Educational potential of applied sociology: from the experience of the laboratory of applied and practical ethics

The article emphasizes the insufficient study of the potential of practical and applied tools of sociology in solving the problem of increasing the effectiveness of education, which determines the relevance of the study. It is noted that the methods of applied sociology (primarily questionnaires, surveys, expert interviews, focus groups) used in education allow not only to establish the level of formation of competencies, but also directly contribute to the formation of the latter. The possibilities of the methodology of applied sociology are studied on the material obtained in the course of the work of the laboratory of applied and practical ethics. It is shown that the methods of applied sociology are able to integrate innovations (competency approach, greening of education, inclusive education, etc.) introduced into the field of education. Based on the analysis of work with graduate students of Krasnoyarsk universities in the course of teaching the discipline 'History and Philosophy of Science', it became possible to establish that sociological applied tools are effective in education, since they are not only a means of feedback, but also stimulate reflection on the degree of formation of skills and the acquisition of competencies. It is noted that in the situation of working with adults, such as postgraduate students with professional knowledge, this is especially important. The article presents the experience of using applied sociology methods to analyze the quality of the educational process. The importance of applied sociological methods for monitoring the development, formation of competencies and as feedback to students is emphasized. The idea is substantiated that a project workshop as a technology of advanced learning, which best meets the requirements of a rapidly changing world, is impossible without high-quality monitoring and a sociological survey.