What sociologist is this specialist? Profession sociologist. Famous sociologists

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

Who is that?

At the very beginning, it must be said that sociology is an extremely new and very actively developing branch of humanitarian knowledge. The object of her research is society as a whole. Already on this basis, we 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 - survey and questioning) and mathematical processing of the data obtained, makes certain conclusions. Most often, the goal of the study is the most diverse processes of development of society or the moods of certain groups of the population. After the results 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 to communicate with people. He must also have mathematical abilities in order 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?

1. Population Survey. It can be carried out by a variety of methods. This can be a questionnaire, interview, in-depth interview, conversation, etc. Before interviewing a population or a certain group of people, a sociologist independently draws up a questionnaire.
2. When all the information is received, this specialist must process all the information. Part of the work is done manually, part - on the computer using special programs. For example, SPSS or OSA.
3. Based on the results obtained, the sociologist must draw certain conclusions regarding the mood of the population.
4. Further, this specialist should provide a way out of this situation or give recommendations on how to deal with this problem.

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

Qualities that a sociologist should possess

The profession “sociologist” assumes that an individual has a spectrum of certain personal and labor qualities:

1. This specialist must have a scientific mindset. Indeed, sociology is not only an applied science. Not every person can correctly compile a questionnaire and preliminary analyze the mood of society.
2. Creative approach to work. When conducting research, thinking logically and structurally is not enough. Sometimes sociologists need to make innovative decisions.
3. A sociologist must be diligent, scrupulous. After all, after conducting a study, you need to process a huge amount of information. And this will require a lot of time and labor.
4. This specialist must also have the skills of a psychologist. After all, sometimes “difficult” categories of the population need to be questioned. For example, drug addicts or prisoners. And such people need to find a certain approach.
5. A broad outlook is also needed by sociologists. They should see the world or the situation in different projections, treating everything inappropriately and impartially.
6. Well and most importantly: the sociologist takes full responsibility for the results of the study. This must be remembered.

Where can this specialist work?

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

1. Consulting companies or analytical sociological centers.
2. In municipal and state authorities.
3. In personnel services.
4. In organizations that engage in advertising or public relations.
5. In the media.
6. In various marketing departments at any self-respecting enterprise.

Sociology and its parents

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

Separately, I want to talk about which people, well-known sociologists, developed this field of knowledge even before it was singled out as a separate science:

1. Auguste Comte He is also called the "father of sociology." He regarded society as a kind of dual organism, one part of which is a continuation of the biological series. The other was something new, socially human (the term of O. Comte).
2. Be sure to say a few words about such a French scientist as Emil Durkheim. In his writings, he described the multiple research methods that sociology uses today.
3. Herbert Spencer was a follower of Auguste Comte and further developed theories of evolution regarding human society. It is worth saying that his opinion and works were greatly influenced by the theory of Charles Darwin.
4. Thomas Hobbes, an English researcher, first created a contractual theory of the origin of the state. In contrast to it was the theory of the French scientist J.J. Rousseau, who said that the state is the result of inequality in society.
5. Other well-known sociologists who developed this science even before it appeared: J. Locke, A. Smith, F. Tönnis, C. Lambroso, etc.
   

American sociology

A great contribution to the development of this science was made by American sociologists.

1. T. Parsons. He tried to understand all aspects of the social world, and especially how the modern achievements relate to social life.
2. R. Merton. He studied the social structure and its impact on social action.
3. E. Mayo. Based on hotthorn experiments, he began to talk about the nature of human relations and informal ties.
4. A. Maslow. He is the founder of the well-known pyramid of the hierarchy of human needs.
5. Other American sociologists who also developed sociology as a science: A. Small, J. G. Mead, W. Thomas, and others.
   

Sociology of Russia, which developed this science

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

1. M.M. Kovalevsky. Positivist, follower of Auguste Comte. He was one of the first to apply the scientific-historical method, which helped him to investigate the emergence and development of multiple social phenomena.
2. P.I. Mechnikov. He is not only a geographer, but also a major specialist in sociological knowledge. The scientist investigated how society depends on the hydrological factor (rivers, seas, oceans).
3. A.I. Stronin, P.F. Lilienfeld. The followers of Herbert Spencer, who were able to go beyond the classical framework of the “society-organism" analogies. We considered society already as a kind of “social body”.
4. K.M. Takhtarev. One of the first in Russia began to apply empirical methods in sociology - observation, experiment. He said that without mathematics, sociology simply could not function.
5. P.A. Sorokin. He greatly contributed to accelerating the process of institutionalization of sociology as a science. He became famous worldwide for the theory of sociological stratification, in which society was considered from the point of view of horizontal and vertical mobility.
6. Other Russian sociologists who also made a huge contribution to this science: S. A. Muromtsev, N. A. Korkunov, N. I. Kareev, Y. L. Lavrov, Y. K. Mikhailovsky and others.

   

Modern Russian sociologists

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

1. Boris Dubin. Sociologist, poet, translator. He studied the youth of Russia, domestic sociological, political culture, post-Soviet civil society. He published many works.
2. V. A. Yadov, A. G. Zdravomyslov. These sociologists dealt with social problems related to work and leisure.
3. V.N. Shubkin and A.I. Todorsky. Explored the problems of the village and the city.
4. Widely known, like Boris Dubin, the sociologist J. T. Toshchenko. He studied social planning, social mood. He wrote the most important works on the sociology and sociology of labor.

Other modern Russian sociologists: N.I. Lapin, V.N. Kuznetsov, V.I. Zhukov, etc.