SPSSI Books

Since its founding in 1936, SPSSI has addressed the social issues of the times. Central to these efforts has been the Lewinian tradition of action-oriented research, in which psychological theories and methods guide research and action addressed to important societal problems.

Contemporary Social Issues is SPSSI’s official book series, published by Cambridge University Press. Grounded in their authors’ programs of research, works in this series focus on social issues facing individuals, groups, communities, and/or society at large, with each volume written to speak to scholars, students, practitioners, and policymakers.

Prospective authors (and those with ideas) should contact the Series Editor, Brian Christens. Most works are sole- or co-authored books (averaging around 80,000 words in length), although there is also room in the series for high-level research works that appeal to a predominately scholarly audience, such as monographs and edited volumes. Please review the Contemporary Social Issues Author Guidelines for more information about undertaking a book project with SPSSI. 

The Contemporary Social Issues series with Cambridge University Press carries forward SPSSI’s long history of sponsoring books. It merges the missions of the two SPSSI-sponsored series published by Wiley, which are titled Contemporary Social Issues (for authored works) and Social Issues and Interventions (for edited volumes). Books in these series are listed below, including several forthcoming books which will be published with Wiley and Series Editor Emeritus, Dan Perlman.

Marybeth Shinn & Jill Khadduri (2020)
In the midst of plenty: How to prevent and end homelessness

Arie Nadler (2020)
Giving, seeking and receiving help: Solidarity and inequality in helping relations

Chuck Huff & Almut Furchert (manuscript in preparation)
Taking moral action

Michelle A. Nario-Redmond (2019)
Ableism: The causes and consequences of disability prejudice

Heather E. Bullock (2013)
Women and poverty: Psychology, public policy, and social justice

Shigehiro Oishi (2012)
The psychological wealth of nations: Do happy people make a happy society?

Kai J. Jonas & Thomas A. Morton (Eds.) (2012)
Restoring civil societies: The psychology of intervention and engagement following crisis

Richard J. Crisp (Ed.) (2011)
The psychology of social and cultural diversity

Bernice Lott (2009)
Multiculturalism and diversity: A social psychological perspective

Ulrich Wagner, Linda R. Tropp, Gillian Finchilescu & Colin Tredoux (Eds.) (2009)
Improving intergroup relations: Building on the legacy of Thomas F. Pettigrew

Victoria M. Esses & Richard A. Vernon (Eds.) (2008)
Explaining the breakdown of ethnic relations

SPSS has sponsored additional books beyond the series. For instance, the 8th edition of SPSSI's popular text, Research methods in social relations is now available for adoption. Contact Wiley for an examination copy.

A full list of SPSSI-sponsored books (including out-of-print titles) can be found on our history pages and can be viewed either by author name or by date published.