Applied Sociology – Page 6 – Sociology at Work

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”

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”

Changing Places

Five youth jump in the air on a beach, their feet kicking up sand. The sun is setting in the background

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

Three Black people brainstorm in a room. Two of them sit in front of laptops, while anothe woman presents

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 brown woman smiles as she holds a yawning baby

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. They encounter disgust, shame and stigma when they breastfeed because they are not provided a comfortable, quiet place where they can lactate. Inside Higher Ed has covered a new bookContinueContinue reading “Breastfeeding Policies atWork”

Limits of Economic Pragmatism

A Black man's hands and arms are seen from the side, as he writes on a laptop showing graphs

A recent poll highlights how Americans interested in “pop economics” have a limited view sociology and research contributions more broadly. Freakonomics has published a survey amongst its readers (primarily economists) about which disciplines are not useful. They had a response of 1,200 voters, who said that political science and sociology were useless because they weren’t “pragmatic”ContinueContinue reading “Limits of Economic Pragmatism”