Making a Difference

Emphasis on measurement techniques can interfere with understanding how well particular social programs in their field work. In Making a Difference: The Practice of Sociology, Irwin Deutscher links traditional sociological concerns with applied sociology in an effort to overcome this problem. He contributes to the debate over the extent to which health, educational, and social pro­grams initiated by the Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Johnson administrations have been successful in intimate, hu­man terms.The work is divided into five parts: "Toward a Useful Sociology" is a collec­tion of essays concerning the causes of social problems and the uses of evalu­ation research. "On Doing Applied Re­search" explores research tools and ste­reotypes. ''The Raised Eyebrow" points out obstructions to useful program evaluation. "Vignettes" deals with spe­cific areas of social programs: public housing, aging, family, disaster relief, small town petty crime, the integration of public facilities, delinquency, nurs­ing, and the education of tribal people.Deutscher believes that the introduc­tion of a sociological perspective can provide a positive element to interdisci­plinary pursuits. This belief, as well as his fresh perspectives on both the strengths and limitations inherent in applied sociology, offer the field a revi­talizing lift. As such, this highly infor­mative, thought-provoking volume will be of interest to sociologists and policymakers in health, education, crime, welfare, housing.