The ASA Department of Research & Development: Current and Future Projects
Below are descriptions of the ASA Research & Development Department's current and up-coming projects. Additional department news and information can be found on our Department blog and Facebook page. Additional Research Department briefs and presentations are available on the Free Downloads page.
Click on a topic below to learn more information and download related research.
- The Research Department Blog and Facebook Page
- The Job Market in Sociology
- Exploring Networks of Sociologists
- Sociology Majors, Before and After Graduation
- What Can I Do With a Master's Degree in Sociology?
- Fund for the Advancement of the Discipline (FAD)
- What's Happening in Your Department?
- Looking at Sociology PhDs
Join in the Discussion: The Research Department Blog and Facebook Page
We invite you to share your comments, questions, and experiences on the ASA Research Department Blog and Facebook page as we discuss the latest issues facing the sociological discipline and profession. These topics include work-family policies and their impact on faculty careers, department concerns about assessment, student and faculty experiences with mentoring, the sociology job market, and the curriculum. If you have suggestions for future discussion topics, contact us at research@asanet.org.
Research on the Job Market in Sociology
The Research Department conducts several studies on the job market throughout the year. These include tracking faculty salaries in sociology and other social sciences, exploring the post-graduation paths of graduates of sociology programs, conducting an audit of jobs academic and non-academic jobs advertised through the ASA, and surveying departments to determine placement for academic positions available to early career PhDs. In 2012, we will be conducting a new study of non-academic PhDs.
New data on the post-graduate careers of master's students will be available shortly on the What Can I Do With a Master's Degree in Sociology? page. Data on the post-graduate careers of baccalaureate majors is available on the What Can I Do With a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology page.
Additional publications and presentations are available on the Free Downloads page.
The
staff of ASA sociologists has embarked on several National Science
Foundation-funded research projects using network analysis. These
projects include: (1) Diffusion of Innovation in Digital Libraries, (2)
Production, Diffusion, an Use of STEM Teaching Materials; and (3)
Mentoring, Networks, and Under-represented Minorities in the Science
Pipeline.
| Recent Findings on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, and Mentoring and New PhDs: |
|
 |
The Effects of New Technology on the Growth of a Teaching and Learning Network (Powerpoint exceeds 7MB, load times vary) |
 |
The Impact of Cross Race Mentoring for "Ideal" and "Alternative" PhD Careers in Sociology |
|
|
Homosociality or Crossing Race/Ethnicity/Gender Boundaries? Pipeline Interventions and the Production of Scholarly Careers
|
|
Networks and the Diffusion of Cutting-Edge Teaching and Learning Knowledge in Sociology |
|
Teaching Alone? Sociology Faculty and the Availability of Social Networks |
Additional publications and presentations are available on the Free Downloads page.
Sociology Majors, Before and After Graduation
In the longitudinal survey, What Can I Do With a Bachelors Degree in Sociology? we followed the post-graduation paths of sociology baccalaureates from the class of 2005 to learn how sociology programs enable these students as they pursue careers, enroll in graduate and professional degree programs, or both. We are now in the field with a new longitudinal survey. Social Capital, Organizational Context, and the Job Market for Sociology Majors focuses on the job search strategies used by sociology baccalaureates from the class of 2012, including their contacts and connections, and marketing of sociological skills and concepts.
Click the links below to learn more about these surveys, view findings, and download questionnaires:
What Can I Do With a Master's Degree in Sociology?
Over 1,400 Master's candidates were invited to participate in a two-year survey designed to learn what become of graduates of these programs after they obtain their degree. we invited over 1,400 Master's candidates to participate in
a new two-year study designed to learn what becomes of Masters
graduates after they obtain their degrees. The first year of the survey (Phase I) examined characteristics of the Master's programs. Phase II examined employment and additional
education outcomes. Phase III examined job characteristics, job
satisfaction, PhD fields, use of sociological skills and concepts, and
master's program evaluation.
Visit the What Can I Do With a Master's Degree in Sociology homepage to learn more about the survey, view findings, download questionnaires, and purchase the Task Force report.
(back to top)Fund for the Advancement of the Discipline (FAD)
The Fund
for the Advancement of the Discipline (FAD) is supported
by the National Science Foundation with additional funds from the
American Sociological Association. FAD awards provide scholars with “seed money" for
innovative research that has the potential for challenging the
discipline, stimulating new lines of research, and creating new networks
of scientific collaboration. The award is intended to provide
opportunities for substantive and methodological breakthroughs, broaden
the dissemination of scientific knowledge, and provide leverage for
acquisition of additional research funds.
Visit the FAD homepage to learn more about the program and application process, read about previously funding projects, and view demographic and institutional characteristics of past award recipients.
(back to top)What's Happening in Your Department?
In late 2011, we entered the field with a follow-up to the 2008 Department Survey. The survey provides an in-depth, comparative profile of college and university sociology departments, including data on department size and structure, majors and graduates, admissions and degrees, curriculum, faculty characteristics, and assessment. Finds for the new survey will be available in 2012.| Findings from the 2002 and 2008 Department Surveys: |
|
|
A Comparison of Findings From the 2001 and 2007-2008 Department Surveys |
| |
Who's Teaching and How Much? |
| |
What's Happening in Your Department with Assessment? |
| |
Department Resources and the Demand Side of Hiring |
Additional publications and presentations are available on the Free Downloads page.
Academic and Non-Academic PhDs in Sociology
These studies examine the career trajectories of sociology PhDs. The longitudinal study of academics focuses on work/family issues. Beyond the Ivory Tower (PPT) examines characteristics of non-academic positions and whether these positions reflect theoretical and methodological skills learned in PhD programs. We will begin conducting a new study of non-academic PhDs in 2012.
Additional publications and presentations are available on the Free Downloads page.