The Challenge of Applied Sociology

JOBS OUTSIDE ACADEMIA IN APPLIED FIELDS ARE OF INCREASING INTEREST TO SOCIOLOGISTS AS THE NUMBER WITH ADVANCED DEGREES CONTINUES TO OUTPACE THE SUPPLY OF ACADEMIC POSITIONS. AN OBVIOUS AREA FOR THEIR UTILIZATION IS IN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, WHERE A HIGH DEGREE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY BACKGROUND IS NECESSARY FOR THE TEAMWORK INVOLVED. IN ADDITION TO APPLIED RESEARCH, THE SOCIOLOGIST MAY BE CALLED UPON TO ASSIST IN ARCHITECTUAL & UR PLANNING (EG, IN THE DESIGN OF PUBLIC HOUSING, MIDDLE-INCOME SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENTS, & NEW TOWNS). SIMILARLY, PROGRAMS DEALING WITH SOCIAL PROBLEMS REQUIRE SOCIOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE ETHNIC GROUPS SERVED. IN PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, A KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNITY NORMS & SOCIAL STRUCTURES IS ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS. PROGRAM EVALUATION IN SUCH AREAS AS BUSSING & DRUG REHABILITATION IS WELL-KNOWN TO SOCIOLOGISTS, BUT KNOWLEDGE GAPS EXIST IN OTHER AREAS (EG, THE SOCIAL EFFECTS ON COMMUNITIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES, IE HIGHWAY PROJECTS). SOME RESEARCH METHODS (EG DOOR-TO-DOOR SURVEYS) ARE NOT ALWAYS PRACTICAL IN APPLIED RESEARCH, & NEW ONES MUST BE DEVELOPED. AN APPROACH TO TRAINING APPLIED SOCIOLOGISTS BY BOSTON U IS DESCRIBED. STUDENTS ATTAIN COMPETENCY IN THEORY, METHODS, & SUBSTANTIVE FIELDS & ARE REQUIRED TO ALSO ATTAIN GREATER INTERDISCIPLINARY KNOWLEDGE & TO TAKE PART IN INTENSIVE FIELDWORK. POSITIONS IN APPLIED SOCIOLOGY OFFER OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERTAKE RESEARCH THAT MEET THE CANONS OF SCIENTIFIC VALIDITY & APPLIED & BASIC SOCIOLOGISTS MUST SCRUTINIZE THE VALUES OF SPONSORING AGENCIES WITH THE SAME RIGOR. J. N. MAYER.