What difficulties can be encountered in the profession of a sociologist. Sociologist - the profession of curious citizens

Today there are many vacancies that people do not know everything about. And if everything is very clear with the professions of "plumber" or "teacher", then not everyone will be able to answer the question of who a sociologist is. This is a person who is engaged in sociology. Basically, you should not count on more.

Who is it?

At the very beginning, it must be said that sociology is an extremely new and very active developing industry humanitarian knowledge. The object of her research is society as a whole. Already proceeding from this one can understand what the profession of "sociologist" is.

This is a job for a person who, using a variety of research methods (the most common ones are polling and questioning) and mathematical processing of the data obtained, draws certain conclusions. Most often, the purpose of the study is the most diverse processes of development of society or the mood of certain groups of the population. After the results are obtained, the sociologist must also give certain recommendations on how to cope with the existing problem.

Generally speaking, a sociologist is in a sense a unique and multifaceted scientist who must possess not only humanitarian knowledge and have the skills of a psychologist in order to communicate with people. He must also have mathematical ability to correctly process the results of the research.

What does a sociologist do?

What does the profession of "sociologist" imply? What can a person who is applying for this position do?

Population Survey. It can be carried out by the most different methods... This can be a questionnaire, interview, in-depth interview, conversation, etc. Before questioning the population or a certain group of people, the sociologist compiles a questionnaire on his own.
When all the information is received, this specialist must process all the information. Some of the work is done manually, some - on a computer using special programs. For example, SPSS or OSA.
Based on the results obtained, the sociologist must draw certain conclusions regarding the mood of the population.
Further, this specialist must provide ways out of this situation or give recommendations on how to deal with this problem.

A small conclusion can be drawn that a sociologist is a person who is trying to change society for the better. The results of some studies, however, often become the basis for certain projects or actions that are carried out by various government and public organizations.

Qualities that a sociologist should have

The profession "sociologist" presupposes that an individual has a spectrum of certain personal and work qualities:

This specialist must necessarily have a scientific one. After all, sociology is not only an applied science. Not every person will be able to competently compose a questionnaire and preliminary analyze the mood of society.
A creative approach to work. When doing research, thinking logically and structurally is not enough. Sometimes sociologists need to make unconventional decisions.
A sociologist must be diligent and scrupulous. Indeed, after conducting a study, you need to process a huge amount of information. And this will take a lot of time and work.
This specialist must also have the skills of a psychologist. After all, sometimes it is necessary to interview “difficult” categories of the population. For example, drug addicts or prisoners. And to such people it is necessary to find a certain approach.
Sociologists also need a broad outlook. They need to see the world or situation in different projections, treating everything without judgment and impartiality.
And most importantly: the sociologist takes full responsibility for the research results. This must be remembered.

Where can this specialist work?

Where can a sociologist work? Work can be found in the following organizations:

Consulting companies or think tanks.
In municipal and state authorities.
In personnel services.
In organizations that are engaged in advertising or public relations.
In the media.
In various marketing departments at any self-respecting company.

Sociology and her parents

Until the 18th century, it was philosophy that was considered the "science of sciences" and occupied a leading place. However, economics, historiography, and jurisprudence gradually began to branch off from it. And at the turn of the 18-19th centuries, the science of society arose, which was called sociology.

Separately, I would like to talk about what people, famous sociologists, developed this area knowledge even before it was separated into a separate science:

American sociology

American sociologists also made a great contribution to the development of this science.

Sociology of Russia, which developed this science

Separately, it is necessary to talk about sociologists in Russia who have been actively developing this science over the past couple of centuries.

Contemporary Russian sociologists

Separately, it is also necessary to consider modern Russian sociologists, who to this day are developing this science.

Sociologist, poet, translator. Studied the youth of Russia, domestic sociological, political culture, post-Soviet civil society... He published many works.
V. A. Yadov, A. G. Zdravomyslov. These sociologists dealt with social problems that related to work and leisure.
V.N.Shubkin and A.I. Todorosky. Investigated the problems of the village and the city.
He is widely known, as is Boris Dubin, the sociologist Zh.T. Toshchenko. Studied social planning, social mood. He wrote the most important works on the sociology and sociology of labor.

Other contemporary Russian sociologists: N.I. Lapin, V.N. Kuznetsov, V.I. Zhukov, and others.

