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The article deals with matters of practical importance to sociology. Sociological studies may be classified into two well defined categories, works based on a consideration of the fundamental problems and hypotheses of sociology, works of social investigation and studies of concrete social facts. The first have for their object the construction of a science of sociology and refer to the content, methods, nature of the science and to possible generalizations or laws of social phenomena. They are almost always of a speculative character, that is to say, rarely are they rooted in investigations or studies of specific social reality but arise from purely ideological efforts often strongly influenced by a determined philosophy. The second class of works has for its object sociological investigation, meaning social morphology and a description and analysis of social facts with or without an attempt to explain them and to obtain from them the data necessary to plan reforms in the organization and functions of human societies. These works are generally empirical. Their value lies in the fidelity of their empiricism and the scientific rigor of methods employed to grasp various phases and social expressions in societies being considered. For many persons, economic, ethnological, ethnographic and historical studies must be classed within their respective disciplines. They do not understand how it is possible to catalogue them as sociology. Also, those who believe that sociology must concern itself exclusively with what exists in society and not with what should exist will consider much that has been and is being written on social questions in the Latin American countries as foreign to sociology.

We use our own culture as a basis for interpreting the behavior of others and their failure to make responses we expect. Sometimes the nature of the problem soon becomes apparent but in other situations the causes may remain invisible. Certain problems may relate particularly to two characteristics of Latin American countries: the absence of our "puritanical" tradition and the presence of an elaborate system of "extended family" relationships we do not have. Counseling and guidance specialists may be affected by (1) the fact that teacher-pupil relationships include less of the "surrogate parent" element than in the U.S.; (2) difficulties students encounter in moving from one career choice to another; (3) the power of student organizations; and (4) an expectation that the specialist will provide definitive advice rather than help the student sake his own problems. Many Latin American students have negative images of North Americans; they "remember" history and tend to think in longer time blocks than are customary with us. A 10-year aid program, for example, may be seen as a short-range venture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparative empirical evidence is presented to show the basic instrumentally, of low-income urban dwellers to the existential circumstances they face. In Latin America, urban dwellers have seemingly internalized the urban/industrial values of capitalist society and, depending on the availability of jobs and other urban resources and facilities, choose the most rewarding strategy for obtaining benefits. Given the general lack of a well-established structure of secondary industry and the particularistic procedures presently most appropriate for getting jobs and other resources, the motives and basis for communal and collective action are lacking. This is seen most clearly in the example of squatting, where short-term collective action does not develop further, once the objectives of the squatters are achieved. Various forms of instrumental action are expressed in a typology based on subjective orientations and objective opportunities. In the light of the evidence cited, discussions of ‘marginality,’ ‘urban social movements’ and ‘'restructuring of community’ are misplaced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]