What skills does a sociologist need?

A sociologist needs 41 essential skills including research design, statistics, sociology, geography, scientific research methodology. Core competencies include .

Will AI replace sociologist jobs?

The AI disruption score for sociologist is 18/100 (low risk). Some tasks may be automated but the role will evolve rather than disappear entirely.

Public Administration & LegalLegal, social and cultural professionalsISCO 2632

sociologist

Sociologists focus their research on explaining social behaviour and the way people have organised themselves as a society. They research and explain the way societies have evolved by describing their legal, political, and economic systems and their cultural expressions.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (41)

research designresearch designThe set of methods and techniques of research that are used to conduct a study. It includes practical steps in research such as purpose statement, data collection, methodology, and data analysis.statisticsstatisticsThe study of statistical theory, methods and practices such as collection, organisation, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data. It deals with all aspects of data including the planning of ...sociologysociologyThe group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.geographygeographyThe scientific discipline that studies the land, phenomena, characteristics and inhabitants of Earth. This field seeks to understand the natural and man-made complexities of Earth. It explores the soc...scientific research methodologyscientific research methodologyThe theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.draft scientific or academic papers and technical documentationdraft scientific or academic papers and technical documentationDraft and edit scientific, academic or technical texts on different subjects.manage research datamanage research dataProduce and analyse scientific data originating from qualitative and quantitative research methods. Store and maintain the data in research databases. Support the re-use of scientific data and be fami...gather datagather dataExtract exportable data from multiple sources.interpret current datainterpret current dataAnalyse data gathered from sources such as market data, scientific papers, customer requirements and questionnaires which are current and up-to-date in order to assess development and innovation in ar...interact professionally in research and professional environmentsinteract professionally in research and professional environmentsShow consideration to others as well as collegiality. Listen, give and receive feedback and respond perceptively to others, also involving staff supervision and leadership in a professional setting.disseminate results to the scientific communitydisseminate results to the scientific communityPublicly disclose scientific results by any appropriate means, including conferences, workshops, colloquia and scientific publications.operate open source softwareoperate open source softwareOperate Open Source software, knowing the main Open Source models, licensing schemes, and the coding practices commonly adopted in the production of Open Source software.monitor sociological trendsmonitor sociological trendsIdentify and investigate sociological trends and movements in society.speak different languagesspeak different languagesMaster foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.apply statistical analysis techniquesapply statistical analysis techniquesUse models (descriptive or inferential statistics) and techniques (data mining or machine learning) for statistical analysis and ICT tools to analyse data, uncover correlations and forecast trends.evaluate research activitiesevaluate research activitiesReview proposals, progress, impact and outcomes of peer researchers, including through open peer review.demonstrate disciplinary expertisedemonstrate disciplinary expertiseDemonstrate deep knowledge and complex understanding of a specific research area, including responsible research, research ethics and scientific integrity principles, privacy and GDPR requirements, re...increase the impact of science on policy and societyincrease the impact of science on policy and societyInfluence evidence-informed policy and decision making by providing scientific input to and maintaining professional relationships with policymakers and other stakeholders.manage findable accessible interoperable and reusable datamanage findable accessible interoperable and reusable dataProduce, describe, store, preserve and (re) use scientific data based on FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles, making data as open as possible, and as closed as necessar...perform scientific researchperform scientific researchGain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.apply for research fundingapply for research fundingIdentify key relevant funding sources and prepare research grant application in order to obtain funds and grants. Write research proposals.observe human behaviourobserve human behaviourMake detailed notes while observing how humans interact with and react to each other, objects, concepts, ideas, beliefs, and systems in order to uncover patterns and trends.apply scientific methodsapply scientific methodsApply scientific methods and techniques to investigate phenomena, by acquiring new knowledge or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.conduct quantitative researchconduct quantitative researchExecute a systematic empirical investigation of observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational techniques.apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activitiesapply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activitiesApply fundamental ethical principles and legislation to scientific research, including issues of research integrity. Perform, review, or report research avoiding misconducts such as fabrication, falsi...promote open innovation in researchpromote open innovation in researchApply techniques, models, methods and strategies which contribute to the promotion of steps towards innovation through collaboration with people and organizations outside the organisation.publish academic researchpublish academic researchConduct academic research, in universities and research institutions, or on a personal account, publish it in books or academic journals with the aim of contributing to a field of expertise and achiev...promote the transfer of knowledgepromote the transfer of knowledgeDeploy broad awareness of processes of knowledge valorisation aimed to maximise the two–way flow of technology, intellectual property, expertise and capability between the research base and industry o...think abstractlythink abstractlyDemonstrate the ability to use concepts in order to make and understand generalisations, and relate or connect them to other items, events, or experiences.apply knowledge of human behaviourapply knowledge of human behaviourPractice principles related to group behaviour, trends in society, and influence of societal dynamics.mentor individualsmentor individualsMentor individuals by providing emotional support, sharing experiences and giving advice to the individual to help them in their personal development, as well as adapting the support to the specific n...manage personal professional developmentmanage personal professional developmentTake responsibility for lifelong learning and continuous professional development. Engage in learning to support and update professional competence. Identify priority areas for professional developmen...write scientific publicationswrite scientific publicationsPresent the hypothesis, findings, and conclusions of your scientific research in your field of expertise in a professional publication.develop professional network with researchers and scientistsdevelop professional network with researchers and scientistsDevelop alliances, contacts or partnerships, and exchange information with others. Foster integrated and open collaborations where different stakeholders co-create shared value research and innovation...integrate gender dimension in researchintegrate gender dimension in researchTake into account in the whole research process the biological characteristics and the evolving social and cultural features of women and men (gender).perform project managementperform project managementManage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project's progress in order to achieve a specific g...manage open publicationsmanage open publicationsBe familiar with Open Publication strategies, with the use of information technology to support research, and with the development and management of CRIS (current research information systems) and ins...study human societiesstudy human societiesGather and analyse data in order to examine how humans respond to change, how power systems come into place, how cultural movements arise, etc.synthesise informationsynthesise informationCritically read, interpret, and summarise new and complex information from diverse sources.conduct research across disciplinesconduct research across disciplinesWork and use research findings and data across disciplinary and/or functional boundaries.communicate with a non-scientific audiencecommunicate with a non-scientific audienceCommunicate about scientific findings to a non-scientific audience, including the general public. Tailor the communication of scientific concepts, debates, findings to the audience, using a variety of...

