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Mechanical Turk has become an important source of subjects for social science experiments, providing a low-cost alternative to the convenience of using undergraduates while avoiding the expense of drawing fully representative samples. However, we know little about how the rates we pay to "Turkers" for participating in social science experiments affects their participation. This study examines subject performance using two experiments – a short survey experiment and a longer dynamic process tracing study of political campaigns – that recruited Turkers at different rates of pay. Looking at demographics and using measures of attention, engagement and evaluation of the candidates, we find no effects of pay rates upon subject recruitment or participation. We conclude by discussing implications and ethical standards of pay.

Le matériau utilisé pour la rédaction de cet article est issu de l'une des interventions psychosociologiques que nous avons réalisées dans le cadre de projets de rénovation urbaine en Martinique au cours des années 2006-2008. La problématique que nous soulevons est celle du risque de dérive technocratique qui menace l'action publique dès lors qu'elle ne se donne pas les moyens d'associer les individus et les groupes dans la détermination des objectifs qu'elle poursuit. C'est ainsi que nous montrons comment l'analyse des présupposés qui organisent l'action publique dans ces sociétés postcoloniales permet d'illustrer la violence exercée contre certaines catégories de la population martiniquaise.

Reflecting a change in funding strategies for European research projects, and a commitment to the idea of responsible research and innovation in radiological protection (RP), a collective of research institutes and universities have developed a prospective Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) for Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) in radiological protection. This is the first time such a research agenda has been proposed. This paper identifies six research lines of interest and concern: 1) Effects of social, psychological and economic aspects on RP behaviour; 2) Holistic approaches to the governance of radiological risks; 3) Responsible research and innovation in RP; 4) Stakeholder engagement and participatory processes in RP research, development, policy and practice; 5) Risk communication; and 6) RP cultures. These topics were developed through broad stakeholder consultation, in conjunction with activities carried out in the framework of various projects and initiatives (EU H2020 CONCERT programme, the EU FP7 projects OPERRA, PREPARE and EAGLE, the 2015-2018 RICOMET series of conferences, and the 2014 and 2016 International Symposia on Ethics of Environmental Health); as well as through dialogues with members of the European radiation protection research communities. The six research lines open opportunities to integrate a range of key social and ethical considerations into RP, thereby expanding research opportunities and programmes and fostering collaborative approaches to research and innovation. ; Peer reviewed

Résumé Mohamed Madoui propose une analyse à la fois critique et historique des usages de la sociologie en Algérie. Fortement influencée à ses débuts par l'ethnologie et l'anthropologie, la sociologie après l'indépendance devient une des sciences sociales assignée avec l'économie à contribuer au développement du pays et à la construction de l'Etat. Lors du passage récent à l'économie de marché, un intérêt pour les PME, les NTIC a succédé « au culte de la grande organisation ". Par ailleurs un clivage s'est institué entre sociologues arabophones et francophones qui travaillent de fait, sur des problématiques et des champs différents. L'analyse se complète avec la prise en compte de l'effet de marginalisation, vécu par les sociologues qui n'ont pas adhéré à la vision unitaire.

"A highly engaging and gripping read, Cameron Reilly's book adds to our growing understanding of sociopaths with a detailed analysis of how our society encourages and rewards psychopathic tendencies, and how, because of this, psychopaths the world over have risen to power. Using historical references to pop culture examples, Reilly offers a field guide to psychopaths--how to spot them and how to outmaneuver them so you can keep your sanity intact. This is the first-of-its-kind book to examine the shocking evidence and then suggest practical solutions for saving us all." --Amazon.com

Survey researchers and social scientists are trying to understand the appropriate use of nonprobability samples as substitutes for probability samples in social science research. While cognizant of the challenges presented by nonprobability samples, scholars increasingly rely on these samples due to their low cost and speed of data collection. This paper contributes to the growing literature on the appropriate use of nonprobability samples by comparing two online non-probability samples, Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and a Qualtrics Panel, with a gold standard nationally representative probability sample, the GSS. Most research in this area focuses on determining the best techniques to improve point estimates from nonprobability samples, often using gold standard surveys or census data to determine the accuracy of the point estimates. This paper differs from that line of research in that we examine how probability and nonprobability samples differ when used in multivariate analysis, the research technique used by many social scientists. Additionally, we examine whether restricting each sample to a population well-represented in MTurk (Americans age 45 and under) improves MTurk's estimates. We find that, while Qualtrics and MTurk differ somewhat from the GSS, Qualtrics outperforms MTurk in both univariate and multivariate analysis. Further, restricting the samples substantially improves MTurk's estimates, almost closing the gap with Qualtrics. With both Qualtrics and MTurk, we find a risk of false positives. Our findings suggest that these online nonprobability samples may sometimes be 'fit for purpose,' but should be used with caution.

The aim of this paper is to argue a need to re-evaluate the notion and function of civil courage in creating conditions for cohesive, just and pluralistic dimensions of contemporary societies. It will assert that courage can perform a vital social function by providing the basis for civic initiatives that affirm human rights and dignities, enrich the functioning of institutions and quality of civil society and enhance social or cultural change. Since the concept of courage is still commonly discussed using terms derived from the Classical Greece, I will delineate this ancient legacy and its contribution to the persistence of various obstacles and impediments in theorizing about courage. This will be followed by a discussion of the relevance of classical sociology's input into today's understanding of this notion, after which I will demonstrate that currently, as a result of border socio-political and technological transformations, this notion is in urgent need of re-evaluation. Finally, I will discuss the functions of civil courage in the contemporary world and its place in social science.