Will “Policy Advisor” be Automated?

Core Skills & Abilities

• Write grants to obtain funding for research projects.

• Develop approaches to the solution of groups' problems, based on research findings in sociology and related disciplines.

• Explain sociological research to the general public.

• Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.

• Observe group interactions and role affiliations to collect data, identify problems, evaluate progress, and determine the need for additional change.

• Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.

• Consult with and advise individuals such as administrators, social workers, and legislators regarding social issues and policies, as well as the implications of research findings.

• Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.

• Present research findings at professional meetings.

• Develop problem intervention procedures, using techniques such as interviews, consultations, role playing, and participant observation of group interactions.

• Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.

• Collaborate with research workers in other disciplines.

• Teach sociology.

• Direct work of statistical clerks, statisticians, and others who compile and evaluate research data.

• Develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews.