APPLIED

SOCIOLOGY
Applied sociology is one of the more
than a dozen fields within sociology. Applied
sociology is what has been deemed the
“practical side” of sociology.

That’s because applied sociology takes

sociological theories and research and applies
this knowledge to sociological methods, which
are carried out in order to find solutions to
problems within society.
Applied sociology is
the use of
sociological theory,
methods, skills and
research in order to
resolve particular
issues in real-world
settings
 •working with a hospital or community
health centre to improve access to health
services for people with low literacy skills

•designing surveys and collecting data for

purposes of tracking public opinion, creating
profiles of various populations or measuring
change in specific social indicators (fertility,
cohabitation, poverty, educational attainment,
racism, happiness, etc.)
 •studying the social impact of emergency
communications during and after a crisis so
that emergency planners can improve
communications procedures

•conducting participatory action research

in partnership with a community to find
out what kind of economic development
would work for that community
•working with a community organization to
establish an evidence-based program for
disadvantaged youth

•understanding and resolving issues in group

and organizational dynamics within an
institution

•turning evidence about equity into

organizational and public policy.
 Applied sociologists may or
may not have academic
degrees in Sociology. They
may have studied sociological
theory, methods and findings
through related disciplines
such as:
>Urban Planning
>Community Development
>Communications,
>Criminology,
>Social Work,
>Women’s Studies,
>Gender Studies,
>Critical Race Studies,
>Indigenous Studies,
>Religion,
>Demography/Population Studies,
>Anthropology, and others.
 Applied sociologist may
be based in community
organizations, the
private sector,
governments, think
tanks, international
agencies, academic
institutions or be
independent researchers
doing sociological
research in the field.
Applied sociology is the oldest and most general
term identified more than 100 years ago as " the
means and methods for the artificial improvement
of social conditions on the part of man and
society as conscious and intelligent agents. "

- Lester F. Ward (1903)

APPLIED SOCIOLOGY IS
PUTTING SOCIOLOGY
IN PRACTICE
The End.