SOCIOLOGY links: Holistic Bliss or Tristram Shandy ... IV

I've introduced the rationale behind the content of the INTERPERSONAL and POLITICAL links pages. Let's now look at SOCIOLOGY: Although the ticking of the clock has a mechano-quantum constancy, people are collectively nudged forward through the 7 AGES that characterise our personal and social lives. These two lives beg a question in terms of Hodges' model and its four care (knowledge) domains. From what I've already said chronological age is mechanistic; but if that is the case in which domain does pathological age reside? Perhaps it is not just one domain, but a matter of span ;-). If for you this means or includes traversing the SCIENCE and SOCIOLOGY domains; that is quite a journey, so better prepare...

Following this on the SOCIOLOGY links page - can that be HEALTH PROTECTION & PROMOTION? Again!

Well yes it is and this is not a mistake. Just an effort to emphasise the need to direct our attention and resources at health promotion and prevention at a community AND individual level. Visiting Assen in the Netherlands last month you hear of the Dutch love of bicycling. Seeing is believing though and all ages were out and about. Marvellous to behold.

If health and communities are about support then there are a multitude of groups and networks dedicated to the task for PATIENTS and CARERS. The emphasis now is also to engage the public in service and policy development. They also need to be involved in public health, health and social care research and not just as 'subjects'.

In terms of Hodges' model contrast this journey - SOCIO-POLITICAL with the SOCIO-SCIENTIFIC referred to above. Another post perhaps....?

Similarly, there are PROFESSIONAL and other associations across all disciplines. This includes the notion of integrated services, still a long way to go. These professional groups are 'political' in the [ORGANISATIONAL] sense, but I wanted to reflect the social - socialisation - aspect. (What! You've done one row! Come on Jones hurry up!)

The phrase COMPUTER SUPPORTED COLLABORATIVE WORKING (CSCW) is not used as widely these days, but it captures a key purpose in HEALTH, SOCIAL & COMMUNITY INFORMATICS whether at an international, national or local level. Although I have placed it on the INTERPERSONAL page EDUCATION is all about 'socialisation' and an ongoing debate.

SOCIOLOGY I & II speak for themselves and in there you should find medical sociology and narrative medicine. Surely, the SOCIOLOGY listings should have pride of place here? The position of SOCIOLOGY on this links page is not intended to reflect examples of various socio-political concepts such as demotion, loss of status, alienation... It is true, these can reach over the INDIVIDUAL-GROUP axis and pummel the individual; but -

No. As with the other links pages SOCIOLOGY sits on the 2nd row due to the needs of health and social care learners (ALL staff!), patients and carers (the Public) to have speedy access to the relevant links.

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH is next and the ongoing quest for more effective methods and tools to help unravel the phenomenological world. As with QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH in the SCIENCES listing, I've included some examples of software tools.

The final row presents ANTHROPOLOGY in which medicine and SCIENCE will find their earliest roots. Fittingly then HISTORY is right alongside. Two listings are devoted to ART, CULTURE, MEDIA and TECHNOLOGY; a realm I could really get lost in if I had the chance. I've tried to include some of the best examples of various genres, but they change so quickly. Please let me know (through the website) if you've a gem or two.... to share - or if you notice any broken / outdated links. I use tools to check, but they are digital and of course on this [HUMANISTIC] side of h2cm everything we touch is 'analogue'(?).

As you may have noticed this SOCIOLOGY domain is the smallest with just 12 listings. Perhaps here with the POLITICAL domain in the lower half-group hemisphere of Hodges model more (people) really does mean less? Yet, another post perhaps...?

Although ARCHITECTURE seems to epitomise -

• the physical world with its presence (whether loved or abhorred);
• the notion of artefact on a grand and detailed scale
• the mix of mechanism and material
• ....

Architecture is also associated with the human spirit, the ephemeral. I have wondered about including the subject here. It is a truly colossal micro-macro subject and also a profound factor in the health and well-being of all of us.

Like health it touches all the knowledge domains....

Next! Last but not least SCIENCES...