Conflict in Public Sociology

ABSTRACT

As Hartmann illuminates, it is important for sociologists to engage in public sociology. Yet, public audiences do not always receive research results in a passive and positive manner. Instead, as we discuss in this brief essay, research results can contested by multiple publics. At times, particularly in social media, the attacks can be swift. Research that is not intended to be a form of public sociology can inadvertently be brought into the public discourse. We discuss how interest groups, such as patient groups, can contest research results. Researchers can be personally attacked as well. These conflicts can create a turbulent environment where sociologists can lose control of their message. While most studies are released without incident, it is helpful to build the capacity of sociologists to participate in public sociology and manage challenges of their research results.

KEYWORDS:

• Public sociology
• sociology of knowledge
• social media

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Annette Lareau

Annette Lareau is the Stanley I. Sheerr Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. Two of her books, Unequal Childhoods and Home Advantage received awards from the American Sociological Association. With Kimberly Goyette, she edited the book Choosing Homes, Choosing Schools. As President of the American Sociological Association, she co-chaired a Task Force on Social Media which created a number of on-line resources (i.e., http://www.asanet.org/press-center/communication-tools/social-media-toolkits) to help sociologists share their work with a broader audience.

Vanessa Muñoz

Vanessa Muñoz is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Colorado College. She researches how families navigate medical and educational institutions to secure their health. Her book, Contesting Medicine: Parenting Children with Food Allergies Amidst Medical Uncertainty, uses qualitative methods to examine how parents of children with severe food allergies balance preserving childhood normalcy in the face of various medical recommendations. She also illuminates how parents of differing racial/ethnic and social class backgrounds differ in their approaches to medical treatment.