Optional (35)

legal studieslegal studiesThe study of law; the situations and causes that elicit responses from institutions in the form of laws and regulations. Some areas of law are civil, business, criminal, and property law.religious studiesreligious studiesStudy of religious behaviour, beliefs, and institutions from a secular point of view and based on methodologies from various fields such as anthropology, sociology, and philosophy.spatial planningspatial planningAn interdisciplinary field of study between engineering and social sciences. It refers to the planning of economic, environmental and social processes for specific aims. These processes are combined w...historyhistoryThe discipline that studies, analyses, and presents the events of the past related to humans.European integrationEuropean integrationThe evolving and ongoing process of economic, social, and political integration among European countries to enhance their cooperation, collaboration, and prosperity, as well as to overcome historical ...interview techniquesinterview techniquesThe techniques for getting information out of people by asking the right questions in the right way and to make them feel comfortable.social network analysissocial network analysisThe research method that is mainly explored in sociology and communication science and focuses on the analysis of the relations between individuals and among organisations and states.politicspoliticsThe method, process and study of influencing people, gaining control over a community or society, and the distribution of power within a community and between societies.communication studiescommunication studiesThe academic field of study that researches the processes of human interaction and communication through different media and how that communication is interpreted on a political, economic, cultural, s...economicseconomicsEconomic principles and practices, financial and commodity markets, banking and the analysis of financial data.African studiesAfrican studiesAcademic field dealing with interdisciplinary studies of the African continent from an historical, social, legal, political, economic, or cultural approach. Its diversity and the relationship of Afric...multidisciplinary researchmultidisciplinary researchThe research technique where a common issue is investigated using approaches from different disciplines with the aim of finding a comprehensive solution to it.content marketing strategycontent marketing strategyThe process of creation and share of media and publishing content in order to acquire customers.action researchaction researchThe research approach that consists of investigating as well taking action towards an issue. It is employed by educators facing specific issues in teaching as well as by those who do not face issues, ...anthropologyanthropologyThe study of development and behaviour of human beings.demographydemographyThe scientific field of study that deals with studying the size, structure, and distribution of the human population, and its geographical and temporal changes.economic anthropologyeconomic anthropologyThe academic field that studies the interrelationship between human societies and their economic systems. Discipline that examines economic activities in society and the processes of consumption, prod...political economypolitical economyThe field that combines political and economic factors in the analysis of modern societies. It focuses on factors such as production and trade and their relations with the law and the government.cultural historycultural historyField that combines historical and anthropological approaches for recording and studying past customs, arts, and manners of a group of people taking into account their political, cultural, and social ...gender studiesgender studiesInterdisciplinary academic field which studies gender equality and gender representation in society. Theories related to gender studies can be part of the scientific research in various fields such as...write research proposalswrite research proposalsSynthetise and write proposals aiming to solve research problems. Draft the proposal baseline and objectives, the estimated budget, risks and impact. Document the advances and new developments on the ...advise on public relationsadvise on public relationsAdvise business or public organisations on public relations management and strategies in order to ensure efficient communication with target audiences, and proper conveying of information.advise legislatorsadvise legislatorsGive advice on various government and legislative duties, such as policy creation and the inner workings of a governmental department, to government officials in legislative positions, such as members...teach in academic or vocational contextsteach in academic or vocational contextsInstruct students in the theory and practice of academic or vocational subjects, transferring the content of own and others' research activities.study culturesstudy culturesStudy and internalise a culture that is not your own to truly understand its traditions, rules, and workings.manage quantitative datamanage quantitative dataGather, process and present quantitative data. Use the appropriate programs and methods for validating, organising and interpreting data.apply teaching strategiesapply teaching strategiesEmploy various approaches, learning styles, and channels to instruct students, such as communicating content in terms they can understand, organising talking points for clarity, and repeating argument...conduct public surveysconduct public surveysConduct the procedures of a public survey from the initial formulation and compilation of the questions, identifying the target audience, managing the survey method and operations, managing the proces...interview focus groupsinterview focus groupsInterview a group of people about their perceptions, opinions, principles, beliefs, and attitudes towards a concept, system, product or idea in an interactive group setting where the participants can ...perform public relationsperform public relationsPerform public relations (PR) by managing the spread of information between an individual or an organisation and the public.develop scientific theoriesdevelop scientific theoriesFormulate scientific theories based on empirical observations, gathered data and theories of other scientists.teach sociologyteach sociologyInstruct students in the theory and practice of sociology, and more specifically in topics such as empirical observations, human behaviour, and development of societies.apply blended learningapply blended learningBe familiar with blended learning tools by combining traditional face-to-face and online learning, using digital tools, online technologies, and e-learning methods.advise on organisational cultureadvise on organisational cultureAdvise organisations on their internal culture and work environment as experienced by employees, and the factors which may influence the behaviour of employees.perform market researchperform market researchGather, assess and represent data about target market and customers in order to facilitate strategic development and feasibility studies. Identify market trends.