PITCHING THE PROFESSION - FACULTY GUEST SPEAKERS IN THE CLASSROOM

Using an experimental design, the present study examines the impact of faculty guest speakers on introductory sociology students': (1) certa inty of registering for another sociology course, majoring in sociolog y, or minoring in sociology, (2) interest in taking another sociology class, and (3) perception of sociology as applicable to their lives, t o their careers, and as a valued course of study. The results indicate that the experimental manipulation had very little impact on the seve n dependent variables, leading to a discussion of the role and content of the introductory course and some suggestions for enhancing student recruitment efforts.