QMU Division of Psychology, Sociology and Education - Suggested Readings

QMU Division of Psychology, Sociology and Education

Suggested Readings

Please remember these are suggestions – don’t worry if you cannot access everything on this list.  We are offering these in case you want to get a head start, or even just want to brush up your knowledge over the summer.  Don’t rush out and buy everything – most resources will be available in the Library or online.

BSc(Hons) Public Sociology & BSc (Hons) Psychology & Sociology

The Sociology team and I are looking forward to meeting you when you join us in 2nd year (or later). Whether you're on the BSc (Hons) Public Sociology or the BSc (Hons) Psychology & Sociology, we'll look at important issues and develop a more critical approach to thinking about and investigating our daily lives - with a view to supporting social justice together.

  • BURAWOY, M., 2005. For Public Sociology. British Journal of Sociology. vol. 56, no. 2, pp. 259-294.
  • CROTTY, M., 1998. The Foundations of Social Research: Meaning and Perspective in the Research Process. London: SAGE.
  • HILL-COLLINS, P., 1986. ‘Learning from the outsider within: The sociological significance of Black feminist thought’. Social Problems. vol. 93, no.6, pp. 14-32.
  • MILLS, C.W., 1959. The Sociological Imagination. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • SCANDRETT, E. (ed) 2020 Public Sociology as Educational Practice: Challenges, Dialogues and Counterpublics. Bristol University Press
  • SWEENEY, T., LEWIS, J. and ETHERINGTON, N. (eds) 2003 Sociology and Scotland: An Introduction. Unity Publications

For students studying BSc(Hons) Psychology and Sociology, it’s also worth looking at the Psychology texts listed below as you will make use of some of them in second year.

BSc (Hons) Psychology 

For 2nd year Psychology, although we don’t use a key text book the following book does cover most aspects of the year:  

  • WILSON, S. and MacLEAN, R., 2011. Research Methods and Data Analysis for Psychology.  Maidenhead: McGraw Hill Higher Education

For the Research Methods module throughout 2nd, 3rd and 4th year: 

  • Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2013) Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners. Sage: London. 

The core textbook used in BSc (Hons) Psychology is:

  • Hood, B., Schacter, D., Gilbert, D, and Wegner, D. (Eds) (2019). Psychology, 3rd European Edition. Palgrave MacMillan.

And finally, a useful study guide for academic writing: 

  • Beech, J.R. (2009). How to write in Psychology: A Student Guide. BPS Blackwell. 

BA (Hons) Education Studies & BA (Hons) Education Studies (Primary)

  • Bartlett, S. and Burton, D., 2020. Introduction to education studies. SAGE Publications Limited.
  • Marcus, G., 2016. Closing the attainment gap: What can schools do. SPICe Briefing.
  • Petty, G., 2014.  Teaching Today: A Practical Guide, 5th Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press 
  • Cannadine, D., 2014.  The Undivided Past: History Beyond Our Differences, 1st Edition Penguin. 

In order to understand the present and the future, we need to understand the past. This book could be a difficult read. Read the foreword and introduction, then choose one inequality that you are particularly interested and read that chapter. You do not have to read the whole book, and do not worry about any difficult words. This is not compulsory, just a suggestion.

Here are a few easily accessed/digestible online resources:

A photo is being taken of 3 girls, on the phone screen Edinburgh Castle is in the distance
International Community
Image of a QMU open day
Open Days and Meeting Us
Some QMU students walking on campus
Study Here
Group of students smiling and talking together, QMU campus, Edinburgh
Fees and Funding