Propaganda Department of Graduate Union——Ge Yanqing,Wang Lv
Professor Zhang Jie, a tenured sociology professor from University at Buffalo, the State University of New York and director of the Chinese Studies Center, came to the167th Boya Great Auditorium and delivered a lecture at 10a.m. of September 21, 2016, at Yifu international conference center. The topic of his lecture was “the Theory of Reference: a new sociology perspective in practice”. Prof. Darrell Irwin, Dean of School of Sociology of CCNU, Prof. Jiang Lihua, Executive Vice-Dean of School of Sociology of CCNU, Director Cao, Department Chief of Dean’s Office and the teachers and students of the school of sociology attended the lecture.
The research achievement of Professor Zhang crosses sociology and medical science. Up to now, he has published nearly a hundred papers in the top journals in Chinese and English, half of which are included by SCI. Meanwhile, Professor Zhang is the reviewer of about 30 domestic and overseas journals and the fund evaluation expert of about 10 organizations, and the journals he is responsible for mainly include Journal of Affective Disorders，Social Forces，BMC Psychiatry, etc. In scientific research, he has hosted about 10 related scientific researches, 4 of which are subsidized by NIH. Currently he is hosting a China-based project subsidized by NIH named “Study on the relationship between the culture and risk factors and attempted suicide”.
Professor Zhang presented social reference theory of practical significance by analyzing structural functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism and social exchange theory and combining with Chinese traditional culture. Firstly, he introduced 4 elementary propositions of social reference theory: cognition is based on reference; cognition can’t be obtained without reference and different reference gives rise to the difference in cognition; it’s possible to artificially shift or replace the reference to achieve a certain purpose; the difference in reference results in the disagreement. Secondly, Professor Zhang utilized students’ teaching evaluation, Chinese and foreign photography differences, etc. Finally, Professor Zhang pointed out that it’s vital to localize the imported sociology and render it reflect Chinese cultural characteristics.
At the end of the lecture, the students took active part in the Q&A part, and Professor Zhang answered these questions raised by students patiently. All the teachers and students gained a lot and learned the new sociology perspective.
