ABSTRACT
This book presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of the book. The book is concerned with recent developments in and challenges to the social constructionist perspective on social problems. It aims to reconsider the social constructionist perspective in light of new developments and emerging controversies in social problems theory. The book includes important clarification and expansion of Malcolm Spector and John Kitsuse's constructionist theory of social problems. It asserts that their revised approach answers the most significant questions raised in Woolgar and Pawluch's critique. The book argues for the development of a research program that focuses on social problems work, the ways in which social problems categories are invoked, articulated, and applied to concrete events and persons in the life world. It discusses the ethnomethodological concern for reflexivity by reflecting on issues central to the ontological gerrymandering debate.
