Reflections on Profession Practice As a Social Scientist

Abstract

Is there a difference between and applied social science? This question has been a source of some considerable debate among sociologists. I find that the debate usually involves differ ent definitions of what constitutes sociology, varying experi ences with the conduct and utilization of basic research, and divergent perceptions of what social science practitioners actually do. My purpose in this article is to share some of my own ex periences in the practice of social science so as to add additional data that can be used in attempting to answer the question of the extent to which there is a difference between applied and social science work.