Why is Public Sociology on Shaky Ground?

Abstract

Sociology has a long history of applying social theory and methods to the identification of the causes and consequences of social problems. Although several well-known sociologists have advocated for greater involvement in civic discourse, Public Sociology is often criticized for being unscientific. In this commentary article, the author defines Public Sociology as the production and application of theoretically grounded and empirically sound knowledge that facilitates social change. He concludes that Public Sociology is and has always been an important part of the discipline. By not embracing Public Sociology, along with Applied/Clinical, Policy, and Critical sociologies, the knowledge we produce will continue to be underutilized and irrelevant to those we seek to help.