CHAPTER 3 - Organizations

Abstract

This chapter focuses on several types of organizations such as professional associations, learned societies, and research organizations. The distinctions among professional associations, learned societies, and research organizations are not always clear cut. The professional associations are concerned both with the qualified and the qualifying, and in some measure recognize professional competence. Regional Studies Association, London, is a professional association that holds meetings and conferences, and has an information service that is only available to its members. On the other hand, the learned societies cater for the needs of specialists, and their membership is usually restricted to those who are already qualified. For example, London-based British Sociological Association is a learned society is concerned with promotion of interest in and advancement of the study and application of sociology in the United Kingdom. The main goal of the research organizations is to conduct research and publish results although some learned societies and professional associations also do this. Societies issue their publications either as journals or as occasional papers or research reports. Italy-based International Sociological Association is a UNESCO-sponsored association and has established 11 research committees on different aspects of sociology, such as sociology of law, of medicine, of popular culture and leisure, political sociology, psychiatric sociology, and urban and rural sociology. It also holds triennial congresses and publishes Current Sociology.