wealth of Refugees: How Displaced People Can Build Economies (Oxford University Press, 2021). He was awarded the Economic and Social Research Council’s Outstanding InternationalImpact Prize, and is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Science.