Sociology By Audience (from Chapter 1)

Question 1

Sociology by discipline can also be categorized based on what?

Answer 1

Based on the audience for whole the work is intended:
- Professional sociology
- Critical sociology
- Policy sociology
- Public sociology

Question 2

What is professional sociology?

Answer 2

• Research designed to generate highly specific information, often with the aim of applying it to a particular problem or intellectual question
• Written highly technical and specialized language
• Audience: academic and professional readers

Question 3

What is critical sociology?

Answer 3

• Considered by Michael Burawoy to be the “conscience of professional sociology”
• Aims to make sure that professional sociologists do not become so lost is esoteric debates that they lose sight of the goals of sociological inquiry (bring out meaningful change)
• Example: Michel Foucault and Dorothy Smith
• Audience: academic and professional readers

Question 4

What is policy sociology?

Answer 4

Generates sociological data to be used in the development of social policies, laws, rules or plans
• The three main areas served by this type of sociology are education, health, and social welfare (however these are not the only ones)
• Audience: governments and corporations

Question 5

What is public sociology?

Answer 5

The role of public sociologists is to make sociology accessible to the public through the use of jargon-free language
• Example: C. Wright Mills
• Audience: those outside of the discipline and the political establishment