Showing papers in "Sociological Practice in 2001"
48 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a study of men's responses to a fictional woman revealing a rape experience indicate that men want to know how to support women who have experienced rape, however, they feel unprepared to do so.
Abstract: Analysis of college men's responses to a fictional woman revealing a rape experience indicate that men want to know how to support women who have experienced rape, however, they feel unprepared to do so. Additionally, men reported their previous education on rape as insufficient, inappropriate, and irrelevant leading us to conclude that rape prevention strategies that focus on men as perpetrators, potential victims, and/or protectors are less than ideal for reaching men. However, based on the men's responses in the interviews and reflective writing pieces, we suggest that teaching men to be supporters or allies of raped women holds promise for making rape education relevant to the men. The paper concludes with suggestions for practitioners on how to meet current rape prevention goals while shifting the focus of the training for men and encourages further empirical testing.
47 citations
TL;DR: A follow-up debriefing questionnaire designed to gather data about respondents' experiences found that nearly all respondents found the study both helpful and difficult as discussed by the authors, indicating that research on trauma is likely to be painful or upsetting even when it is helpful to respondents.
Abstract: A team of practitioners created a research process that we hoped would be educational and healing for survivors of sexual abuse by professionals. In order to look at the impact of the study, we included a follow-up debriefing questionnaire designed to gather data about respondents' experiences. Nearly all respondents found the study both helpful and difficult. The potential for research to be educational or healing is demonstrated by these findings. The fact that research on trauma is likely to be painful or upsetting even when it is helpful to respondents underscores the importance of making potential risks of participation very clear.
28 citations
TL;DR: Sociological practice and clinical sociology need to be supplemented by an engineering wing in the discipline, and there is no reason why sociology cannot also be an engineering discipline as discussed by the authors, and the prospects for an engineering approach in sociology depend upon the development of more precise theories, the testing of such theories, and the willingness of practitioners to use theoretical ideas when addressing the problems of clients.
Abstract: Sociological practice and clinical sociology need to be supplemented by an engineering wing in the discipline. Engineering is, ultimately, the application of general theoretical principles to concrete problems, and there is no reason why sociology cannot also be an engineering discipline. There is nothing inherent in the subject matter of sociology that prevents this engineering orientation from emerging. Rather, the prospects for an engineering approach in sociology depend upon the development of more precise theories, the testing of such theories, and the willingness of practitioners to use theoretical ideas when addressing the problems of clients.
19 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an internship program designed to empower students and to build collaborative relationships within the local community, which is set up with a series of empowering activities, including preplanning, initial exploration, siteselection, and contract design.
Abstract: This paper provides an overview of an internship program designed to empower students and to build collaborative relationships within the local community. The structure of the internship program is designed from a combined service learning, empowerment, and transformative learning perspective. It is set up with a series of empowering activities, including preplanning, initial exploration, siteselection, and contract design. The requirements for the internship course include a commitment to academic education and skill development that are couched within an emancipatory pedagogy. Through transformative learning, students can become empowered citizens. Through university-community partnerships, the potential for ameliorating social problems is strengthened. As we create a new community of learners in the twenty-first century, the role of the university in the community may be strengthened through internship programs.
15 citations
TL;DR: The concept of “social engineering” has more negative baggage than Jonathan Turner supposes and a paradigm that better links theory with practice is preferable.
Abstract: The concept of “social engineering” has more negative baggage than Jonathan Turner supposes. It assumes an ability to control events that is normally lacking and which cannot be attained by following “rules of thumb.” A paradigm that better links theory with practice is preferable.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the applicability of social bonding theory, a prominent sociological theory of delinquency, to the experiences of youth in their clubs is the primary focus of this research. But, the reliability and validity analysis of indices specifically created to assess "club bonding" suggest the legitimacy of this approach.
Abstract: Youth clubs and their relationship to delinquency has received surprisingly little attention in the literature. The applicability of social bonding theory, a prominent sociological theory of delinquency, to the experiences of youth in their clubs is the primary focus of this research. The reliability and validity analysis of indices specifically created to assess “club bonding” suggest the legitimacy of this approach. Belief in the rules and the regulations of the club is found to be negatively correlated with delinquency. Surprisingly, weekly involvement in the club is found to be positively associated with delinquency. Implications for practice and/or intervention are discussed.
