Health and the Construction of the Individual : A Social Study of Social Science

Social constructionism has been used mainly to explore how individuals construct their world or to investigate the social construction of knowledge.

However, whilst critical studies of medical knowledge and the construction of scientific knowledge have been conducted, to date, social science knowledge remains unquestioned. Taking up this challenge, this text presents a social study of social science.

Focusing particularly on constructions of the individual in health-related psychological and sociological texts, Jane Ogden explores how social science constructs social science facts by using methodology, measurement, theory and boundaries.

The book aims to make interesting reading for health psychologists, medical sociologists, social constructionists and all students and researchers interested in gaining a greater understanding of the premises underlying social science.