Abstract
Sociology of social welfare shuold be discussed from macro and micro sides of the social system. However, the micro side ( i. e. social work) has been without sufficient investigation in Japan. What and how can we discuss under a framework of the sociology social work practice?This paper aims at providing the answer to the questions. In approaching problems, it is useful to refer the concepts and methods of medical sociology. For example professionalization or the transformation of professionalism can be a guiding concept to our concern. Professionalization in the social work field has been developed in accordance with the modernization of the social system. However, recently we are confronted with another major social change; post-modernization. Social work is now caught between the two different forces of social change. This is one of the important subjects to consider in the study of social work practice.
