Anna Bennett discusses her experiences teaching sociology outside a university as part of an enabling course for youth aged 17 to 20 years who hope to qualify for tertiary study. By Anna Bennett Sociology not only offers us the tools to analyse and assess the society around us but, in addition, it allows us to considerContinueContinue reading “Opportunities for Teaching Sociology Within Enabling Courses”
Category Archives: Blog
The Utility of Participant Observation in Applied Sociological Research
Jan Ali describes how he used participant observation to study the religious practices of the Tablighi Jama’at. He considers how this metholodogy is an example of applied sociological practice. By Jan Ali Participant observation has long been an important social inquiry tool in sociological investigation of the social world and in applied sociology. It isContinueContinue reading “The Utility of Participant Observation in Applied Sociological Research”
Exploring the Entrepreneurial Option for Sociologists
Karina Butera covers her PhD journey and how she built a business. She provides advice for other postgraduate students considering entrepreneurship. By Karina Butera Throughout my postgraduate experience I have operated within both the worlds of academia and commercial enterprise. I am perhaps a strange hybrid because I have entwined my ‘sociological imagination’ with my interest ContinueContinue reading “Exploring the Entrepreneurial Option for Sociologists”
A Personal View of Diversity in the Sociological World
Julie Cappleman-Morgan and Annika Coughlin discuss the career opportunties for applied sociologists in the United Kingdom. They provide an overview of Sociologists Outside Academia, the group they lead within the British Sociological Association. By Julie Cappleman-Morgan and Annika Coughlin The world of sociology and sociological research is changing. The increasing demand for policy-related and evidence-based’ researchContinueContinue reading “A Personal View of Diversity in the Sociological World”
Changing Places
Bruce Smyth discusses his work at a national research agency. He considers the divide between academic and applied sociologies in the context of his recent move back to university work. By Bruce Smyth [1] Until recently, I worked at the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) as a researcher in the area of family lawContinueContinue reading “Changing Places”
Using Sociology in Market Research
We explore the evolving history of sociological contributions to market research. We then delve into a current example of sociology used in a social marketing project for a government organisation.
Breastfeeding Policies atWork
A new study outlines the lack of support and resources that women academics face when they return to work and need to breastfeed their babies.
Limits of Economic Pragmatism
A recent poll highlights how Americans interested in “pop economics” have a limited view sociology and research contributions more broadly.
Open Data, Open Access and What They Mean for Applied Sociology
Data are necessary for robust social science but very expensive to collect. Current regulations limit the ability for public servants and researchers sharing their data with the public. What does the open data movement mean for applied sociologists? Here’s two brief case studies on what’s happening in the European Union and in the USA. Open Data inContinueContinue reading “Open Data, Open Access and What They Mean for Applied Sociology”
Using Sociology to Support Domestic Violence Victims
We explore the experience delivering care in domestic violence shelters, and how this differs from the academic theories of domestic violence survivors.