Open Textbooks of the Day: Social Sciences

Coordinated by the OpenCourseWare Consortium, Open Education Week’s goal is to raise awareness about free and open educational opportunities that exist for everyone, everywhere, right now.

This week, BCcampus features some our best open textbooks (ratings of 80% and higher based on peer reviews) currently available to instructors and students on our OpenEd site.

Today’s three textbooks are in the social sciences:

 

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Textbook:

Introduction to Sociology

Reviewed by: Dr. Francis Adu-Febiri, Camosun College
Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5

Reviewer comment:

Very comprehensive: All the major substantive topics, concepts and theories necessary to prepare students for other lower-level and also upper-level sociology courses are well covered. Unlike many Introductory Sociology textbooks that are heavy on statistical illustrations of various topics/issues, this particular textbook is very light on statistical information. Although this may be a bias against quantitative sociology, it lengthens the shell life of the book and also makes necessary updates faster and easier.


 

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Textbook: Research Methods in Psychology

Reviewed by: Rajiv Jhangiani, Capilano University
Overall rating: 4.8 out of 5

Reviewer comment:

The text is well organized and written, integrates excellent pedagogical features, and covers all of the traditional areas of the topic admirably. The final two chapters provide a good bridge between the research methods course and the follow-up course on behavioural statistics. Overall, the style of writing makes this text highly accessible. The writing flows well, is well organized, and includes excellent, detailed, and clear examples and explanations for concepts.


 

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Textbook:

Principles of Social Psychology

Reviewed by: Jennifer Walinga, Royal Roads University
Overall rating: 4.8 out of 5

Reviewer comment:

This text is simply organized and clearly structured providing a rhythmic organizational ‘pattern’, which enables easy reading and access for the student. Opening with ‘Learning Objectives’ and ending with ‘Key Takeaways’ and ‘Critical Thinking Exercises’ gives the text a pedagogical cohesion and focus while providing the reader with short overviews of each chapter. Video clips, websites, figures and links are interwoven throughout the text for interest and extension.