Research Interests of American SociologistsAuthor(s): Hugh CarterSource: Social Forces, Vol. 6, No. 2 (Dec., 1927), pp. 209-212Published by: Oxford University PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3004694 .

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TEACHING AND RESEARCH IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

Contributions to this Department will include material of three kinds: (i) original discussion, suggestion, plans, programs, and theories; (2) reports of special projects, working programs, conferences and meetings, and progress in any istinctivc aspect . of the field; (3) special results of study and research.

RESEARCH INTERESTS OF AMERICAN SOCIOLOGISTS

HUGH CARTER

A N OPPORTUNITY to examine the main research interests of many American sociologists recently

came to the writer. A survey of the research situation in all the social sciences was carried out last year by the American Council of Learned Societies under the imnmediate supervision of Mr. Ogg, the historian. A questionnaire sent to the members of the various national societies asked, among other things, what research projects the individual members (i) had brought to completion during the preced- ing five years, (z) had under way at the moment, (3) contemplated undertaking in the near future. Among the sociologists some three hundred individual reports were returned of which forty odd were incomplete. All the present lists are made up from the other two hundred sixty re- turns. Also, there are submitted here- with data dealing with research methods and financial assistance in carrying on re- search.

In making the classification of research interests the procedure was followed of putting each mmn under a heading which seemed most accurately to picture his main drive. After this task was completed the problem of grouping the data under a few general heads was tackled. Several of the usually accepted classifications of

sociological data were tried out and aban- doned. It seemed clear that too great anxiety for neat and orderly categories would obscure the actual situation. Finally the headings given below were adopted. There is some confusion in these terms but this is lessened by the detailed figures under each general heading.

The research interests of 2.59 American sociologists may be grouped under the following i8 headings. Social psychology

44 (17%); education 30 (IS2 - %); religion- the church 2i (8+%); all community sur- veys i8; techniques of social work i6; race and nationality i8; immigration and move- ment of peoples I4; population iS; rural welfare I4; conditions in industry I4; crimi- nology I3; general social theory ii (4+o);

social processes 7; social institutions (not elsewhere indicated) 5; economics 8; an- thropological 4 (2- %); methodological (statistical) 4; miscellaneous 6.

Social Psychology (44). Most readers will not be surprised to find a large group of American sociologists interested in social psychology. The preponderance of the psychological approach is overwhelming. Probably a full half of those individuals put under other categories are seriously in- terested in social psychology, even though they are most naturally grouped under

2.09

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SIO SOCIAL FORCES

"education," or "race," or "social theory."

There is a notable swing to the newer psychological approaches. The six peo- ple who are interested primarily in the psychoanalytic study of social situations or personalities are well supported. The whole set of reports is studded with the terminology and concepts of psychoanaly- sis. The language of behaviorism is also present but to a less extent.

The social psychology of the social psychologist is illuminating. The emo- tional drive of the scholar for his work can sometimes be detected even in a brief questionnaire. In the group here under consideration it is clear that some of those interested in the problems of adolescence, for example, are emotionally tied up in their work to an unusual degree.

There is no evidence in the material at hand of a slackening of interest in social psychology; studies contemplated are as frequently psychological as studies com- pleted. Of the 44 sociologists working primarily in social psychology, I4 were interested in the general field; iS in adoles- cence (boys 8; girls 4); 6 in the psycho- analytic approach; 3 in emotions; 3 in general psychological tests; z in mental hygiene; i in caste prejudice; i in the radi- cal; i in academic freedom and nationalism; and i in clarity of thought process.

Education (30). The large number of studies in education is in part explained through the presence in the American Socio- logical Society of many educational techni- cians. This is evidenced especially in the titles here grouped as educational tests and surveys. Certainly the sociologist cannot be condemned for neglecting the educational process. It may be observed in this connec- tion that many classifications by title, as "Social Psychology of Education" might fall with equal propriety under two general headings. In such cases the scholar has

been put in the group where he seems to belong on the basis of the entire question- naire. Thirty sociologists were interested in various educational fields as follows: Educational tests and surveys I3; philoso- phy of education m; history of education m; adult education m; student personnel work z; non-curricular education in colleges i;

education and teacher training i; educa- tion and recreation i; social psychology of education m; sociology and education I;

teaching of the social sciences m; home environment and education i.

Religion, the (Chgrch (zi). Some readers will find it strange that not less than zi soci- ologists are interested primarily in research connected with the church or religion. The fact that a large number of indi- viduals came from ati intimate connection with the church into the social sciences is illuminating in this connection. The in- dividual whose interest in the social proc- ess begins in the church naturally turns about and studies that institution. Two were interested in the philosophy of re- ligion; 8 religion in general; z religious surveys; 5 the church in general; i missions; i church education; i religious revival; i

church and social ethics. Al/Community Surveys (i8). Examination

of the questionnaires confirms the general belief that fewer all community surveys are being made. The technique is more elabo- rate and the results more substantial than formerly. One observes a tendency to concentrate on a smaller area for study. Of the i8 sociologists whose chief interest was all community surveys, 5 were inter- ested primarily in villages; z in towns; 5 in counties; 3 in city areas; i in countries; 'I in the techniques of community surveys; i in regional planning.

Techniques of Social Work (i6). Judging from the titles of research projects under this heading, especially for studies contem- plated, it seems clear that sociologists are

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TEACHING AND RESEARCH 2I I

turning to a detailed scrutiny of the actual processes carried through by social agen- cies. These sixteen scholars are at the opposite extreme from the hazy and meta- physical approach of an earlier day.