8 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined differences in job search intensity, attitudes toward unemployment, and related responses among a sample of Israelis, based on gender and marital status (single vs. married).
Abstract: The study examined differences in job search intensity, attitudes toward unemployment, and related responses among a sample of Israelis, based on gender and marital status (single vs. married). The findings indicate that gender-based differences were greater than those based on marital status. Regarding the impact of gender, women were more likely than men to reject jobs because of conflict with family responsibilities or unsuitable working conditions. Both men and women mentioned gender atypical characteristics of occupations as a reason for rejecting employement, although this tendency was especially prevalent among married women. Women also reported more stress reactions and decline in health as an outcome of unemployment. Regarding the impact of marital status, married men tended to seek jobs more intensively than respondents in the other research groups. Single respondents of both sexes were more likely than their married counterparts to view unemployment as a personal advantage because it gives them more time to themselves. Moreover, married respondents of both sexes were more likely to reject job offers because of conflict with family responsibilities or unsuitable working conditions. In light of the findings, practical recommendations for counselors are provided.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an initial analysis of 29 open-ended interviews with individuals whose parents were from different cultural backgrounds is presented, focusing on the following: How did the members get along? How did they "maneuver" their varying cultural differences? Do they tend to follow one cultural pattern more than another? If so, which? How do children adjust to the multiculturalism, especially in a world which often assumes a single culture?
Abstract: Encouraging people from different cultural backgrounds to get along with each other has long been a concern in American society. Multicultural families offer an opportunity to examine the possibilities of living and working with persons from different cultures. This paper presents an initial analysis of 29 open-ended interviews with individuals whose parents were from different cultural backgrounds. Issues considered include the following: How did the members get along? How did they “maneuver” their varying cultural differences? Do they tend to follow one cultural pattern more than another? If so, which? How do children adjust to the multiculturalism—especially in a world which often assumes a single culture? Hopefully this analysis of multicultural patterns in the intimate relations of a family can help to suggest ways to improve multicultural relations in other social settings as well.
6 citations
5 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a detailed analysis of how family operates rhetorically to shape and constrain policy-related matters is presented, and the authors conclude that social science practitioners should take family into account as we do our own work.
Abstract: Family as an institution and as rhetoric appears to play an inordinate role in shaping social policy formation, implementation, and evaluation. Its impact affects the work of applied and academic sociologists in multiple ways. Given its importance and the manner in which it operates, I argue that family may be usefully studied as an ideograph. I present a detailed analysis of how family operates rhetorically to shape and constrain policy-related matters. I also illustrate how it affects and delimits consideration of some specific social concerns, and I conclude that social science practitioners should conscientiously take family into account as we do our own work.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the rediscovery of clinical sociology in the 1970s and the founding of the Clinical Sociology Association in 1978, and the author recounts his role in these events and traces their origin in his personal life.
Abstract: This paper discusses the rediscovery of clinical sociology in the 1970s and the founding of the Clinical Sociology Association in 1978. The author recounts his role in these events and traces their origin in his personal life.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose a partnership between theorists and practitioners to apply existing knowledge to solve societal problems, the results of which will benefit the field of sociology as well as society.
Abstract: In the past decade especially, sociologists have been critical of their discipline citing the failure to develop a grand theory of society, the loss of identity and focus as a discipline, the erosion of its boundaries by nonsociologists, and the lack of recognition and support of the field among policymakers and the public. A few critics in the field have suggested relabeling the discipline “social engineering.” The present paper suggests that relabeling will accentuate identity problems and further fragment the discipline. The author proposes a partnership between theorists and practitioners to apply existing knowledge to solve societal problems, the results of which will benefit the field of sociology as well as society.
TL;DR: In this paper, a discussion of the programmatic content of a sociological practice program, including structure, curriculum design, and professional culture, is detailed, as well as the experience of Our Lady of the Lake University in developing its accredited undergraduate sociology practice program is offered as an example of program development.
Abstract: A sociological practice program has much to offer an undergraduate sociology department that wishes to make itself more relevant to its students, university, and larger community. Reasons are explored for why a department might choose to transform its program from a more traditional liberals arts focus to that of sociological practice. A discussion of the programmatic content of a practice program, including structure, curriculum design, and professional culture, is detailed. The experience of Our Lady of the Lake University in developing its accredited undergraduate sociological practice program is offered as an example of program development.
