Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 8.djvu/98

 86 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

number of students in courses in charities and correction ranges from 8 to 119, with an average of 43."

The growth shown by a comparison of these figures is so evident that no comment is necessary. Since 1890 the field of sociology has differentiated, until the division into sociology proper, and charities and corrections, has no longer any signifi- cance. Consequences of this differentiation are that the classes are notably smaller ; that dilettanteism and superficiality in soci- ological study are beginning to be things of the past ; that a single course in the study is seen to be inadequate to cover the sociological field ; and that a postgraduate school of sociology is coming to be recognized as the only adequate institution for such study.

While the growth of sociology is obvious, it would be idle to deny that certain tendencies are at work which tend to challenge its right to an important position in the field of the sciences, or in educational institutions. The action of certain of our most important universities, as noticed in the first part of this paper, is evidence enough of this movement. The arguments of such critics may, perhaps, be stated somewhat as follows : Sociology must define itself either as a body of doctrine, as a point of view, or as a method of research. It has tried to define itself as a body of doctrine, and it has failed in the attempt. If it is merely a point of view, it cannot be separated from the matter in discussion and must subordinate itself to the various social sciences. It has as yet made no serious attempt to develop itself as a method of research, and must develop itself on these lines and show its fruitfulness before it can demand consideration at the bar of science. It is no part of the business of this paper to answer these charges theoretically. If an examination of the classified list of sociological courses shows them to be well founded, then there is nothing to say, unless, indeed, it be to advise the soci- ologist to develop sociology as a method of research as rapidly as possible. My purpose in calling attention to this tendency is merely to give a true representation of the present status of sociology in the academic world. No treatment of this subject would be complete which minimized this attitude.