Een evaluatie van boekbesprekingen in enkele sociaal-wetenschappelijke tijdschriften

Samenvatting

An evaluation of book reviews in selected social sciences publications. A content analysis is made of 176 book reviews: 26 in the American Sociological Review (1958); 50 in Sociologische Gids (1961 and 1963); 50 in Mens en Maatschappij (1962 and 1963); and 50 in Sociale Wetenschappen (1963). In 10% of the reviews, the reader is left in doubt as to what the book reviewed is about; in 35% he still has serious questions as to the content. The analysis of the book reviewer is found faulty in 60% of the items, none of which were contained in the American Sociological Review. Of the reviewers' judgments, 93 were positive, 13 negative and 28 balanced; but only 60% of these judgments were properly argued. Suggestions are made to improve the level of book reviewing: (1) emphasis on a clear presentation of the content of the book reviewed; (2) need for indicating the sources of the data, the kind of scientific method and the type of analytical techniques used by the author, and (3) indication of the kind of reader for whom the book was written. I. Langnas.