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Sociologists

In the Sociologists occupation, workers 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. O*NET rates it as extensive preparation, which usually means graduate school and often five years or more of related experience. It leans on speaking, active listening, and writing. Expect to analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior. Its interest code is ISA. Investigative leads at 6.5 out of 7, so expect research, analysis and working through hard problems, with Social next at 4.4. It tends to suit people who want research, analysis and working through hard problems, and it offers little for anyone seeking hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world.

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.

Main tasks

  • Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.
  • Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.
  • Develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews.
  • Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.
  • Teach sociology.
  • Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.

Skills

  • Speaking
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
  • You get energy from helping other people move forward.
  • You are prepared for graduate-level study and a long training path.
  • You are comfortable relying on speaking and active listening.

May not suit you if

  • You lose interest when a job asks for long stretches of analysis.
  • You want to work with your hands for most of the day. Realistic rates 1.6 out of 7 here.
  • You want to be working in the field within the next few years.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ISA takes the three highest, and Investigative comes first here.

Preparation

Extensive preparation. Many jobs here need graduate study, and people often spend five years or more building specialist experience.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Doctoral Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Demographer
  • Evaluation Specialist
  • Medical Sociologist
  • Policy Analyst
  • Research Associate

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.