A Technological Science Perspective for Sociology1

Abstract The traditional positivist model is an inadequate foundation for sociology as a science. The phenomena of society differ from the phenomena assumed by positivism and existing in the world of nature in ways that prevent the successful use of that traditional approach. Agency, the ability to choose among alternatives where the choice makes an important difference, exists in social phenomena but has no counterpart in nature and cannot be dealt with adequately by positivism. A technological science perspective is suggested as an alternative for a science of sociology that can deal with the reality and importance of agency. Eight differences between the traditional perspective and the alternative are sketched. The alternative requires changes in the kind of generalized knowledge produced and the way it is produced, accumulated, and refined. The changes, though seemingly small, would produce a major reconstruction of much of sociology; such changes could result in important progress by the field of sociology.     

Attitude-action relationships*

La présente étude a pour objet la relation qui existe entre une attitude verbale à l'égard de la légalisation de la marijuana et la façon de se comporter manifestement opposée à cette attitude. Le sujet principal de l'étude avait donc pour but de déterminer si oui ou non le comportement d'une personne reste le même lorsque, dans la cas d'une situation d'intérraction, on ajoute des données variées de participation sociale et certaines attitudes dictées par les convenances. Est abordée aussi la question de savoir si oui ou non le besoin d'une personne de se sentir approuvée a quelque effet sur la constance des résultats. En conclusion, on s'aperçoit que la participation sociale, les attitudes de convenance et le besoin d'aquiescement, influent fortement sur les relations: ‘attitude —comportement.’ The present study is concerned with the relationship between verbal attitudes toward the legalization of marijuana and the overt behaviour expressed toward this attitude object. The main concern is to determine whether or not an individual's behaviour will remain consistent when variations of ‘social participation’ and ‘attitudinal congruence’ are injected into an interactional situation. Also investigated is the question of whether or not the personality variable of ‘need for approval’ has any effect on the consistency issue. The findings suggest that social participation, attitudinal congruence and the individual's need for approval are powerful influences in attitude-behaviour relationships.     

Gender and Organizational Justice Preferences

Despite evidence that women and men possess similar workplace values, debate continues regarding gendered preferences for justice in the workplace. In particular, some have argued that women and men have fundamentally different justice orientations, which lead men to value fair outcomes and women to value fair procedures. Recent research finds that such beliefs may influence managers to reward men with greater monetary rewards than those provided to women. Here, we review this literature and argue that men and women do not have fundamentally different justice orientations. Instead, the few findings of gender difference in preferences for procedural vs. distributive justice in the workplace are a function of status differences between men and women.     

Transforming Retirement: New Definitions of Life After Work

This quantitative research study uses survey data of women born between 1946 and 1951 in Australia. It follows earlier work that identified the importance of transitions from work for women of the baby boomer generation. We provide important insights into the lives of women who have partially or fully retired and the changing nature of women's work and retirement. For many women, retirement is characterized by newfound freedoms, opportunities, career change, and evolving identities, yet others view retirement as a continuation of previous occupational and gendered roles and commitments. This study has important implications for retirement policies for women.     

A question of balance

Dr W. Warner Burke is Professor of Psychology and Education and Chair of the Department of Organization and Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York. He is also Chairman of W. Warner Burke Associates, Inc., an organization consulting firm. Burke earned his BA from Furman University and his MA and PhD from the University of Texas, Austin. Prior to Teachers College, he served in senior positions at Clark University, the NTL Institute, and as Executive Director of the OD Network. Dr Burke's consulting experience has been with a variety of organizations in businessindustry, education, government, religious and medical systems. A Diplomate in 1/0 Psychology, the American Board of Professional Psychology, he is also a Fellow of the Academy of Management, the American Psychological Society, and the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and past editor of both Organizational Dynamics and the Academy of Management Executive. He has authored over 100 articles and book chapters on OD, and authored, co-authored or edited thirteen books. He has received numerous awards, including, in 1989, the Public Service Medal from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in 1990, the Distinguished Contribution to Human Resource Development Award and, in 1993, the Organization Development Professional Practice Area Award for Excellence—The Lippitt Memorial Award—from the American Society for Training and Development. He has been working in the field of OD for over thirty-five years.

Seth A. Berr, MA, is a Research Associate at W. Warner Burke Associates, Inc. He received his BA in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and MA in Organizational Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. He currently specializes in the co-ordination and planning of executive development and feedback-based programmes.

Allan H. Church, PhD, RODC, is a Principal at W. Warner Burke Associates, Inc., an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, and edtor of both the Organization Development Journal and The Industrial-Organizational Pychologist. He has published more than eighty articles and several book chapters, and was recently awarded the 1999 OD Consultant of the Year Award from The OD Institute.     

Connecting the Characteristics of International Volunteer Experiences with Their Impacts: A Canadian Case Study

The direct relationship between international volunteer experiences and impacts has rarely been explored and yet is important for understanding why certain impacts occur in the lives of volunteers upon returning home. This information helps organizations to develop effective international volunteer programs. This interpretive case study of the Nova Scotia-Gambia Association’s volunteer program explores the interactions between motivations, experiences, and impacts of volunteers who participate in short-term, development aid projects. It utilizes qualitative interviews and participant observation with recent volunteers and interviews with past alumni to understand these relationships. The findings identify three distinct types of volunteer narratives connecting experiences and impacts—personal, professional, and negative categories. The key characteristics of the experience are living situations and conditions, location selection, work placement options, and non-work related activities, frame experiences and effect impacts, influencing the nature of the narrative. Narratives are also strongly influenced by volunteer personalities and characteristics of the local culture.     

“Aging males” symptoms and general health of adult males: a cross-sectional study

A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the prevalence and severity of health-related complaints perceived by adult males of Hong Kong by using the Hong Kong Traditional Chinese versions of the Aging males’ symptoms (AMS) scale and the 5-dimensional and 3-level European Quality of life (EQ-5D-3L) questionnaire. A total of 825 adult males aged 40 years or above were surveyed, and observed that 80% of the population was living with little-to-mild levels of aging symptoms with mean total scores ranged between 26.02?±?7.91 and 32.99?±?7.91 in different age groups. Such symptoms were correlated with age, especially for the somato-vegetative and sexual symptoms. The most severe AMS symptoms were observed in the oldest age group at 70 years or above, with 76%, 34% and 70% living with moderate-to-severe levels of somato-vegetative, psychological and sexual symptoms, respectively. The result was highly correlated with the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Secondly, the Hong Kong Aging males’ symptoms (AMS) scale was shown to have good reliability with test–retest coefficient at 0.79 (ranged 0.66–0.87) and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient at 0.88 (ranged 0.70–0.84). In summary, the population of Hong Kong male adults was commonly living with little-to-mild levels of aging symptoms, whereas their severity was correlated with age.