About the SSSP Annual Meeting…
Questions that you may have about the SSSP Annual Meeting, but are too embarrassed to ask!
(Original piece written by Deborah Thorne, 2007 Program Committee)
Who chooses the “theme” of the SSSP annual meeting?
The SSSP president selects the theme of the annual meeting—that’s one of the benefits of being president! This year’s theme is The Art of Activism, selected by SSSP President Wendy Simonds.
What are all of the “divisions” within SSSP?
Within the SSSP, there are twenty-two subgroups organized around specific topics and interests—these are called Special Problems Divisions. For example, for folks interested in issues of race and ethnicity, there is the Racial and Ethnic Minorities division. If you are interested in environmental issues, you might want to join the Environment and Technology division. Are you a budding theorist (or any kind of theorist for that matter!)? If so, you might want to check out the Social Problems Theory division. These divisions provide a great opportunity to meet others who share your academic interests. Many of the sessions for the Annual Meeting are generated through the divisions, and the divisional meetings occur during the Annual Meeting.
The program lists many different types of sessions: regular, plenary, thematic, special, roundtable, and critical dialogue. What do all of these mean?
Regular Sessions: These sessions consist of presentations of four to five research papers that relate to the theme of the session, and time for feedback and discussion.
Plenary Sessions: Essentially, “plenary” just means everyone. Thus, the plenary sessions are sessions to which everyone attending the meeting is invited. At SSSP, there are two plenary sessions: the business meeting and the Presidential Address. Typically, the business meeting is held on the second day and the Presidential Address immediately follows. The plenary sessions are so important that there are never any other sessions/committee meetings planned at the same time.
Thematic Sessions: Topics covered in the thematic sessions reflect the theme of the annual meeting.
Special Sessions: Topics for the special sessions are typically generated by members of the Program Committee (this is the committee that helps the president organize the program for the annual meeting). Sometimes the Program Committee members organize the sessions but arrange for others to be the discussants; other times, the Program Committee members lead the sessions themselves. Special sessions typically include things like talks with high-profile sociologists, meet-the-author events, teaching workshops, spotlight on the Thomas C. Hood Social Action Award winner, film exhibit, presentations of student award-winning papers, and panels on particularly timely topics.
Roundtable Sessions: Roundtable sessions are usually comprised of several tables, each with a different theme. Discussion proceeds simultaneously at all tables listed on each session. At each table the discussion leader(s) will introduce the topic and facilitate discussion among all the participants at the table.
Critical Diaglogue Sessions: SSSP has created a new format for paper presentations called Critical Dialogues. This format includes 5 minute presentations by 8 authors followed by an engaged dialogue that will critically explore connections among the papers. The audience will have an opportunity to participate in the dialogue as well. The emphasis is place on exploring interesting connections between papers with a broadly similar theme. The hope is that presenters and the audience will have an opportunity to make new and deeper connections in their own uniqure insights and presented ideas. The presider of the Critical Dialogue sessions has an important role of moderating and facilitating the dialogue, while being sure that presentation times are followed.
The program lists an entire page of “committee” and “divisional” meetings. Which ones can I attend? All of them? Or are some just for the committee members?
Committee Meetings are only open to members of that particular committee unless stated otherwise. However, Divisional Meetings are open to anyone who is interested. These are divisional meetings associated with all twenty-two special problems divisions – for example, Crime and Juvenile Delinquency, Disabilities, Drinking and Drugs, Law and Society, Poverty, Class and Inequality, Sport, Leisure, and the Body, and Teaching Social Problems (to name just a very few). If you want to get involved in one of these divisions, these are great meetings to attend!
How do I organize or participate in Sessions at the SSSP Annual Meeting?
At the Annual Meeting, members can present their research and serve as organizer, presider, and discussant in sessions. To present your research at the meeting, respond to the Call for Papers by submitting an abstract or paper online. The Call for Papers is posted in the fall before the annual meeting. The SSSP accepts submissions through January 31. The organizers of the sessions and the Program Committee work collaboratively to place submissions in appropriate sessions.
Although presenting an academic paper can invoke anxiety in even the most seasoned scholar, you will find the SSSP Annual Meeting to be a very hospitable environment and an excellent opportunity to obtain feedback from colleagues and experts in the field.
If you would like to organize a session, the brainstorming process usually begins in the Divisional meetings during the Annual Meeting. These meetings are open and welcome participants. You may also submit your proposed session theme to the chair of a Special Problems Division in the weeks following the Annual Meeting.