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Description

The scope of sociology is very wide, because it studies all social phenomena, sometimes completely different colors: culture, entrepreneurship, fashion, politics, and so on. People who are far from this science consider a person with a questionnaire to be a sociologist, although in reality this is just an interviewer who has to work for every student of the social faculty. Questioning, in turn, is just a way of collecting data within the framework of a study and one of its stages. It is preceded by the setting of goals, objectives, the choice of methods for collecting and analyzing information. But even the questioning itself is already a whole science with many nuances: each question must be thought out thoroughly and stand exactly in the place where it should be. Processing the results is another important step. All answers from the questionnaires are entered into special programs, the most famous of which are Stata and SPSS. The analysis is based on complex mathematical methods, and it is important not only to calculate the results, but also to interpret them correctly. And all this is only a small part of the work of a sociologist, described in the most general terms. The science of society is able to judge the past, study the present and predict the future, identify the causes of various events, analyze the development trends of individual cultures and human civilization as a whole.

Where to study and what specialties

Before choosing a university for admission, it is worth deciding what specialty you are most interested in. The most common is called “sociology”, but there are also more specific areas: “economic sociology”, “sociology of mass communications”, “modern social theory” and others. You can get a profession both at a general university and at a specialized higher educational institution. Examples:

Volgograd Institute of Economics, Sociology and Law.

Range of duties

A professional sociologist must know a lot and constantly develop professionally, because social processes continuous, the world is changing rapidly. The specialist is obliged to own the basic economic methods, know sociological approaches, be able to use professional software, learn from the experience of foreign colleagues. Traditionally, the duties of a sociologist include drawing up programs, conducting sociological research, their competent interpretation and analysis, development of recommendations for improving certain processes, consulting on social issues.

Who is the profession suitable for?

Sociology is suitable for curious, inquisitive people who are able to perceive any information critically. It would be a mistake to classify this science as a purely humanitarian one. Sociology students master mathematical methods, study statistics, algebra, number theory. At the same time, they study philosophy, logic, history, study at least one foreign language.

Salaries and prospects

The salary of a sociologist depends on the area in which he works. A university graduate has 2 main career paths - science and applied sociology. If a young specialist chooses the first path, he will study various social phenomena, publish in scientific journals, speak at conferences, and teach. Unfortunately, in Russia only priority research areas (weapons development, space exploration, oil production, etc.) are well financed, so a sociologist should not count on a high salary. Those who strive for more or less decent earnings should get a job in companies that study public opinion("Levada Center", GFK "Rus", "Zircon" and others). You can also do marketing research, and this is already commerce, where salaries (at least in Moscow) can no longer be calculated in tens, but in hundreds of thousands. When finding a job, experience is important, so it is worth starting to earn extra money while still in your student years. As mentioned above, many young social scientists start out as interviewers. After working as a performer for some time, you can apply for more serious analytical positions.

If you have studied or are a little versed in Latin, then the very word "sociologist", for sure, has already suggested to you that this profession connected with society... Many believe that the work of a sociologist is very boring and completely incomprehensible, but sociologists themselves are endowed with the ability to better recognize human characters, to see society as if from the inside.

In addition, many know too little about the functions of a sociologist that it is difficult to imagine a complete picture associated with his profession.

First of all, it should be noted that a sociologist is the specialist who analyzes the problems of society, evaluates such facts and phenomena, as well as their detailed description. A sociologist can study both society as a whole and some of its groups.

If a sociologist realizes himself in commercial area, then he is required to engage in research in close contact with marketing, as well as promotion of various kinds goods and services. The powers of a sociologist in the commercial sphere may additionally include the promotion of certain products, by evaluating the work done advertising campaigns, identifying their effectiveness and drawing up ratings of mass media.

Responsibilities of a sociologist who has found himself in the field of analytics or works in consulting company or government agencies will differ from commerce. For example, in this case, he no longer needs to promote and evaluate the effectiveness of advertising for certain products.

From him it is necessary to find out opinions, for example, on the choice of a candidate for public office... Having the results, the sociologist processes them using a mathematical method. Then the ultimate goal will be to assess the processes that are currently taking place in society, to understand the causes of those phenomena that are completely inappropriate and undesirable for society and explain how to overcome them and get out of the crisis situation.

In general, a sociologist must investigate the processes that take place within society, and then use his observations in the sphere of life with which he has to cooperate and for which he, in fact, works.

This gives the sociologist a huge advantage when choosing a place of work, because sociology affects many different areas and areas. For example, sociologists are needed in in mass media and in PR companies. The services of a sociologist, as mentioned earlier, are not neglected by advertising companies either.

Of course, sociologists are always in need of analytical centers and consulting companies... Today, there is a tendency to use the services of a sociologist both in state bodies and in other authorities.

In his work, the sociologist uses a huge number of methods, among which are especially interesting interviews, focus groups, observation, psychological methods other. It is imperative that a sociologist take an interest in information analysis and the humanities.

Indeed, on the one hand, it is impossible to imagine a sociologist without logic, a clear sequence in analytical methods, knowledge of mathematics, including theory of probability. But at the same level, he needs to be interested in the problems of society on different levels - cultural, economic, political, social, and so on.

