When people interact… form a group… or work together… they create relationships, and eventually… culture. Sociologists study interactions between groups of people, how human behavior changes over time, and what makes organizations and cultures succeed… or fail. Sociologists collect survey data, make observations, and perform interviews to test their theories about human social interactions. They analyze the data and present their findings in written reports or presentations. These social scientists may collaborate with… and advise… policy makers, other social scientists, or groups that seek answers to sociological issues. Sociologists may focus their research and study efforts in one of many social topics, including health, education, racial and ethnic relations, the labor market, families, gender, poverty, crime, or aging. Sociologists typically work in an office full time. They may travel to conduct research or present their results at conferences. Most positions require a master’s degree or Ph.D. Applied, clinical, and professional master’s degree programs prepare graduates to perform sociological research in a professional setting. Many students who complete a Ph.D. in sociology become college-level instructors. Other Ph.D. graduates lead research for non-profits, businesses, or government. More entry-level positions in related fields, such as social services, education, or public policy… may be obtained with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.
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.
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
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
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
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
You might use software like this on the job:
Analytical or scientific software
IBM SPSS Statistics
SAS
Data base user interface and query software
Data entry software
Microsoft Access
Web page creation and editing software
Facebook
Social media sites
doctoral degree or master's degree usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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