Sociologists

data interview information social behavior sociology investigative comprehension group research finding social issue

Research Associate, Research Scientist, Research Specialist, Social Scientist

What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • 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.

Knowledge

Math and Science

  • sociology and anthropology
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Arts and Humanities

  • English language
  • history and archeology

Education and Training

  • teaching and course design

Engineering and Technology

  • computers and electronics

Skills

Basic Skills

  • reading work related information
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

  • understanding people's reactions
  • teaching people how to do something

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • read and understand what is written

Ideas and Logic

  • use rules to solve problems
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Analytical Thinking
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Integrity
  • Initiative
  • Independence

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software

  • IBM SPSS Statistics Hot Technology
  • SAS Hot Technology

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology In Demand

Data base user interface and query software

  • Microsoft Access Hot Technology
  • QSR International NVivo

Education

Education: (rated 5 of 5)
doctoral degree or
master's degree
usually needed

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Job Outlook

Average
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about sociologists.