Current and Future Projects
Want to know what the ASA Department of Research on the Discipline and Profession is up to? Click on a topic below to learn more about our current and upcoming projects.
Research on the Job Market in Sociology
The Research Department conducts several annual 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, reporting on jobs advertised through the ASA, and surveying departments to determine placement for academic positions open to new 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 Briefs and Articles 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.
Additional publications and presentations are available on the Briefs and Articles 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 as they prepared for careers, graduate and professional degree programs, or both. In May 2012, we completed 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. 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.
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.
What's Happening in Your Department?
In late June 2012, we deployed a follow-up to our 2008 survey of sociology departments. Based on the feedback from department chairs across the country, this new survey has been tailored to the current information needs of sociology departments. This survey is aimed at almost 1,000 academic sociology departments in the United States, and focuses on specific issues including assessment and changes in resources and curricula. Read more about the changes to the 2012 survey.
Findings from the 2012 survey are available below. We will contact respondents of completed surveys and allow them to receive data about their institutions, and allow them to select 10 “peer” departments (provided that we have information on these departments) as well, which we will aggregate so that chairs can compare their own departments with aggregated peer departments and provide these data to their Deans and other administrators for purposes of planning and evaluation.
Additional publications and presentations are available on the Free Briefs and Articles 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 Briefs and Articles page.