This work investigates how social problems are constructed and defined through the strategic efforts of claimsmakers to influence public perception and policy. Joel Best, a prominent sociologist, utilizes constructionist theory to examine the mechanisms by which specific issues are identified, typified, and brought into the public consciousness. The text provides a framework for understanding how the characterization of a problem dictates the subsequent societal and legislative response, drawing on diverse case studies from the 1990s to illustrate these theoretical concepts in practice.

Sociologists and students of social problems frequently cite this text as a foundational resource for understanding the constructionist approach to social issues. Experts highlight the clarity of the author's theoretical framework and the practical utility of the included case studies for analyzing modern public discourse.