Society

The present volume is intended both for those setting out upon a systematic study of social processes, and also for those
whose main interests lie elsewhere but who wish to orient themselves in particular parts of the field. The editors attempted to include not only problems and methods commonly associated with social study but also some others such as 'operational
research', social medicine, and social psychiatry, which seem likely to prove of importance and to make an increasing
contribution to the understanding of society during the next few years. Inevitably the reader will find gaps: some of these have been deliberate, and result from the necessity of producing a book of reasonable size. Part One describes some of the principal methods and lines of approach to social study which are applicable to a wide range of problems. Part Two points to leading issues and findings in some of the main areas in which studies have been made. In the sections of Part Two chapters have, as
far as possible been grouped together in such a way that the reader concerned with a particular area can find the material he wants collected in one place. Where such grouping is not possible, cognate chapters in other sections have
been indicated.