TL;DR: A history of "permissible" sociological research in Russia is explored in this paper, and the authors turn an eye to the more recent developments in sociology in light of the new Russian state.
Abstract: One means by which the Soviet state maintained hegemony was through control over the production and movement of information. This function created ambiguity, on the one hand, and contradiction on the other, as sociological inquiry progressed within the Soviet system. This circumstance extended to both the appropriate subject matter and the methodology of sociological research. While sociology practiced in the West operated more or less within broad boundaries of free inquiry, such was not the case for most of twentieth century Russia. This paper explores this history of “permissible” sociological research in Russia, and then turns an eye on the more recent developments in sociology in light of the new Russian state. In particular, the development of democratic processes in Russia have led to a concomitant growth in research centers, institutes, and consultancies, all of which have significant practical and applied objectives for the sociological product. A listing of Russian research centers on the web is included.
TL;DR: The authors discute de l'imbrication de L'ingenierie sociale telle que la definit J. Turner dans la pratique des sciences sociales et pariculierement en sociologie.
Abstract: Cet article discute de l'imbrication de l'ingenierie sociale telle que la definit J. Turner dans la pratique des sciences sociales et pariculierement en sociologie
TL;DR: The Unity 2000 Meeting as discussed by the authors discussed the need for diversity among practitioners and by association representative organizations, and identified six collaborative paths these representative organizations could take to promote unity, and demonstrated that diversity is a strength not a weakness.
Abstract: In this presidential address given at the Unity 2000 Meeting held in Bethesda, Maryland, I briefly identify and define various types of “applied side sociologists.” My objective was twofold. First, I wanted to express my appreciation for the necessity of organizational cooperation. Second, I wanted to demonstrate that diversity among practitioners and by association representative organizations is a strength not a weakness. I conclude by identifying six collaborative paths these representative organizations could take to promote unity.
TL;DR: Turner's view that the various wings of sociology (theorist, methodologist, researcher, and practitioner) need to be better integrated, including dropping his negative caricatures of the various wing of sociology, giving greater recognition to the uses already made of sociology and moving away from the traditional positivistic models of science and practice toward a more open, eclectic one that views theory and practice as independent activities that are both enriched through strong interaction.
Abstract: While endorsing Turner's view that the various wings of sociology (theorist, methodologist, researcher, and practitioner) need to be better integrated, major revisions to Turner's social engineering manifesto are suggested, including (1) dropping his negative caricatures of the various wings of sociology, (2) giving greater recognition to the uses already made of sociology, (3) moving away from the traditional positivistic models of science and practice, toward a more open, eclectic one that views theory and practice as independent activities that are both enriched through strong interaction, (4) considering the need for an autonomous sociological practice occupation, (5) inventing or selecting an alternative expression for “social engineering” because of the heavy, negative baggage it carries.
TL;DR: This paper analyzes several dimensions of the health care system, as suggested in a paper by Kallen, including the perceptions of participants in the system; structures of the groups involved, including their roles and norms; the process by which groups operate; and the need for the clinical sociologist as a “system maintenance specialist,” to deal with these problems.
Abstract: Health care in the United States is a complicated structure of social roles, processes, and communication, involving both patients and professionals. Understanding the social dimensions of the health care process can assist health professionals in providing better care to their patients. This paper analyzes several dimensions of the health care system, as suggested in a paper by Kallen (Kallen D. J. 1984. Clinical Sociology Review 2:78–93.) These include the perceptions of participants in the system; structures of the groups involved, including their roles and norms; the process by which groups, as opposed to individuals, operate; and finally the need for the clinical sociologist as a “system maintenance specialist,” to deal with these problems.
TL;DR: In this article, the concepts of relevance, vision, and professional development are suggested as necessary building blocks to more intentionally develop the profession of sociology, and a program of local professional development is offered as a step in positively influencing the next generation of practicing sociologists.
Abstract: The commentary seeks to differentiate sociology as a discipline and as a profession. The concepts of relevance, vision, and professional development are suggested as necessary building blocks to more intentionally develop the profession of sociology. Finally, a program of local professional development is offered as a step in positively influencing the next generation of practicing sociologists.