Sociologists

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Duties

The following is what sociologists usually do:

• Organize experiments to test social ideas.
• Surveys, observations, interviews, and other sources can be used to gather information.
• From the information gathered, come to a conclusion.
• Research findings should be documented in papers, journals, or presentations.
• Work with and provide advice to other social scientists, politicians, and other organizations on research results and social concerns.
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Sociologists look at how people interact and work together in groups. Social, religious, political, and economic groupings are observed by them. Individuals and groups are studied in relation to social influences, such as organizations and institutions. Groups' genesis and expansion are also documented by these researchers. As an example, they may study the effect of a new legislation or policy on a certain demography.

When doing research, sociologists commonly combine quantitative and qualitative techniques, as well as statistical analytic systems.

Administrators, educators, legislators, and social workers may all benefit from the study the researchers are conducting in order to better address social issues and shape public policy. A wide range of social themes can be studied by sociologists. These include, but are not limited to:

• Health and education.
• Poor living conditions and criminality.
• Households and the general populace, and racial, ethnic, and gender dynamics.

Criminologists and penologists are sociologists who specialize in crime. These professionals utilize their sociological expertise to conduct research and assess correctional systems and people, as well as to examine the causes and repercussions of criminal activity.

Postsecondary and high school instructors often have sociology degrees. The majority of sociologists work in non-sociological fields, such as public policy analysts, demographers or survey researchers.

Education

If you want to become a sociologist, you'll need a master's or Ph. D in the field. Traditional master's degrees in sociology and applied, clinical, and professional programs are available. Students who complete a traditional undergraduate degree program are well-prepared to pursue a doctoral degree at a university. Students enrolled in an applied, clinical, or professional degree learn the analytical skills required to conduct sociological research in a professional environment.

Students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees should take courses in research methodologies and statistics to prepare for their future careers. Internships and writing reports for customers are common practice in many schools.

The social services, education, and public policy sectors are all good places to start for those with a bachelor's degree in sociology.

Additional Experiential Information

Those with a bachelor's degree in sociology or a similar discipline may benefit from internships or voluntary work when applying for entry-level jobs. Students benefit from these experiences because they get the chance to put their academic knowledge to use in a real-world situation while also honing their professional abilities.

Qualities that are critical to success

Analytical capabilities. In order to evaluate their hypotheses, sociologists frequently use statistical tools to analyze data and other information.

The ability to communicate. Sociologists must have excellent communication skills in order to do research, work with other scholars, and write and communicate their findings.

The ability to use critical thinking. In order to derive logical conclusions about society and diverse groups of people, sociologists develop research initiatives, gather, process, and evaluate data.

Pay

In May 2020, sociologists earned an average annual salary of $86,110. It is the salary at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Between the lowest 10% and the wealthiest 10% of earners, the average salary was $52,640.

Job Projections

Slower than the average for all occupations, employment of sociologists is expected to expand by 5% between 2020 and 2030.