1. EXPANDING AND DECLINING FIELDS IN AMERICAN SOCIOLOGY.
- Author
-
Simpson, Richard L.
- Subjects
SOCIOLOGY ,TRENDS ,WORLD War II ,EXPERTISE - Abstract
The article reports some trends in the relative emphasis devoted to different specialties within the field of sociology in the U.S. since World War II. According to the author, sociology has grown since World War II in the number of courses taught, the number of people who make their living as sociologist and the amount of research done. The field has expanded so rapidly that virtually all special areas of interest within the field have shared in the general growth. As proportions of the total, however, some areas of specialization have gained at the expense of others. In the article sources of information used to asses trends in sociology include fields of interest listed by members for American Sociological Association directory, papers read at annual meetings of the Association, papers published in the journal "American Sociological Review" and course listings in college catalogs. The author states that in analyzing and interpreting the data, he had to make certain assumptions, which may be debatable. The author makes no ambitious claims for the absolute validity of interpretations.
- Published
- 1961