Population (iS), Race (i 8), Immigration (I4). Forty-four students are concerned with the problems herein grouped. The culture conflicts produced in America by bringing together peoples from the ends of the earth and all aspects of the race and nationality problems are being at- tacked vigorously. The five scholars tabulated under the quantitative aspect of population ari not symptomatic of the interest in the problem as is indicated by the numerous titles in the statements submitted by students whose main inter- est lies elsewhere. Race and nationality provided the chief interest of i8 sociol- ogists-IS in the general field and 3 in the Negro. Fourteen were investigating immigration and movement of peoples-8 being interested in the general field and 6 in processes of assimilation. Popula- tion in its quantitative aspect was the field of interest of 5 sociologists-Malthusian aspects 4; birth control i. Under the qualitative aspect, 3 were interested in inheritance; 2. in public health; i in inter- marriage of races; and i in eugenics.

The remaining data are largely self- explanatory. No detailed classification of the I3 criminologists was attempted, as little tendency to concentrate upon a single corner of the field was observed. The same statement is in part true of the I4 students of rural life. Incidentally many rural sociologists were grouped under other categories, notably the all community surveys.

Conditions in Industry (I4), General Social Theory (ii), Social Processes (I7), Social: In- stitutions (5). Of the I4 sociologists inter- ested in industry, 3 were interested in the general field; 2. in industrial relations; 3

in child labor; 3 in personnel problems; z in conditions of labor; i in industrial accidents. Eleven signified a particular interest in social theory-2. in the history of theory; 3 in social ethics; and 6 did not specify. Seven sociologists were giving attention to those social processes not else- where indicated-social control z; general political process m; labor and politics i;

and z the general social process. Social institutions in general was being investi- gated by one sociologist; the family oc- cupied four scholars; child welfare one; divorce one; one unspecified.

The eight students listed as interested primarily in economics together with the fact that in many of the other groupings there are indicated distinctly economic studies is due perhaps to the large number of educational institutions where econom- ics and sociology are still in the same de- partment and no clear line is drawn be- tween them. This much may be safely said without taking up the cudgels of contro- versy as to the real line of division between these two subjects. In this economic group three were interested in general theory and 5 listed specific studies under income, consumers' demand, use of land, hydro-electric control, business concen- tration.

The writer was surprised to discover that only four individuals could be put down as primarily interested in general anthropol- ogy and ethnology. One of the notable trends in American sociology during the past decade has obviously been an increased interest in this field. Upon re-checking the questionnaires, however, it became clear that, while a great many are inter- ested in anthropological subjects and have made small studies in that field, their real interest is elsewhere. Ethnology was the main interest of three sociologists, while one was interested in the general field of anthropology.

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III SOCIAL FORCES

While interest in the methodology of research is enormous, only four indi- viduals, less than 2 per cent, could be properly classified from the titles of studies as interested primarily in the refine- ment of the statistical procedure.

The nature of the last six research drives, put down as "miscellaneous" may be in- dicated under Who's Who analysis, hotel life, sexual purity, dance halls, social set- tlements, and historical study.

Two other matters of interest to Ameri- can sociologists come out of a perusal of this set of questionnaires from the Ameri- can Council of Learned Societies; the special financing of research activities and the extent to which research method takes a quantitative form.

Less than 40 per cent of those making returns received financial assistance spe- cifically for research. Of z63 individual sociologists ioo were assisted in their work; I52. received no assistance; while i i did not specify definitely. Of the IoO in the group receiving assistance not more than IO or I 5 indicated that the financ- ing was adequate. The bulk of those as- sisted received a small sum for local travel, for a limited amount of clerical assistance or for other contingencies. There are many scholars who make clear their belief that their work is well nigh fatally ham- pered through lack of funds.

The final classification shows the extent to which quantitative methods have been and are being employed by these sociologists. This list differs from the others in that the individual research project, completed or under way, is taken as the unit. It

is a poor unit. It varies from a heavy tome to a thin brochure or even a small article. However, there was no other unit available and the grouping is given "for what it is worth." Incidentally the word "statistical" is used in its widest and most popular sense; when a writer indi- cates that his study is quantitative it is listed as statistical. One observes that the individual reporting only quantitative studies is a great rarity. Out of 8i6 projects, 37I have been completed, while 445 are still in process. The former show I45 statistical studies; 2o8, non-sta- tistical; while i6 could not be classified. The research under way may be divided in- to 139 statistical studies; Z95 non-statis- tical; with ii unclassified. The research program of these sociologists includes, therefore, z86 statistical projects; 503 non- statistical; and 27 unclassified. Notwith- standing the fact that a smaller proportion of the later studies here recorded is statisti- cal, the writer is of the opinion that quantitative studies are on the increase. More studies of a comprehensive and thorough-going statistical nature are indicated.

The problem of classifying these ques- tionnaires has not been simple. Mis- interpretation of a writer's meaning is easy where one is dealing mainly with the titles of research projects. However, if the groupings are reasonably accurate they give an excellent cross-section of re- search interests in the field today, for the percentage of returns is large enough to preclude an undue distortion of the situa- tion.

The executive offices of the AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LEARNED SocIETIBS have been established at 703 Insurance Building, I5th and I Streets, Washington, D. C.

The personnel of the offices is as follows: Executive Secretary, Waldo G. Leland, Assistant Executive Secretary, Mortimer Graver, Secretary of the Execu- tive Offices, Joe N. Bourne.

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