Page 61 - Essencials of Sociology

34 CHAPTER 1 The Sociological Perspective

Trends Shaping the Future of Sociology
Explain how research
1.10
versus reform and globalization are
As we review these changing directions in sociology, let’s look first at social reform and
likely to influence sociology.
then at globalization.
Sociology’s Tension: Research versus Reform
Three Stages in Sociology. As you have seen, a tension between social reform and
social analysis runs through the history of sociology. To better understand this tension, we
can divide sociology into three time periods (Lazarsfeld and Reitz 1989). During the first
phase, which lasted until the 1920s, the primary purpose of sociological research was to
improve society. During the second phase, from the 1920s until World War II, the concern
switched to developing abstract knowledge. We are still in the third phase, which began
around the end of World War II, in which sociologists seek ways to apply their research
findings. Many sociology departments offer courses in applied sociology, with some offer-
ing internships in applied sociology at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.
Diversity of Orientations. I want to stress that sociology is filled with diverse opinions.
(From my observations, I would say that when two sociologists meet, they will express three
firmly held, contradictory opinions on the same topic.) In any event, to divide sociology into
three separate phases overlooks as much as it reveals. During the first phase, for example,
some sociologists campaigned against helping the poor, saying that their deaths were good
for the progress of society (Stokes 2009). Similarly, during the second phase, many sociolo-
gists who wanted to reform society chafed at knowledge being the goal of research. And
today, many sociologists want the emphasis to remain on basic sociology. Some say that
applied sociology is not “real” sociology; it is social work or psychology masquerading as
sociology. As you can see, sociologists do not move in lockstep toward a single goal.
Each particular period, however, does have basic emphases, and this division of
sociology into three phases pinpoints major trends. The tension that has run through
sociology—between gaining knowledge and applying knowledge—will continue. During
this current phase, the pendulum is swinging toward applying sociological knowledge.
Globalization

A second major trend, globalization, is also leaving its mark on sociology. Globalization
is the breaking down of national boundaries because of advances in communications,
trade, and travel. Because the United States dominates sociology and we U.S. sociolo-
gists tend to concentrate on events and relationships that occur in our own country, most
of our findings are based on research in the United States. Globalization is destined to
broaden our horizons, directing us to a greater consideration of global issues. This, in
turn, is likely to motivate us to try more vigorously to identify universal principles.
Application of Globalization to This Text. You are living at a great historical moment,
something that doesn’t make life easy. You are personally experiencing globalization, one
of the most significant events in all of world history. This process is shaping your life,
your hopes, and your future—sometimes even twisting them. As globalization shrinks the
globe, that is, as people around the world become more interconnected within the same
global village, your welfare is increasingly tied to that of people in other nations. From
globalization of capitalism cap- time to time in the following pages, you will also explore how the globalization of capi-
italism (investing to make profits talism—capitalism becoming the world’s dominant economic system—is having profound
within a rational system) becoming effects on your life. You will also confront the developing new world order, which, if it can
the globe’s dominant economic shave off its rough edges, also appears destined to play a significant role in your future.
system
To help broaden your horizons, in the following chapters you will visit many cultures
around the world, looking at what life is like for the people who live in those cultures.
Seeing how their society affects their behavior and orientations to life should help you
understand how your society influences what you do and how you feel about life. This,
of course, takes you to one of the main goals of this book.
I wish you a fascinating sociological journey, one with new insights around every corner.