Take Control of Your Future with a Rewarding Profession as a Social Scientist!

A small group of focused individuals with healthy minds is enough to change the world. Never doubt this. Do you like assisting people in general? Are you sociable and helpful? Do you find yourself helping your friends out, whenever, however? When you grow up, would you be interested in crafting a more sustainable future for us all and not just your friends? Can you help people in understanding and imagining this future? Imagining is the most important deed of all as only that can ensure our progress toward it. Our planet today is ridden with several impoverishments. Will you consider yourself responsible enough to get us away from a terrible future by securing the present? You can help in multiple ways as a Social Scientist to alleviate problems like environmental changes or sufferings of the elderly or maybe even a worldwide pandemic. Don’t wait. Let us explore who Social Scientists are, what they do, how they do it and how to become one.

Social Scientists are engaged in studying, assessing, and researching about as well as resolving challenges concerning one or more complex aspects of our societies (local, national, regional, and global)– such as the welfare of the elderly, environmental changes, inequality among people, economic & political turmoil, movement of people (migration), social development, human rights, international relations, criminal justice, religion & traditions, demography/ population studies, tribal welfare, the military systems, natural disasters, epidemics, and so on. They have several contributions to make such as devising ways to mitigate social trauma (suffering) or preventing social issues or finding solutions to introduce a happier & healthier way of being applicable to different cultures of societies.

Why Become a Social Scientist?

As a Social Scientist, you will be studying, assessing, and researching about as well as resolving challenges concerning one or more complex aspects of our societies (local, national, regional, and global)– such as the welfare of the elderly, environmental changes, inequality among people, economic & political turmoil, movement of people (migration), social development, human rights, international relations, criminal justice, religion & traditions, demography/ population studies, tribal welfare, the military systems, natural disasters, epidemics, and so on.

These are some of the many areas where you can work as a Social Scientist. You will have several contributions to make such as devising ways to mitigate social trauma (suffering) or preventing social issues or finding solutions to introduce a happier & healthier way of being applicable to different cultures of societies. Let us take up some of the most prominent & interesting challenges in the current scenario.

Example 1 – Helping our Seniors

You must know that with the exponential advancement in medical and healthcare sciences as well as in engineering, the individual life expectancies of us Homo sapiens (the current occupants of this planet) have increased manifold.

This has led to the increasing population of the elderly. Japan has a staggering volume of the aged and has an inverted age pyramid (populations of age groups)! The top of an age pyramid indicates the elderly and the base indicates lower ages.

Social Gerontology is the academic field concerning the social aspect of growing old and the welfare of the elderly. Social Scientists are in great demand to apply their expertise in improving support services for the elderly for educating, researching, and advancing the broader causes of older people.

They play a crucial role, facilitating absolute handholding, in helping seniors achieve what they call ‘active aging’ by coming up with exciting programs, initiatives and services to assist their physical, cognitive and socio-emotional well-being. Their work can also influence laws and policies that affect the way society perceives and treats our seniors.

Example 2 – The Curious Case of Personoids

Then humanoids or persons (human-like robots or human intelligence inside computers/ software or humans with capabilities enhanced by artificial intelligence or robotic technologies- whatever you can think of), when they become real in another couple of decades (they will certainly do), will have to be taught everything about how humans behave in groups, how our societies work or what kinds of problems our societies have, how they understand a language on a context, how they explain things with different words, how humans emote & behave, etc. This is because, to be part of human societies, they have to have this knowledge so that their communication and interactions with humans become effective and free of conflicts.

Understand that this knowledge, at least some basic knowledge about these, have to be built into the fully or partially artificial persons or they should be taught through interactions. Social Scientists are working to structure and build such knowledge now and they will be called in for training or teaching in the future.

Example 3 – There will still be humans

With these world-shattering innovations and transformations in our lives, as we know it, we will be rendered completely unable to cope with the adjustments that will be needed in us (those who are still completely human or partially human), in order to use these technologies, wherever it may be, in all places where active human life takes some form.

Like say, a park while taking a stroll or playing professional games or at the office doing work or in school/ college studying or say if we participate in a parade or while watching television or listening to music (if at all television or music remains the way we know it now)! Currently, we cannot completely imagine what transformations may be brought about to which social aspect of our lives.

Because our societies will be transforming radically, working people (remember not just office, maybe students or others too) will also require mental & physical aid for readjusting to a new transformed life.

We may have super-extended abilities too which we will have to use frequently in the years to come, say, detachable wings to get to the office! Today, extended abilities are just limited to office software and little tiny bits of automated gadgets etc. Behold the future!

Every innovation which is utilized across societies for a purpose by several thousands of users has complex social aspects which can be addressed by Social Scientists. Social Scientists will have to theorize how to deal with the such implementation of artificial intelligence or such extended abilities.

