Research
The Sociology Department has a rich history of research. When the Australian Sociological Association tried to establish The Top Ten Most Influential Books in Australian Sociology (2003), four of the books selected had been published by academics as members of the Department. Today, a vigorous research environment continues to flourish. Current staff research across the applied and the theoretical ends of our discipline, with special interest in the fields of social theory, ethnicity and globalisation, crime research, intimacy and the generations, work and organisations, social survey research, art and culture, and political economy.
In recent years, staff have published in a wide variety of local and international journals. These include: Current Sociology, Thesis Eleven, Ageing and Society, Australian Journal of Political Science, Journal of Sociology, Work, Employment & Society, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Sociological Theory, Australian Journal of Social Issues, and the European Journal of Social Theory. For a complete list of staff interests and publications, please visit individual staff pages .
Some recent books written by department members
Michael Fine, A Caring Society? Care and the Dilemmas of Human Services in the 21st Century, Basingstoke: Palgrave-Macmillan, 2006
Pauline Johnson, Habermas: Rescuing the Public Sphere, New York: Routledge, 2006.
Harry Blatterer, Coming of Age in Times of Uncertainty, New York: Berghahn Books, 2008.
Selvaraj Velayuthum, Responding to Globalisation: Nation, Culture and Identity in Singapore , Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies Press, 2007.
Justine Lloyd (with Lesley Johnson), Sentenced to Everyday Life: Feminism and the Housewife, Berg, 2004.
John Lechte and Maria Margaroni, Julie Kristeva: Live Theory, London and New York: Continuum, 2004.
Shaun Wilson, The Struggle over Work, London: Routledge, 2004.
The Department is also active in attracting research funding for sociological projects. Current grants are listed below:
Current ARC grants
Michael Fine (with Amanda Wise and Ken Moloney), 'Cultural Diversity, Community and Family Services: Experiences among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse parents of local early childhood services', Australian Research Council Linkage Grant, 2006-2007
Michael Fine (with R Spencer, A Wise, R Fagan, K McCracken, R Dowling, R Howitt, K Tannous & K Millard), 'Community spirit, social transformation, sustainable partnerships: community capacity building', ARC Linkage Grant, 2008-2011
Selvaraj Velayutham (with Amanda Wise), 'Transnational Affect and the Moral Economies of Temporary Skilled Migration of South Indians to Australia', ARC Discovery Grant with APF, 2006-2008
Shaun Wilson and Gabrielle Meagher, 'Constituencies for welfare: Public responses to Australia's 'new welfare state', Australian Research Council Discovery Grant, 2007-2008
Current MQ research grants
Pauline Johnson, 'The Intimate Sphere: Exploring the Tensions’ Macquarie University Research Development Grant 2006
Shaun Wilson and Gabrielle Meagher (University of Sydney), 'Middle class welfare in Australia' Macquarie University Research Development Grant, 2006.
Sean Scalmer and Shaun Wilson, ‘ WorkChoices and the experience of Australian working life: a qualitative research project ’, Macquarie University New Staff Grant, 2007.