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Relevance and Responsibility in Sociological Research *
Author(s) -
Colfax J. David
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
sociological inquiry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.446
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1475-682X
pISSN - 0038-0245
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-682x.1970.tb00980.x
Subject(s) - relevance (law) , articulation (sociology) , sociology , power (physics) , epistemology , citizen journalism , character (mathematics) , sociological research , social science , politics , law , political science , philosophy , physics , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics
Radical sociology is discussed in terms of the sociologist's relevance and responsibility to neglected and oppressed segments of the society. To illustrate these themes, the fate of a five‐city community‐survey and power‐structure research project which was intended to have an impact upon patterns of school segregation is described. Examples of the use and disuse of data by those in positions of authority are provided as evidence of the need for closer articulation of research design and application. The need for a “participatory sociology” is asserted and its character briefly sketched.