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Books in Social sciences and humanities

  • Cognitive Information Systems in Management Sciences

    • 1st Edition
    • Lidia Dominika Ogiela
    • English
    Cognitive Information Systems in Management Sciences summarizes the body of work in this area, taking an analytical approach to interpreting the data, while also providing an approach that can be used for practical implementation in the fields of computing, economics, and engineering. Using numerous illustrative examples, and following both theoretical and practical results, Dr. Lidia Ogiela discusses the concepts and principles of cognitive information systems, the relationship between intelligent computer data analysis, and how to utilize computational intelligent approaches to enhance information retrieval. Real world implantation use cases round out the book, with valuable scenarios covering management science, computer science, and engineering. Indexing: The books of this series are submitted to EI-Compendex and SCOPUS
  • Collective Action 2.0

    The Impact of Social Media on Collective Action
    • 1st Edition
    • Shaked Spier
    • English
    Collective Action 2.0 explores the issues related to information and communication technologies (ICTs) in detail, providing a balanced insight into how ICTs leverage and interact with collective action, which will have an impact on the current discourse. Recent events in different authoritarian regimes, such as Iran and Egypt, have drawn global attention to a developing phenomenon in collective action: People tend to organize through different social media platforms for political protest and resistance. This phenomenon describes a change in social structure and behavior tied to ICT. Social media platforms have been used to leverage collective action, which has in some cases arguably lead, to political revolution. The phenomenon also indicates that the way information is organized affects the organization of social structures with which it interoperates. The phenomenon also has another side, which is the use of social media for activist suppression, state and corporate surveillance, commodifi cation of social processes, demobilization, or for the mobilization of collective action toward undesirable ends.
  • Staff-Less Libraries

    Innovative Staff Design
    • 1st Edition
    • Carl Gustav Johannsen
    • English
    Staff-Less Libraries: Innovative Staff Design considers the challenges of this approach, its pros and cons, identifies international experiences, and discusses best practices. It presents a step-by-step approach to implementing a staffless library and/or services, and seeks to inspire professionals to share experiences and optimize their library. Staff-less public libraries, enabled by technological developments, represent a significant and innovative aspect of the development of public libraries. The concept radically enlarges the availability of user access to public libraries. Some Danish public library branches have, for example, increased their weekly opening hours from 20 to 80 hours per week. In Denmark, the concept has been quite successful, increasing the number of staff-less libraries from 81 public library units in 2011 to 260 in 2014. From a longer view, however, the staff-less library concept contributes to the modernization of public libraries by further opening the library. Many library professionals have been surprised by the near absence of vandalism through the staffl-ess opening hours. According to the latest trend, the staffless library model is gradually moving from thinly populated rural areas and suburban neighborhoods to urban contexts. This book explores the concept, hence furthering the debate.
  • How to Become an International Disaster Volunteer

    • 1st Edition
    • Michael Noone
    • English
    How to Become an International Disaster Volunteer discusses the immense value an experienced water systems engineer, trauma surgeon, or communications specialist could bring to a disaster stricken community, while also explaining how their professional educations do not prepare them for the logistical, psychological, and physical demands of traveling to, and functioning in, an international catastrophe with little water or electricity, limited sleep and food, a chaotic working environment, and with team members from diverse backgrounds and with different personalities. This book provides a step-by-step guide for the entire process, including self-evaluating tactics, fitness measurements for volunteering, how to research disaster relief organizations, how to gain appropriate training and applicable experiences, the best practices during deployments, and the personal recovery process upon returning home. Each chapter focuses on one aspect of the progression, but also includes case studies of disasters, profiles of relief organizations, and checklists for each stage.
  • Music, Passion, and Cognitive Function

    • 1st Edition
    • Leonid Perlovsky
    • English
    Music, Passion, and Cognitive Function examines contemporary cognitive theories of music, why they cannot explain music’s power over us, and the origin and evolution of music. The book presents experimental confirmations of the theory in psychological and neuroimaging research, discussing the parallel evolution of consciousness, musical styles, and cultures since Homer and King David. In addition, it explains that 'in much wisdom is much grief' due to cognitive dissonances created by language that splits the inner world. Music enables us to survive in this sea of grief, overcomes discomforts and stresses of acquiring new knowledge, and unifies the soul, hence the power of music.
  • Innovation in Public Libraries

