“Applied sociology“ and “sociological practice“ have come to refer to intervention using sociological knowledge in an applied setting. Applied sociologists work in a wide variety of settings including universities, government, and private practice, using sociological methods to help communities solve everyday problems, such as improving community policing and crime prevention, evaluating and improving drug courts, assessing the needs of inner city neighbourhoods, developing the capacity of an educational system, or promoting the development of housing and related resources for aging populations. This encyclopaedia introduces students to sociology as an active and relevant way to understand human social interaction by offering a clear, direct linkage between sociology and its practical use.