What is sociology for ?

What is sociology for ? 

• Sociology has several practical implications for our lives, as C. Wright mills emphasized when developing his idea of the sociological imagination. First, sociology gives us an awareness of cultural differences that allows us to see the social world from many perspective. Quite often, if we properly how other live , we aslo acquire a better  understanding of what their problems are. Practical policies that are not based on an information awareness of the ways of life of people they effect have little chance of success. For example , a white english social worker operating in a predominantly Latin American community in South London will not gain the confidence of its members without being sensitive to the different experience of ethnic groups in the UK. 

• Second, sociological research provides practical help in assessing the result of policy initiatives. A programme of practical reform may simply fail to achieve what it's designers sought or may produce unintended consequences of an unfortunate kind. In the years following the second world war , large public housing blocks were build in city centres in many countries. These aimed to provide high standards of accommodation for low - income groups from slum areas. However, research leter showed that many people who had moved from their previous dwellings to large  apartment blocks felt isolated and unhappy. High - rise apartment blocks often became dilapidated and provided breeding grounds for crime. 

•  Third, many sociologist concern themselves directly with practical matters as professional. People trained on sociology are to be found as industrial consultants, researchers in 'think tanks', urban planners, social workers and personnel managers, as well as in many other career's. An understanding of society and social relations can also be useful for future careers in law, journalism, bussiness and the health professions.

•  Fourth, and in some ways most importantly , sociology can provide us with self - enlightenment or increased self - understanding. The more we know about why we act as we do and about the overall workings of our society, the more likely we are to be able to influence our own futures. Sociology does not just a assist powerful groups or governments. The knowledge sociologists produce is made available to everyone and it is often used by voluntary agencies, charities and social movements to bolster their case for change. However, sociological research findings, in themselves, are  'neutral'. That is, they can tell us what society is like , how it  'works'  and how it changes over time, but they cannot advice on whether it should be that way. That is the proper subject of competing political and moral debates. 

    Public and professional sociology 

• In recent years, some sociologists have argued that sociology has not engaged enough with the public and has concentrated too much on internal professional debates. In 2004, in his presidential address to the annual meet- ing of the American Sociological Association, Michael Burawoy argued for a new 'public sociology' that would forge relationships with audiences beyond the narrow confines of universities. He maintains that the profession- alization of sociology in the twentieth century has been beneficial, but it has also led to soci- ologists talking more to each other than to the public 'out there' (Burawoy 2005).
•  Burawoy says there are four types of soci- ology: professional sociology, public sociol- ogy, policy sociology and critical sociology. Professional sociology is the conventional, university-based, scientific sociology which generates large research programmes and bodies of knowiedge and provides academic careers Policy sociology includes all those studies which pursue goals defined by clients, such as funding bodies and government departments looking to tackle social prob- lems. Critical sociology is 'the conscience of professional sociology', pointing out the assumptions of research projects and profes- sional sociology (Burawoy 2005: 9). Feminist theory is one example of this strand, drawing attention to the lacunae in and unstated biases of scientific sociology. Public sociology is the fourth type and is rooted in dialogue. That is, public sociology speaks with social groups such as trade unions, social movements, faith groups and organizations in civil society in a genuinc conversation about the future direc- tion af society. In this sense, the suggestion is that a more politically engaged sociology is necessary, though this is not something that all sociologists wonld support. 
• For Burawoy and others, public sociology still depends on professional sociology, but the twa exist in a relationship of 'antago- nistic interdependence'. Scienrific sociol- ogy produces rescarch methods, empirical evidence and theories which are necessary for public sociology's engagement with non- academic audiences. But, unlike professional sociology, the putlic version opens up a dialogue with those audiences, allowing the discipline itself to be partly shaped by the concerns of non-sociologists. 
• Critics point out that this is a very stark dividing line. In practice, much of today's professional sociology already tries hard to engage with participants and outside audi- ences. There is also much more overlap berween the four types described (Calhoun 2005; Ericson 2005). Many feminist studies, for instance, are not simply critiques of scien- tific sociology but are empirical themselves, using research methods and questionnaires and contributing to professional sociology. Critics also argue that there is a danger that sociology will become subordinated to the political motives of social movements and activist groups. If the image and reputation of professional sociology is tained. then it may, irontcaliy, have serious consequences for public support for the discipline. And if public sociology really is dependent on the hard-won scientific credibility of professional sociology, it too could suffer as a result.
•  Nonetheless, in spite of such criticisms, the hasic argument that professional sociology has not done cnough to engage with public concerns has been quite widely welcomed. The lack of a public presence for sociology is seen as damaging to the public awareness of sociological theories and evidence, which leaves a gap to be filled by other disciplines such as political science, history or psychol- ogy. Professional associations, such as the British Sociological Association, have taken steps to encourage their members to develop more of a media presence as an initial move towards raising the profile of sociology in soci- ety, and we can probably expect this trend to continue.