Addiction: Teenage Kicks - the Debate Rages on
This school briefing, from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), gives the facts about drink, drugs and alcohol addiction amongst teenagers and young people. Despite, media stories about famous people struggling with their addictions, drug use, smoking and drinking is increasing and death rates are rising. The briefing…
Alcohol: the Spirit of Friendship
This resource, from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), looks at worrying studies into young people's drinking habits. Studies have looked at how and why excessive drinking has become a normal part of life for many young people and the psychological pressures put upon people to drink alcohol, especially on young…
What Do Social Scientists Do? Sociology
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) resource gives information about careers related to sociology. It starts with a definition, explaining the ways in which sociologists study the effects of social issues and the way society is organised. The resource then lists career possibilities for sociologists using their analytical…
What Do Social Scientists Do? Geography
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) resource gives information about career options for people who study geography. It starts by defining the subject, including its component parts of human and physical geography. Human geography includes studies of cultures, population, economies, health and medicine, rural and urban…
What Do Social Scientists Do? Psychology
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) resource looks at psychology as a career option. It begins by defining psychology as the study of the human mind, brain and behaviour. The resource then gives information about career possibilities and gives examples of sectors where psychology graduates are welcomed. Psychology provides…
What Do Social Scientists Do? Economics
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) resource gives information about economics as a career. It gives a definition of economics as a quantitative approach to the study of society which looks at how decisions about supply and demand are made at individual, organisational and governmental levels. Economics makes considerable…
This Sporting Life - and Questions to Think About
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing looks at how middle class people take the need to exercise more personally than others. Although the need for exercise is generally recognised, research shows that more highly educated people are more likely to participate in regular exercise. The briefing explains…
Fat is Not a Four-letter Word
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing looks at how obesity is viewed by the general public and how the war on obesity could lead to discrimination on the grounds of a person's size and intolerance towards the over-weight. The briefing examines the possibly doubtful science that can colour opinions…
Do Models Need to Be Thin to Sell Moisturiser?
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing looks at the effectiveness of advertising and whether it really is necessary for advertisers to use very thin models to sell their products. Counter to this view, research shows that women are just as likely to buy a product if the model is of average size. The…
What Is Healthy? What Is Beautiful?
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing discusses fat as a class issue, as well as a feminist issue. Research shows that middle class families are more likely to be health-conscious eaters, and chances are the shops in their neighbourhoods offer a wider range of healthy food. The resource looks at the facts…
Britain at a Glance
These two Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) pages give statistics and key facts about the British population in 2007 and 2008. These statistics give a picture of the UK's population growth rates and age distribution, percentages of ethnic minorities, where we live and work, our income and spending habits, health, education…
Why Volunteering is Good For You - and Questions to Think About
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing looks at the effects of volunteering on the community and also on the volunteer. Research has shown that people who volunteer enjoy a better quality of life and better health as well as improving conditions in their communities. The briefing includes a set of questions…
The Power of Positive Thinking
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing discusses how people who think positively are more likely to have good forward-planning skills, have more friends and earn more. Research has found that positive future-thinking leads to wellbeing but is greatly affected by psychological factors and mental health.…
The Economics of Happiness
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing looks at the effects happiness and wellbeing have on the economy. A study by Professor Andrew Oswald looked at the human impact of economic downturns and demonstrated that the true cost of a recession is much wider than just financial. This leads to findings that strong…
Happiness: The Greatest Gift We Possess?
This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) school briefing looks at whether we have a right to be happy, alongside the rights to life and liberty. The briefing discusses definitions of happiness and how religions and young people seek to attain it. The briefing then looks at how different governments across the world are measuring…
Society Now: UK by Numbers
The 'UK by numbers' series focuses on key areas, such as population, energy and health, and provide important and up-to-date statistics about the UK. The documents are taken from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) magazine, Society Now. Population This issue gives statistics for the composition of the UK's…