Sociology and Me

I spent the week at the Humanities and Social Sciences Congress at York University. I was registered with the Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association (CSAA). The first two days were a revelation.

Two days of theory, radical feminism, and socialism…exactly what I vehemently avoided throughout university. If that’s what people think sociology is exclusively about, no wonder they are astonished when sociologists find jobs in the ‘real world’. I was vicariously searching through the program hoping to find sessions about real issues, real research, and real findings.

I was out of luck until I found the Canadian Population Society (CPS). I spent my last two days attending demography/quantitative sessions. That's SO my stuff! Love it, love it, love it!

This little adventure prompted me to reflect on what appears to be two completely different types of sociology. I knew they existed theoretically, but they were not practically so distinct in my mind until this week. Some relevant observations between the CSAA and the CPS:

• Demographics of Presenters/the Audience

CSAA: Almost exclusively academics, generally white females.

CPS: Some academics, but mostly from government organizations, males and females, several different ethnic backgrounds.

• Use of Technology

CSAA: Use overheads. I shit you not. They are still people out there who use overheads!

CPS: Power Point (duh!)

• Methodology

CSAA: Not much applied research presented and what was presented was a joke. A professor generalized data collected from FOUR individuals. Methodology was never well explained even for statistical procedures.

CPS: Rigorous methodology explained in details. Very cautious in their interpretation about generalizability and causation.

• Audience

CSAA: Back rubbing, ass-kissing audience. Never once did I hear opposition.

CPS: Challenged the presenter’s methods and findings ALL the time. I would be terrified to present to demographers while presenting to sociologists would be a walk in the park.

• Objectivity vs Subjectivity

CSAA: Presentations were based on opinion driven theory.

CPS: Presentations were based on empirical evidence.

• Relevance of findings

CSAA: Very little ‘real life’ application.

CPS: Concrete use for policy and population planning.

I know which sessions I am going to next year!