Vernon L. Bates, Ph.D.
Professor
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Why I study sociology....
This is a more difficult question than it first appears to be. As a sociologist I know that an individual's motivation is influenced by a multiplicity of forces such as social class, race, gender, community, historical events etc. In other words, I am just like the people that sociologists choose to study. To be honest I am a sociologist for some reasons I still cannot fathom after all of these years as a professional sociologist. Nonetheless, like my colleagues in the department, I can think of some specific reasons why I study sociology. As an undergraduate I was first most intrigued by Biology and still have an abiding interest as a layperson in the natural sciences. But what piqued my interest in Sociology was the application of this scientific method to the study of human being in groups. What an astounding discovery for a 19-year-old sophomore. I was seduced by the notion that one could make some fairly accurate predictions about how people might behave at a future date by knowing something about how they behave in the present. This fascination continues to the present. For me, sociology is a counterintuitive discipline that asks intriguing questions about conventional wisdom, such as "why do men open doors for women," and what is the meaning of this behavior? Practicing sociology allows me to indulge myself by exploring some great questions asked by other sociologists in the classroom with my students and to ask some of these questions for myself in my own research. In addition, the sentiment of Gary Marx, a sociologist in paraphrasing a journalist, once said, "As privileged people and as intellectuals, we have the obligation to trouble the comfortable and comfort the troubled." This appeals to me for many reasons and is a great motto for any sociologist.
Publications and Professional Work
Select Publications and Presentations
"The Jesus Seminar: An Ideological Package for the
Christian Left." Paper presented to the annual meeting of the Pacific Sociological Association, Portland, OR, April 14 - 17, 2005.
"The Jesus Seminar: The Sacralization of Secularism." Paper presented to the annual meeting of the Pacific Sociological Association, Pasadena, CA, April 3 - 6, 2003.
"The Decline of a New Christian Right Social Movement Organization: Opportunities and Constraints." Review of Religious Research. September 2000, Vol. 42, Number 1.
"The Decline of a Social Movement Organization: Opportunities and Constraints." Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Pacific Sociological Association, San Francisco, CA, and April 16-19, 1998.
"On the Inside Looking Out: Devising Strategies for an Applied Sociology Program." Panel Presentation for a session entitled, Applying Sociology Outside the Box, at the annual meeting of the Pacific Sociological Association in San Diego, CA. April 17 - 20, 1997.
"Rhetorical Pluralism and Secularization in the New Christian Right: The Oregon Citizens Alliance," Review of Religious Research, Vol. 37, No. 1, September, 1995.
"Seeking Middle Ground: The Oregon Citizen's Alliance and the Anti-Gay Rights Crusade." Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Pacific Sociological Association, San Francisco, CA, and April 6 - 9 1995.
"Lobbying for the Lord: The New Christian Right Home-Schooling Movement and Grassroots Lobbying," Review of Religious Research, Vol. 33, No. 1, September 1991.
"Interdisciplinary Team Teaching," paper presented for a Teaching Roundtable at the annual meeting of the Pacific Sociological Association, Irvine, CA, April 1991.
"Motivation and Resource Mobilization in the New Christian Right Home-Schooling Movement," Home School Researcher, March 1990.
"Other Words, Other Perspectives: A Model for Integrating Cultural Studies with Community Internships." Co-presenter with Professor Susan Cabello at the annual meeting of COFLT, Ashland, OR, October 1990.
"Teaching Evaluations: Can They Lead to Better Teaching?" Paper presented for a Teaching Roundtable at the annual meeting of the Pacific Sociological Association, Spokane, WA, and April 1989.
Select Public Speaking Engagements
"The Sacralization of Secularism." Presented to the Pacific University Faculty Forum, September 2002.
"The Oregon Citizen's Alliance and Republican Politics in Oregon." Presented to the Rose City Presbyterian Church, March 22 and 29, 1997 Portland, OR.
"The Decline of a Social Movement Organization," Presented to the Pacific University Faculty Forum, October 1997.
"Teaching First." Panelist for the 1996 University of Oregon Sociology Department Centennial Celebration.
Grants, Honors and Awards
HONORS
S.S. Johnson Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1992.
Wye Fellow - Wye Faculty Seminar, 1988.
The President's Lectures, "The New Christian Right Home-Schooling Movement." Pacific University, 1988.
Lilly Foundation Summer Faculty Internship - East Bay Media Center - Berkeley, California, Research on Women in the Ministry, 1983.
Lilly Foundation Summer Faculty Internship Program - Portland Police Bureau - Research on Police Response to Domestic Violence, 1978.
Teaching Assistantship in Sociology - University of California - Davis, 1971-74.
Phi Beta Kappa, 1969.
GRANTS
2002 Pacific University Faculty Summer Grant - $2500.00 for qualitative field research project on the Jesus Seminar.
1997 Pacific University Summer Grant. $2500.00 for qualitative field research project on the Oregon Citizens Alliance.
1992 Principle author for a grant from The Board of Homeland Ministries, United Church of Christ, which helped Pacific University develop the Peace and Conflict Studies Program.
Community Engagement
Chair and Vice-Chair for the Grant High School Booster Club. We raised over $45,000 each year through our booster auction for extracurricular school activities, 1998-1999.
Habitat for Humanity Volunteer - Portland, OR - approx. 50 hours each summer, Summer 1998 and 1999.
Arbitrator - Better Business Bureau, Portland, OR and Certified Consumer Arbitrator for the National Panel of Consumer Arbitrators, 1990-1995.
Board Member - SHELTER - Washington County Domestic Violence Resource Center, 1986 - 1989.
Courses that I teach...
| Soc 101 | Introduction to Sociology |
| Soc 102 | Social Problems |
| Soc 208 | Race Relations |
| Soc 209 | Sociology of the Family |
| Soc 266 | Deviance |
| Soc 307 | Collective Behavior and Social Movements |
| Soc 312 | Social Interaction |
| Soc 313 | Sociology of Religion |
| PACS 313 | Sociology of Violence |
| Soc 355 | Junior Seminar |
| Soc 494 | Senior Research Seminar |
| Soc 495 | Independent Research |
| HUM 100 | First Year Seminar |
What I would tell a student considering a major in Sociology...
Curiosity did not kill the cat. Curiosity led to many important puzzles being solved for the betterment of the natural and social environment. Curiosity about human endeavors can be addressed by many disciplines such as literature, poetry, economics, and psychology. Sociology is simply one more of the disciplines that concerns itself with the human enterprise. If you plan to major in Sociology I would only recommend it if you have some curiosity about human beings and the social forces that may influence their behavior. Many people agree that knowledge is power. Sociological knowledge is powerful in its own way and abiding curiosity is what drives knowledge and power.