Category Archives: Working Notes Issue 2

Welcome to the second edition of Working Notes, the online bulletin for Sociology At Work. In this edition, we tackle the question of what it means to be ‘too academic’ in an applied context. The idea of being ‘too academic’ (or ‘not academic enough’ as the case may be) refers to a way of definingContinueContinue reading “To Be or Not to Be ‘Too Academic’: Theory and Practice in Applied Contexts”

In this paper Dina Bowman draws parallels between her initial encounters with the jargon and assumptions of employment services policy and the treatment of ‘invalid’ survey responses. The paper was presented at the Australian Sociological Association annual conference in 2010. Dr Dina Bowman dbowman@bsl.org.au Research and Policy Manager, Brotherhood of St Laurence, and fellow (honorary)ContinueContinue reading “Language, Ideas and Policy: Insights From the Periphery. Melbourne, Australia”

Yoland Wadsworth has been working as an applied sociologist for almost four decades in Melbourne, Australia. She specialises in action research techniques, having worked with various research centres within universities as well as with state government research centres, and she also takes on other consultancy work. She writes about her new book which brings togetherContinueContinue reading “Do It Yourself Social Research and Everyday Evaluation: Lessons From a 40-year Career as an Applied Sociologist. Melbourne, Australia”

Christine Walker works with the Chronic Illness Alliance, in Melbourne, Australia. Christine specialises in qualitative research on health issues, but she has more recently began working with quantitative methods. In this profile Christine discusses her research on diabetes and epilepsy. Dr Christine Walker cwalker@chronicillness.org.au Chief Executive Officer of the Chronic Illness Alliance Inc. Dr ChristineContinueContinue reading “Health Matters: Working with Qualitative and Quantitative Methods. Melbourne, Australia”

Dina Bowman talks about her work with a not-for-profit organisation in Melbourne, Australia, which addresses social disadvantage through services, advocacy and research. Dina’s current research focus is on understanding inequality in the ‘working years’. She outlines how it is possible to use social theory in an applied context in order to address inequality and toContinueContinue reading “Addressing Disadvantage: Applying Theory to Practice. Melbourne, Australia”

Dr Steve Nwokeocha is based in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. Here he explains how sociology influences his management style, and demonstrates ‘the difference a sociologist can make in bringing about positive changes in an organisation and in launching a very new organisation into national, continental and global relevance’. Dr Steve Nwokeocha drsteve44@yahoo.com DirectorContinueContinue reading “Sociological Leadership in Education: Abuja, Nigeria”