PhD seminar for the discipline Sociological Sciences: Applied Sociology

obligatory courses

16 h seminar for the discipline Sociological Sciences: Applied Sociology.

mini-lectures, discussions, case studies, opportunities for tutoring of own work of seminar participants.

Language of the course: Polish or English.

The starting point for the presentation of Applied Sociology is analysis of the outcome of

Adam Podgórecki as the precursor of conducting applied social research in Poland and co-founder of interdisciplinary center at the University of Warsaw (decade of 70., XX century, IPSiR UW). The seminar course organized in 4 merit units is to be run by scholars from the University units where applied social sciences research is currently conducted. These are: Faculty of Applied Social Sciences and Resocialization ( IPSiR and ISNS), Institute of Sociology, European Center, and Institute of Social Studies.

Unit 1. Applied sociology and engaged sociology:

- A. Podgórecki’s concept of Sociotechnics as a practical (social) science.

- Validity of output of A. Podgórecki for contemporary research and analyses.

- M. Burawoy concept of Public Sociology and E. Wnuk-Lipiński concept of Sociology of Public Life;

- Action research: methodological assumptions and research practice;

- Social Laboratory at the University as a place of research and a research methodology.

Unit 2. Intervention in public life and its consequences – critical approach in applied social sciences.

- Aims, means, and strategies of collective action – the conceptualizations of R. Merton and A. Najam.

- Structural intervention in public life and its social costs.

- Side effects – the conceptualization of A. Hirshman and reversal effect – the conceptualization of R. Boudon.

- Identification of side-effects and unexpected consequences of implementation of public programs as a professional expert’s competence.

- A new mode of intervention: co-production of social change; the role of citizens and civil society.

Unit 3. Applied Sociology and social change. The example of the Polish transformation / transition.

- Sociology of social change – the conceptualization of P. Sztompka.

- Sociological analyses of structural reforms.

- Two approaches to analyses of systemic reforms: transformation and transition.

- The Polish school of Sociology of Transformation.

- Toward Interpretive Sociology and critical analyses of social and systemic changes.

Unit 4: Applied Sociology: sociologist as an expert.

- Sociologist in co-operation with the public administration entities.

- Sociologist in co-operation with the NGOs and other civil society entities.

- Sociologist as a free-lancer and in co-operation with commercial companies.

- Sociologist as an independent interpreter of public affairs.

- Limits of sociologist’s direct engagement in public life – the Code of Ethics.

Bauman, Z., Życie na przemiał, Wydawnictwo Literackie, Kraków 2004.

Beck, U., Risk Society. Towards a New Modernity, SAGE, London 2003.

Berger P., Luckmann T., The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge, Penguin Books, London 1991.

Boudon, R. Efekt odwrócenia, Oficyna Naukowa, Warszawa 2008.

Burawoy M., For Public Sociology, “|American Sociology Review” 2005, vol. 70, issue 1.

Cerami A., Vanhuysse P.(eds), Post-Communist Welfare Pathways. Theorizing Social Policy Transformations in Central and Eastern Europe, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke 2008.

Crow, G., Social solidarities. Theories, Identities and Social Change, Open University Press, Buckingham 2002.

Czaputowicz J. (ed.), Etyka w służbie publicznej, KSAP, Warszawa 2012.

Elster, J., Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1992.

Gadowska K., Rymsza M., O socjologii transformacji do socjologii sfery publicznej. Nowe możliwości syntezy wiedzy o zmianie systemowej, „Studia Socjologiczne” 2017, No 4.

Inglot, T., Welfare States in East Central Europe 1919-2004, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2010.

Janoski, T., Citizenship and Civil Society. A Framework of Rights and Obligations in Liberal, Traditional, and Social Democratic Regimes, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1998.

Kojder A., Sowa K.W., (eds), Los i wybór. Dziedzictwo i perspektywy społeczeństwa polskiego, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego, Rzeszów 2003.

Kurczewski J. (ed.), Demokracja po polsku, ISNS UW, Warszawa 1995.

Kwaśniewski J., Winczorek J. (eds.), Idee naukowe Adama Podgóreckiego, IPSiR UW, Warszawa 2009.

Luhmann, N. Teoria polityczna państwa bezpieczeństwa socjalnego, Warszawa 1994.

Luhmann, N. Social Systems, Stanford University Press, Stanford 1995.

Lutyński, J., Nauka i polskie problemy: komentarz socjologa, PIW, Warszawa 1990.

Marshall T.H., Citizenship and social class and other essays, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1950.

Merton, R., Teoria socjologiczna i struktura społeczna, PWN, Warszawa 2002.

Najam, A., The Four C’s of third Sector-Government Relations: Cooperation, Confrontation, Complementary and Co-optation, „Nonprofit Management and Leadership” 2000,

vol. 10, issue 4.

Podgórecki A. – selected publications.

Rymsza, M., Socjologiczne aspekty polityki społecznej w ujęciu V. George’a i P/.Wildinga,

in: A. Kwak (ed.), Wybrane problemy pracy socjalnej, TEPIS, Warszawa 1996.

Rymsza, M., Instrumentalizacja prawa. Reformowanie sfery socjalnej w Polsce

w perspektywie socjologii legislacji, „Prace ISNS” No 5, ISNS UW, Warszawa 2003.

Skrzypczak B., W kierunku społecznościowej pracy socjalnej. Edukacyjno-środowiskowe determinanty interwencji publicznej, Centrum Wspierania Aktywności Lokalnej CAL, Warszawa 2014

Sliz A., Szczepański M.S., Polska transformacja w teoriach socjologicznych, Scholar, Warszawa 2008.

Staniszkis, J., W poszukiwaniu paradygmatu transformacji, ISP PAN, Warszawa 1994.

Sztompka, P., Trauma wielkiej zmiany. Społeczne koszty transformacji, ISP PAN, Warszawa 2000.

Sztompka, P., Socjologia zmian społecznych, Znak, Kraków 2007.

Touraine, A., After the Crisis, Polity Press, Cambridge 2014.

Weber, M., Obiektywność poznania w naukach społecznych, w: Problemy socjologii wiedzy, PWN, Warszawa 1985.

Weber, M., Economy and Society. An Outline of Interpretive Sociology, University of California Press, Berkeley 1978.

Wiliams S., Conflict of Interest. The Ethical Dilemma in Politics, Gower, Aldershot 1985.

Wnuk-Lipiński, E., Socjologia życia publicznego, Scholar, Warszawa 2008.

Wnuk-Lipiński, E., Rozpad połowiczny. Szkice z socjologii transformacji ustrojowej, ISP PAN, Warszawa 1991.

- Getting to know the assumption of Applied Sociology and Engaged Sociology as two paradigms of developing ‘practical-oriented knowledge’ in the field of social sciences;

- Knowledge about forms and formats of public activity of a sociologist in a role of a professional expert.

- Understanding the ethical aspects, dilemmas, and limits of the engagement of the expert in the sphere of public affairs.

- Getting to know the output of the Polish school of Sociology of Transformation

- Assessment Tasks: Each participant prepares written paper (fixed on Applied Sociology) and ‘defends’ it in a conversation with the coordinator of the course. Two themes to choose will be given after consultation with the group of participants.

- Learning Outcomes Assessment: individual meeting with each of seminar participants to discuss their papers; discussions during the seminar units.

- Assessment criteria: active participation in the seminar meetings (minimum in 3 of 4 meetings) preparing and defending the written pape