Applied Sociology – Page 6 – Sociology at Work

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 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 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”

Open Data, Open Access and What They Mean for Applied Sociology

White people work on large screens in a large office

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.

What Can You Do With a Sociology Degree?

A young Black woman wearing a white dress and red-framed heart-shaped sunglasses jumps up in a large field

Specialist with the Department of Labour, social and casework supervisor, state medical investigator, development and urban planner, coordinator for youth development. What do these jobs have in common? They are applied sociology jobs!

Sociological Job Skills

A young Black man is in an office speaking to two people whom we can't see, one of them has their laptop open

Creative, organisational, effective, extensive experience, track-record, motivated, innovative, problem solving, communication skills, and dynamic. These may be overused buzzwords, but this is just what recruiters are looking for, and sociologists have these skills in spades.