How to become a Sociologist or Anthropologist

Official title: Sociologist/Anthropologist

Also called: Anthropologist, Behavioural scientist, Criminologist, Ethnographer, Ethnologist, Penologist, Social pathologist, Sociologist, Ÿ Criminologist, Ÿ Ethnographer, Ÿ Penologist, Ÿ Social pathologist

Sociologist/Anthropologist investigates the origin, development, way of life and social relationships of groups of human beings. He/she collects, organises, and interprets scientific data relating to community organisations, social customs, the family and other social phenomena. He/she may specialise in a branch of sociology such as criminology, demography, penology, social ecology, social pathology, or in rural, urban or industrial sociology, and be designated accordingly.

Main tasks

• Conducting research on the origin, development, structure, social patterns, organisations and inter-relationships of human society
• Tracing the origin and evolution of humanity through the study of changing characteristics and cultural and social institutions
• Tracing the development of humanity through the material remains of its past, such as dwellings, temples, tools, pottery, coins, weapons, or sculpture
• Studying physical and climatic aspects of areas and regions, and correlating these findings with economic, social and cultural activities
• Advising on the practical application of these findings in the formulation of economic and social policies for population groups and regions, and for the development of markets
• Preparing scholarly papers and reports

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.

Related jobs

• Social science researcher
• Economist
• Political scientist
• Minister of religion

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Questions people ask

Will AI change the work of a Sociologist or Anthropologist?

Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

• International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026