THE STATE OF AMERICAN SOCIOLOGY

Sociology appears to be one of the most internally divided disciplines , if not the most. Departmental struggles, which have led to sociologi sts complaining to administrators about each other, have put the field in bad repute among campus officials and have endangered its survival in some schools. The American Sociological Society and American Socio logical Association have been among the most conflict-ridden associati ons in academe for generations. Severe internecine struggles have a lo ng history in the field. It may be suggested that they are related to the propensity of the field to attract social reformers and political activists. But hard evidence indicates sociology graduate students are among the weakest, as judged by test scores.