Dialogue between sociology and social work

This paper aims to critically analyse the relationship between Sociology and Social Work, helping to demonstrate the need for a fruitful and enriching dialogue between these two scientific areas. To attain this goal, a documentary analysis was carried out and the authors' experience as sociologists was mobilised, putting forth, as an example, some potential contributions of the sociological imagination as a significant heuristic tool for both Sociology and Social Work. Interdisciplinarity between Social Work and Sociology, in which each scientific discipline maintains its specific identity, is one of the paths to be promoted that could also contribute to the scientific and professional legitimisation of each of these scientific areas. It is suggested that sociological portraits be mobilised in the analysis of the configurations of the scientific areas of Sociology and Social Work in Portugal, favouring the interdependent articulation of the science, training and profession components and thus collaborating in the definition, implementation and evaluation of better-informed social interventions, which, consequently, have higher potential to be successful and increasingly efficient in promoting social justice and equity.