Category: Success

Ken Robinson: The 4 Basic Purposes of Education

“The” is a definitive word. I could have left it out, and it would have been in character. Part of my motivation is to show my respect for Ken Robinson, whose TED talk was assigned in school and whose book Creative Schools is my reference for this post (and likely more)....

Sociology Canon Thinkers Marx Durkheim Weber

Arthur Stinchcombe: 6 Reasons to Read Sociological Classics

Marx, Durkheim, Weber. They remain our pillows in… I mean pillars to Sociology. Much subsequent work situates themselves within the paradigms of these classical thinkers. Why is it that we remain obsessed with them, even if their most notable assertions have been countered and disproved by modern instruments of scientific...

Internal Prestige System of Sociology

Arthur Stinchcombe: Internal Prestige System of Sociology

What is Sociology? This perennially jarring – but valid – question cannot be answered without making sense of the diverse strands of research within the discipline. It is not enough to learn of distinct methodologies without knowing how they stand together. To this end, Arthur Stinchcombe’s (1984) commentary may serve...

Annette Lareau Parenting Styles

Annette Lareau: Parenting Styles & Unequal Childhoods

Struck by a wave of random joyfulness, I returned home from tuition one day galloping with my front hoofs up. My mother, seeing my excitement, interrupted: “Finish your homework first!” I was momentarily puzzled. I can’t be happy until I finish my homework? Then I realized she misinterpreted my hand gestures....

Finding a Career Fit for Sociology Students

Can Sociology Students Work in Specialist Fields?

“You can do anything you want” is a self-help refrain that often shows up in the sales pitches of generalist disciplines, not least Sociology. The problem with having too many options is that Sociology graduates-to-be still have no idea which career path(s) to take. Thus many end up as teachers, researchers,...