    Learning from International Library Practice
    • 1st Edition
    • Kirstie Nicholson
    • English
    Innovation in Public Libraries: Learning from International Library Practice examines the recent activities of successful and innovative libraries around the world, presenting their initiatives in areas including library design, events and programs, and creating customer experiences. This timely guide provides an overview of these libraries’ successful experiences and identifies emerging global trends and themes. The author offers library practitioners guidance on how to pursue these trends in their own library environment, identifying achievable goals when planning building and design improvements, and developing customer interactions in order to emulate the experiences of international libraries.
  • The Self and Autism

    The Library of Analytical Psychology
    • 1st Edition
    • Michael Fordham + 2 more
    • English
    The Library of Analytical Psychology, Volume 3: The Self and Autism discusses the relationship between the concept of self and autism. The book primarily revolves around the work of Carl Jung. The first part of the book covers the theoretical aspects of analytical psychology; this part covers the concept of archetypes, self, and symbols. The importance of child experiences is also dealt with in the first chapter. The next part discusses the clinical techniques in treating children with autism. The last part presents case studies of infantile autism. The text will be of great use to psychologists, therapists, and councilors who are dealing with clients who have autism. The book will also be of great interest to readers who are concerned with autism.
  • The Creative Self

    Effect of Beliefs, Self-Efficacy, Mindset, and Identity
    • 1st Edition
    • Maciej Karwowski + 1 more
    • English
    The Creative Self reviews and summarizes key theories, studies, and new ideas about the role and significance self-beliefs play in one’s creativity. It untangles the interrelated constructs of creative self-efficacy, creative metacognition, creative identity, and creative self-concept. It explores how and when creative self-beliefs are formed as well as how creative self-beliefs can be strengthened. Part I discusses how creativity plays a part in one’s self-identity and its relationship with free will and efficacy. Part II discusses creativity present in day-to-day life across the lifespan. Part III highlights the intersection of the creative self with other variables such as mindset, domains, the brain, and individual differences. Part IV explores methodology and culture in relation to creativity. Part V, discusses additional constructs or theories that offer promise for future research on creativity.
  • Addictive Substances and Neurological Disease

    Alcohol, Tobacco, Caffeine, and Drugs of Abuse in Everyday Lifestyles
    • 1st Edition
    • Ronald Ross Watson + 1 more
    • English
    Addictive Substances and Neurological Disease: Alcohol, Tobacco, Caffeine, and Drugs of Abuse in Everyday Lifestyles is a complete guide to the manifold effects of addictive substances on the brain, providing readers with the latest developing research on how these substances are implicated in neurological development and dysfunction. Cannabis, cocaine, and other illicit drugs can have substantial negative effects on the structure and functioning of the brain. However, other common habituating and addictive substances often used as part of an individual’s lifestyle, i.e., alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, painkillers can also compromise brain health and effect or accentuate neurological disease. This book provides broad coverage of the effects of addictive substances on the brain, beginning with an overview of how the substances lead to dysfunction before examining each substance in depth. It discusses the pathology of addiction, the structural damage resulting from abuse of various substances, and covers the neurobiological, neurodegenerative, behavioral, and cognitive implications of use across the lifespan, from prenatal exposure, to adolescence and old age. This book aids researchers seeking an understanding of the neurological changes that these substances induce, and is also extremely useful for those seeking potential treatments and therapies for individuals suffering from chronic abuse of these substances.
  • Advances in Child Development and Behavior

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 52
    • English
    Advances in Child Development and Behavior, Volume 52, includes chapters that highlight some of the most recent research in the field of developmental psychology. Each chapter provides in-depth discussions, with this volume serving as an invaluable resource for developmental or educational psychology researchers, scholars, and students.