As a sociologist, you will observe and study various aspects of society and their impact on people. This may include both large and small-scale observations of everything from cultural ideologies to family dynamics. Sociologists can work in several different fields, including healthcare, social services, research, marketing and criminal justice.
Your specific responsibilities will be dependent on your job title and the industry you work in. Earning your Bachelor of Science in Sociology degree is the first step you need to take if you would like to pursue this career path. A bachelor’s degree may enable you to pursue entry-level positions in fields such as social services, education and public policy.1 However, to hold a higher-level position, you can expect to need either a Master of Science in Sociology or a PhD in the field.1
Before considering your options for what to do with a sociology degree, it can be helpful to know what sociologists who hold advanced degrees typically do on a daily basis.
Research Design
Sociologists are typically responsible for designing and conducting research projects. The subject of a project will depend on your specific job title or area of expertise.
The first step in research is to produce a hypothesis. Some of the topics you may encounter during your research include religion, education, health, aging, families, gender, crime and population. You will conduct research to see if anyone else has done any experiments to test your hypothesis. The design of your research project should be precise enough that you can address your hypothesis.
Data Collection
After designing tests for your research project, you will begin conducting them and collecting data. A test can be something simple, such as a survey that you send out to a small sample of people. You might also go out into a public space to observe how people behave. After that, you will consider whether your observations can address the question you are asking in your project.
Data Analysis
Once all the data has been collected, it is your job as a sociologist to analyze the information. You will need to keep track of answers and observations so you can make a note of any patterns that you see. You will also want to make a note if you see anything unexpected or out of the ordinary.
After analyzing your findings, you may determine that you need to conduct more research. Otherwise, you’ll be ready to compile your findings and publish them.
Publication of Findings
Compiling and publishing reports is an important part of being a sociologist. After doing your research, you can create reports to share your findings with others in the field. These reports will outline your hypothesis, what research you performed, how you collected your data and what the data shows regarding your hypothesis.
Your findings may be submitted for publication to professional journals. In some cases, you may be responsible for presenting your findings in person, such as at professional conferences or before a panel of stakeholders at your organization.
Consulting Professionals
Sociologists may work for a government organization, university, scientific research firm or another entity.2 You may need to consult other professionals in your organization or industry to discuss your findings so they can apply your work to their own area of expertise.
