Reviews
"Interest in the social sciences has skyrocketed in the 21st century, but it’s not accurate to say that we’re living in its golden age, because the best is yet to come. There could be no better source of insider information on the new ideas in store for us than this innovative resource (“volume” or “text” does not do it justice). It will be indispensable to thinkers, planners, policy makers, and scientifically curious readers for years to come, because no field of human endeavor can afford to ignore the insights of the new sciences of mind, behavior, and society."
- Steven Pinker, Psychology, Harvard
"Emerging Trends in the Social and Behavioral Sciences, edited by Robert Scott and Stephen Kosslyn, is a very impressive compendium of articles written by some of the most accomplished scholars in these fields. The focus is not only on what we currently know, but also what we do not yet know. What are the challenges we face and what puzzles remain to be solved as we look to the future? There is no resource like this one in the behavioral and social sciences. I look forward to using this online reference in my classes as well as in my own work."
- Karen S. Cook, Sociology, Stanford
"Emerging Trends is a creative moment in a larger, not always acknowledged intellectual revolution of our times: the transition from regarding knowledge as accumulated, encyclopedic stock to regarding knowledge as process. Robert Scott and Stephen Kosslyn have devised an ingenious project that stresses conditionality of knowledge, its selective development, its continuous evaluation and revision, and its interdisciplinary connections -- all with scholarly excellence in selecting contributing authors and incorporating the best computer techniques. The editors may not conceive of themselves as revolutionaries, but they are. Their work is monumental."
- Neil Joseph Smelser, Sociology, UC Berkeley
"What a great idea -- one place to find thoughtful discussions of the emerging frontiers of research in the social and behavioral sciences by leading scholars in their respective fields! Emerging Trends is a great resource for students and established scholars alike to discover what leading experts consider to be the most important future areas of research in their fields, and to peek at what the frontier of research might look like."
- Alan B. Krueger, Economics & Public Affairs, Princeton
"Emerging Trends delivers even more than it promises: interesting and expert social science perspectives on important issues, using advanced digital tools that enable expeditious access and updating. A good read and an essential set of tools for scholars, policy-makers, and all those who simply want to become smarter."
- Margaret Levi, Political Science & CASBS Director, Stanford
"The coeditors have cast a wide net in their attempt to identify what the social sciences of the future may look like — a deeply contested topic. Whether one agrees or not with how they slice our scientific world, I urge researchers to pay heed and engage. Their exciting project is meant to operate as a forum for
deliberation, a dedicated space for greatly needed exchanges about where we are heading. Much is at stake as the categories through which social scientists apprehend reality open and close possibilities for change. Their project goes to the heart of our intellectual and social mission as thinkers, scientists and citizens."
- Michele Lamont, International Studies, Harvard
"This comprehensive and thoughtful collection brings together some of the best writing on an unusually wide-range of topics across all of the social and behavioral sciences and related fields. An indispensable reference work for the 21st century teacher, scholar, student and anyone who wants to know what the experts in these fields think about where we’ve been and where we’re going."
- Daniel J. Levitin, Cognitive Psychologist, McGill; Dean, Minerva University
"What a great idea for a series of essays. It's certainly easy to find RE-views of various fields, too often slanted towards coverage of the authors' own work and with a heavy emphasis on whatever axes they have to grind. To instead get a series of true PRE-views, by top people with creative, long views of their subject, will be terrific. Moreover, the range of topics and length of essays seem
ideal. This is a resource I anticipate using regularly."
- Robert M. Sapolsky, Neuroscientist, Stanford
"In their unconventional guide to the future, Robert Scott and Stephen Kosslyn asked 400 leading scholars to put down their research, stand up on their toes, stretch out their necks, look to the horizon, and tell us what they see happening in their fields and beyond. If you seek new knowledge in some part of the social and behavioral sciences, you'll want to make Emerging Trends your first stop."
- Gary King, University Professor & IQSS Director, Harvard
"Emerging Trends promises to be an in-depth survey of topical issues in the social sciences, more detailed and more authoritative than other online resources. Scholars and the general public alike should welcome it as an important reference tool and a guide to current research."
- Tanya Marie Luhrmann, Anthropology, Stanford
“I am impressed with the overall quality of the articles. They contain many of the things we teach students to look for in such articles: excellent overviews of the subjects in accessible language, excellent lists of recommended reading, and evidence of the authors’ expertise. I like the emphasis on new research, find the length of the articles just right, and appreciate the cross references to related articles in the work. This will be an interesting addition to reference materials in the social and behavioral sciences.”
- Kathryn Kerns, Stanford Libraries