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Career Description

Study human society and social behavior by examining the groups and social institutions that people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organizations. May study the behavior and interaction of groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members.

What Job Titles Sociologists Might Have

• Research and Development Manager (R&D Manager)
• Research Associate
• Research Scientist
• Research Specialist

What Sociologists Do

• Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.
• Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.
• Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.
• Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.
• Teach sociology.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews.
• Present research findings at professional meetings.
• Develop approaches to the solution of groups' problems, based on research findings in sociology and related disciplines.
• Direct work of statistical clerks, statisticians, and others who compile and evaluate research data.
• Observe group interactions and role affiliations to collect data, identify problems, evaluate progress, and determine the need for additional change.
• Consult with and advise individuals such as administrators, social workers, and legislators regarding social issues and policies, as well as the implications of research findings.
• Develop problem intervention procedures, using techniques such as interviews, consultations, role playing, and participant observation of group interactions.
• Collaborate with research workers in other disciplines.

What Sociologists Should Be Good At

• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

What Sociologists Should Be Interested In

• Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

What Sociologists Need to Learn

• Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.