Example 4 –What when disease strikes?

Say when the recent public health emergency caused due to the spread of the new type of Coronavirus (n-CoV) from China had impacted the welfare of civilians tremendously, even across national boundaries as the virus spread via air as well as asymptomatically (a person may spread without being ill but while carrying the virus).

The response measures that are being implemented have varying social effects on citizens and these measures vary from country to country. Social Scientists study the differential effects of these measures on citizens across different demographics amongst the population targeted. Response measures create differences and social inequalities too.

Social Scientists may also propose suitable counter-balancing ideas & collaborative efforts involving even the international community to mitigate these social inequalities. Social Scientists, if involved, can play a crucial role in containing and managing such outbreaks. Medical interventions are as essential as social interventions for coordinating corrective action internationally.

Example 5 – Where Art Thou Headed

Let us consider another example of the academic study of people migrating from one place to another. Social Scientists may be Migration Scholars too. Migration Scholars specialize in the academic study of human migration (size, structure, and distribution of migrant populations) or the movement of people across or within transnational boundaries, spanning different cultures and traditions.

They may specialize in archaeological studies focusing on early human migration flows, the spread of civilization and the development of trade routes & settlements. They may study how migration flows interact with literature & the arts or how cities & migrant populations interact or the economic results of migration.

They may work on issues involving undocumented and globally minor populations. They may also scrutinize the behavior of certain nation-state governments which criminalize migrant populations. They may deal with how migrants are frequently treated as criminals, deviants, and security risks by certain nation-states.

Popular Specialization in Social Scientist Profession

Applied Sociologists use their research findings as well as sociological theory to resolve real-life problems in the ongoing activities contained within applied or practical settings, like offices, parks, schools, and other places where daily life takes place. Research is the foundation of applied sociology. Sociological Practice is a more appropriate term. Applied Sociologists / Social Scientists use sociological theory, methods & skills to collect and analyze data, to communicate their findings, and understand & resolve social problems.

What Does a Social Scientist do?

You will be engaged in one or more of the following roles and responsibilities as well as other associated duties:

1. You will plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as group relations, poverty, crime, religion, natural resource management, youth/ gender issues, natural aging, etc.
2. You will collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.
3. You will screen potential subjects to determine their suitability as study participants.
4. You will develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews.
5. You will administer standardized tests to research subjects or interview them to collect research data.
6. You will observe group interactions and roles to collect data, identify problems, evaluate progress, and determine the need for additional change.
7. You will conduct internet-based & library research; you will prepare, manipulate, and manage extensive databases and perform descriptive analyses of data, using specific technical computer software.
8. You will 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.
9. You will prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results.

How to Become a Social Scientist – Eligibility Criteria

To get into this field, you need to complete Class 10 all subjects as per the scheme of studies. Then you have to complete Class 11-12 with any subject as per the scheme of studies. 

• After Class 11-12:
• You can go for a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology/ Social Science/ Social Studies / Sociology and Media / English & Sociology / Social Science / Applied Social Science / Human & Social Sciences/ Health & Social Science or similar disciplines
• You can study for a Bachelor’s / Master’s / Doctoral degree in any of the following fields (Note that all these fields may not offer you a degree at all three levels, that is in Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral. Some fields may offer a degree only at the Master’s or at the Doctoral level):

• Social Science
• Sociology
• Applied Sociology
• Comparative Sociology
• Computational Sociology
• Cultural Sociology
• Community Science and Studies
• Consumer Sciences & Studies
• Criminology
• Development Studies
• Disaster Management
• Energy Studies
• Folklore and Culture Studies
• Gender Studies
• Gerontology
• Globalization Studies
• Human Rights
• International Studies
• Labor Studies
• Population Studies
• Psycho-Social Rehabilitation
• Regional Cultural and Community Studies
• Rehabilitation Science
• Sustainability Studies
• Urban Policy and Development
• Water Policies
• Women’s Studies
• Youth Studies and Development
• Demography
• Environmental Sociology
• Family Studies
• Human Ecology
• Human Services
• Industrial Sociology
• Military Sociology
• Political Sociology
• Rural Sociology
• Sociology of Religion
• Urban Sociology

Job Opportunities

Before starting out with a permanent industrial role, you must look for volunteering opportunities with organizations and/or businesses while completing your education. This will help you develop the skills relevant to this industry. Such volunteering work opportunities exist with schools, community education or social work departments, or with groups including young people, victims of crime or homeless people etc.

If you start as a Program Intern / Project Intern or Extern or Trainee, then after completing your internship or traineeship you may rise to such positions as these.