Therefore, if you recognize the combination of two similar qualities in yourself, then try yourself in the profession of a sociologist and in the study of the science of sociology, in general. In any case, it is necessary to realize that sociology and the profession of a sociologist include a fairly wide range of skills and manifestations of oneself in this area.

A true professional and good specialist sociology knows how to find answers to questions of interest to many, how to consistently understand the required phenomenon and how to eliminate this or that problem that will lead to a crisis in public life. In addition, the professional skills and qualities of a sociologist allow one to be successful not only at work, but also in communicating with people, interacting with the outside world.

Sociologists are more than convinced that society has tremendous power over a person, who, in turn, is a participant and an integral part of it. Therefore, all events that arise and occur in society, the sociologist considers as further influence, both for an individual and for a group of people.

If you are faced with a true professional in the field of sociology, then rest assured that he is able to read between the lines and see things that seem completely inaccessible to us.

The long list of humanitarian specialties is full of those that cause the most misunderstanding. Perhaps the profession of a sociologist can rightfully be counted among them.

The media regularly refer to the data of sociologists, write many articles on the topic “sociologists count”, but the average person does not gain an understanding of their work. So who are sociologists and what is the essence of their work?

Description of the profession of a sociologist

To begin with, it should be said that sociology is a humanitarian science that studies social processes and the relationship between them. Sociology was born relatively recently - at the beginning of the 20th century and owes its appearance to the works of the German philosopher and political economist Max Weber. It is he who is recorded as the "parents" of sociology, although, in fact, the laws of social processes were studied by ancient Greek philosophers.

Accordingly, any sociologist is to some extent engaged in scientific work, although often it is simply a collection and systematization of empirical data. In doing so, he uses polls or questionnaires of the population.

The essence of a sociologist's work consists of several stages:

Statement of the question at the request of the customer;

Determination of the sample (how many people need to be interviewed);

Development of a method for polling the population. This can be either a questionnaire survey or various combined methods;

Determining the timing of the study;

Drawing up a research plan;

Systematization and calculation of primary data. As a rule, processing takes place on a computer using special programs;

Making adjustments (replacing the wording of the questions, expanding or, conversely, narrowing the questionnaire);

Obtaining the final results and their systematization.

The ultimate goal of almost all sociological research is to clarify the mood of society on a particular problem. This data is extremely important for making management decisions.

Sociological research is also necessary for business, so they are willingly ordered large companies... And some even keep their own staff of sociologists.

So the business keeps track of a lot of parameters, ranging from the purchasing power of the population to the habits and wishes of customers. By getting reliable feedback, you can adjust your business strategy in time and cut costs.

Places of work for sociologists

In fact, there are not many places in Russia where one can directly engage in scientific activities. The main ones are the All-Russian Center for Public Opinion Research (VTsIOM), as well as a few independent sociological institutes such as the Levada Center.

Nevertheless, specialists with a sociological education are in demand in many areas of activity:

Private consulting organizations;

State bodies authorities;

Mass media;

Marketing departments of large companies.

Requirements for the qualifications of sociologists at the enterprise

A sociologist for successful employment must have a rather specific set of skills and qualities:

An analytical mindset, to be able to pose a problem and clothe it in clear and intelligible questions;

Ability for consistent systemic problem solving;

Perseverance and attention to detail at all stages of research;

Broad outlook and knowledge in the field of economics, psychology, production of goods and services;

Ability to take responsibility for the results of their work.

Where to study to be a sociologist: options

Sociology is one of the few specialties where a purely specialized education is needed. Without it, it will be extremely difficult for a layman to work. Sociologists are trained in higher education educational institutions for undergraduate (4 years) or graduate programs (2 years).

There can be many directions even in one university: "Economic Sociology", " Social theory and Applied Sociology ", etc.

Sociologists' vacancies in the labor market, salary level

The average salary of a sociologist is highly dependent on the area in which he works, as well as on experience and seniority. For example, an ordinary employee with more than 1 year experience can count on 35 - 40 thousand rubles, the head of a department already on 80 thousand rubles. In leading organizations, such as VTsIOM, you can receive up to 150 thousand rubles a month.

However, at the same time, employers need specialists in specific areas, often with a mixed specialization and even two education. For example, knowledge in the field of economics is very welcome.

There are a lot of vacancies and offers for sociologists, but at the same time, about half of them are concentrated in Moscow. In the provinces, graduates of sociological universities are not in great demand. The best offer is an HR service or executive assistant.

Pros and cons of the profession of a sociologist

interesting analytical work;

high salary level;

opportunity for career growth.

low demand in the province;

difficulty in admission and obtaining a specialty;

high responsibility;

attentiveness and high qualifications are required.