Working Notes Issue 3 – Sociology at Work

Social Acts

Close up of an elderly man's ear. He has grey hair and we see the side of his glasses. He points to his hearing aid, which is a thin cord that wraps from the inside of his ear around his ear

Anthony Hogan looks back over his career across academia and applied research roles in social policy. By Anthony Hogan I am a sociologist by trade, having completed my undergraduate work at University of Western Sydney (UWS), a PhD with the amazingly wonderful Gary Dowsett at Macquarie and then a Postdoctoral Fellow in Health Sciences atContinueContinue reading “Social Acts”

Sociology as Other: Sociological Thinking Applied to Mental Health Clinical Practice

A Black man and woman sit outdoors on a park bench. Both wear face masks. They are talkng and smiling

Joy Adams-Jackson reflects on her clinical work. She describes how she uses sociological theory in managing risk assessments in health settings. By Joy Adams-Jackson In this piece I write about my clinical observations and experiences from the perspective of a sociological ‘other’. While I work primarily as a registered nurse in a rural community mentalContinueContinue reading “Sociology as Other: Sociological Thinking Applied to Mental Health Clinical Practice”

Doing Sociology Beyond Academia: Making Applied Sociology “Work”

A student wears a graduation cap that says: 'I'm a social worker! What's your superpower?'

This article provides an overview of applied sociological practice, the origins of The Applied Sociology Thematic Group of The Australian Sociological Association, and a summary of this special edition on ‘Doing Sociology Beyond Academia’ By Zuleyka Zevallos This special edition of Nexus focuses on the applied work of sociologists. There are multiple interpretations of what this mightContinueContinue reading “Doing Sociology Beyond Academia: Making Applied Sociology “Work””

Youth Unemployment in the Illawarra: An Investigation into the Problems facing Young Job Seekers in our Region

Aerial view of two young people sitting on a bench outdoors. Both wear caps and they have a backpack beside them

Scott Burrows discusses his social policy work on youth unemployment. He explores how sociology can be used as a framework to understand citizenship. He ends by reflecting on his transition from university to a private organisation. By Scott Burrows [1] This short article discusses the way I have experienced studying a social policy issue such as unemploymentContinueContinue reading “Youth Unemployment in the Illawarra: An Investigation into the Problems facing Young Job Seekers in our Region”

Opportunities for Teaching Sociology Within Enabling Courses

A Latina in a green graduation cap looks up, smiling

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”

The Utility of Participant Observation in Applied Sociological Research

Hundreds of Muslim men bow down in prayer, with their heads on mats in the middle of a street

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”

I Can Feel Like a Ship Without a Rudder

Susan Pitt offers an introspection on the importance of peer support and networks for non-academics, and how this shapes her identity as a sociologist. Her paper also provides an example of one career path available to sociology students, within one of the various public service graduate programs. By Susan Pitt I have finally come to theContinueContinue reading “I Can Feel Like a Ship Without a Rudder”

Exploring the Entrepreneurial Option for Sociologists

A white woman wearing a ring is looking through golden binoculars and smiling

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”

Breaking Down the Otherness of Applied Sociology

Close up of two Black people's hands reaching out to touch, with the sea in the background

This article examines the differences and intersections of applied and academic sociological practices. This includes a case study of applied sociology in social policy. By Zuleyka Zevallos This series on Doing Sociology Beyond Academia focuses on the dis/connections between academia and applied sociology, with a view to breaking down the divide between these complimentary spheres ofContinueContinue reading “Breaking Down the Otherness of Applied Sociology”

A Personal View of Diversity in the Sociological World

Dozens of national flags hang high above an alleyway

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”