Social Work for Sociologists: Theory and Practice

CHAPtEr 5

Working with Groups: Group Work

with Young Pacific Islands People

Patrick Vakaoti

Introduction

If they are fortunate, sociologists may be introduced to theories of commu-
nities, organizations, and groups during the course of their training. They
may also be fortunate enough to learn about group dynamics and about how
to work sensitively with youth, families, or different ethnic groups. These
topics are not, however, standard curricular material for sociology students
because of sociology’s emphasis on developing students’ sociological think-
ing and consciousness (Mesny 1998). Sociology’s practical contributions to
addressing social problems and promoting social change are often neglected,
albeit not deliberately. Students often leave universities underprepared for
the reality of addressing social issues, including working with groups and
communities.
The gap between a university based sociology education and the world of
work is widely acknowledged and has resulted in growing support for applied
or public sociology (Bach and Weinzimmer 2011; Finkelstein 2009, 2010).
This support, however, has mostly focused on justifying the need for applied
sociology and not on what to do and how to do it, with Tolich’s (2012) work
on experiential learning being a notable exception (see also chapter 9). Spalter-
Roth et al. (2010, 327) suggested that sociology courses should involve
students in “activities that emphasize the relationship between sociological
knowledge, marketable skills and future careers,” and they recommended this
as “an important future direction for sociology departments, even as early
as the introductory course.” Here lies an opportunity for sociology and its
relationship to related disciplines—such as social work and community