• Applied Social Scientist
• Research Scientist-Social Science
• Policy Officer
• Survey Scientist
• Social Researcher
• Sustainability Science Researcher-Social Responsibility
• Well-Being Quantitative Researcher
• Community Development Worker
• International Aid/Development Worker
• Population Data Scientist
• Implementation Research Scientist
• Youth Worker
• Charity Officer
• People Research Scientist
• Family Support Worker
• Housing Manager/Officer
• Human Resources Officer
• Probation Officer
• Public Relations Officer
• Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO)

Typical employers include:

• Charitable, counseling, voluntary organizations/ NGOs
• Any government-owned corporations, ministries, or departments in central/ state governments such as transportation, health, agriculture, urban/ rural development, defense, treasury, labor, public services, education etc.
• Media companies, marketing & PR firms
• Social & market research organizations, survey companies like Nielsen etc. which conduct mass live data collection
• International policy-making and advisory organizations such as WHO, UN, International Food Policy Research Institute, IUCN, Organization for Economic & Co-operation Development etc.
• Giant IT companies. These generally look for Doctorates though. Some are Google, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft etc. for positions like Research Scientist, Sustainability Science Researcher, and Researcher – Social Media Collective. Here you will be expected to offer solutions with empirical & critical perspectives to complex socio-technical issues for these IT service providers and hardware manufacturing companies. You may be building analytical models and working with structured & unstructured data sets. You may participate in demographical and survey studies which help in crucial business decision-making.
• Experimentation-oriented analytics firms like Applied Predictive Technologies (which was acquired by MasterCard® recently)
• On the academic faculty of universities, research institutions etc.

Salary of a Social Scientist

Industrial Work

At the entry-level jobs, after your post-graduation, you may expect to get about Rs. 20,000 – 25,000 or even more a month. In junior-level jobs (after 4-5 years of post-graduation), you can make about Rs. 25,000 – 50,000 or more per month.

In mid-level jobs in India, you can expect to earn about Rs. 45,000 – 150,000 or even more a month.

In senior-level jobs in India, you can expect to earn about Rs. 90,000 – 4,50,000 or even more a month.

Research

After a Master’s degree, a stipend in India while doing Ph.D. is about Rs. 35,000-38,000 a month in a university or research center or as a Research Associate with a salary of about Rs. 15,000-20,000 a month.

After a Ph.D., the stipend for Post-Doctoral Fellows in a research institution or university research center is Rs. 40,000-45,000 a month.

In other organizations/companies mostly after a Ph.D. or after a Post-Doctoral Fellowship, salaries in India may vary between Rs. 50,000-1,20,000 a month or even more.

Academia

As per the Government prescribed salary scales at colleges and universities:

• Assistant Professor Grade II: Rs 57700 to Rs 117200 per month
• Assistant Professor Grade I: Rs 101500 to Rs 204700 per month
• Associate Professor: Rs 139600 to Rs 211300 per month
• Professor: Rs 144200 to Rs 224100 per month

Professionals on the faculty of private establishments have varied ranges too:-

• Qualified Master’s: Rs. 20,000 – 35,000 per month or more
• Qualified Ph.D.: Rs. 45,000 – 85,000 per month or more
• Higher qualifications: Rs. 55,000 – 1,50,000 per month or more

Career Progression in Social Scientist Profession

• Career growth in university and college begins with Assistant Professor and then Associate Professor, Professor and Professor Emeritus. Professors can also get administrative positions such as Director/Dean/Vice Chancellor, etc.
• If you are hired as a research associate, then you will go on to become a Doctoral Research Fellow, then Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Progressive Grades. 
• If you join the private industry in Research / Scientific or related roles, you may progress to the Senior Level, Lead -> Principal -> Chief levels, and then gradually move on to become Research Director or VP-Strategy etc.

What does Industry Trends Say – Future Prospects

Social sciences play an integral role in today’s globalized world. It is reported that 60% of global leaders graduated with a social science degree. With increasing impoverishment across nations in the world, Social Scientists are required to think creatively & independently in order to understand, scrutinize and re-assess common perceptions of the social world.

With their cross-cultural understanding of the world, they are heavily in demand across industrial verticals to appreciate the complexity & diversity of social situations, make reasoned arguments, and apply different research methods, analysis & statistical techniques to develop opinions and new ideas on societal issues.

Tomorrow’s most important discoveries into why people do what they do will most likely come from business innovation than university research. The best & most rigorous social science experiments will be done for profit. Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix, Alibaba and scores of other global enterprises conduct literally thousands of experiments on their networks every day.

Many or most of these ‘socio-tech-experiments’ or “people analytics” yield marginal shifts in terms of increments in design. But with literally billions of measurable customers, client, & channel interactions a year, these could no doubt lead to profitably disruptive innovations too.

Also Read:

• Career as a Historian
• Career as a Linguist
• Career as a Rural Development Manager
• Career as a Political Analyst
• How to Become a Psychologist