2009. N 1

The article is devoted to presentation of a new methodological idea — the statement of presence of two essentially different and additional systems of substantiation of empirical knowledge in sociology, insistency of their differentiation and understanding of their specificities. One system is traditional — here the essence of empirical knowledge is discussed in frameworks, in logic of some generalised sociological research. Methodological workings out are built on stages of empirical research and more likely describe the preparation “recipe” of a general decision on each one, than discuss problematical character of achievement of adequate, significant, heuristic social knowledge. The second system which is declared by us, is connected with under-standing of the basic importance of social macro-environment, “external” in relation to a direct research. We represent macro-environment through influence of such “macro-elements”: “the actual social epoch”, “sociology” and “the sociological community”; “the researcher”, “the respondent”, “the method”, “the resources”, etc. Introduction of the importance of social macro-environment into meth-odological reasoning allows to reach certain completeness in comprehension of potential and quality of sociological knowledge. Influence on an investigation of social macro-environment has universal character, comprehension of this moment is represented essentially important not only for sociology.

As well as it is designated in the name, article is devoted consideration of some methodological problems connected with activity of Biographic collection. First, it is a question on information potential of personal papers for the sociological analysis. In following section it is a question of the nature “a biographic impulse” or about motivation typology to an auto-biography writing. Central (both on sense, and on volume) article part is de-voted problems of the analysis of the qualitative data and a substantiation of their interpretations. Finish article some reasons concerning organizational- technical questions of replenishment and development of Biographic collection.

This paper focuses on an investigation of different manifestations and aspects of social inequality (SI) in Russia and Belarus, that was conducted within the framework of international project “Social Inequality and Why it matters for the Economic and Democratic Development of Europe and Its Citizens: Post-Communist Central and Eastern Europe in Comparative Perspective”. The investigation of SI at both macro and micro levels allowed studying its influence on economies of Russia and Belarus, development of democratic institutions, social problems in two societies, and identification of common features and differences in perceptions of diverse aspects of SI manifestation by representatives of different social groups and individuals. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used for collecting empirical data (focus-groups and mass survey). It was shown that different ways of forming the economy and social-political system in two countries led to essential differences in attitudes of population to the market and democracy as two basic components of post-communist transformation.

The paper deals with an experience of Sociological Institute’s researchers in investigations of social changes (transformations) and in imple-mentation of these changes in the contemporary period of social, economic, and manufacturing reforms. It presents results of an analysis of democratization processes (including those in manufacturing process), interaction among Russian and foreign enterprises, dynamics of labor movement, and transfor-mations in socio-working sphere (including innovative activities).

In this article the author examines different kinds of deviance (crime, organised crime, corruption, narcotism, terrorism, homosexuality, pornography and prostitution) as social constructions. Author calls the subjects, stages and consequences of social designing.