For the field as a whole, I think the biggest changes I see are: (1) a continuing
expansion of the types of research methods that sociologists use and a growing acceptance
of combining multiple kinds of research methods to understand complex issues. (2)
Continually increasing attention to environmental issues. Environmental Sociology
is relatively new sub-field within sociology but its importance has grown considerably
and become increasingly mainstream in the last 10 years or so. (3) Growing acceptance
of and interest in what is called “Public Sociology” or more applied projects that
work with communities and practitioners directly to solve problems.