Ours is a dynamic field dedicated to the scientific study of society, social institutions, and social relationships. We study the social forces that influence feelings, attitudes, and behaviors; how individuals and groups shape cultural and social structures; and the relationships among individuals, groups, organizations, and institutions. The discipline of sociology is as broad as society itself, encompassing analysis of all major social organizations and institutions, including the economy, education, health care, families, government, and religion.

Sociologists ask fundamental questions about the relationship between cultural and social structures and individual thought and action: Why do some people make more money than others? How do patterns of health and illness vary by race and why? What biases influence hiring patterns? What accounts for voting patterns in Presidential elections? They also ask questions about the relationships among social organizations and institutions. How do health care systems vary across economic systems? How do social welfare regimes shape family structures? We examine a wide range of topics and how they inform our lives—including economics, health and medicine, schools, government, sexuality, family, politics, race and ethnicity, and criminal justice.

Our research methods vary from qualitative studies of specific organizations to the quantitative analysis of large survey data. We may use historical and ethnographic materials or develop cutting-edge quantitative models and experimental designs. Our methods of gathering and analyzing data provide unique insights into the social forces shaping the structure of society, the experiences and life chances of individuals, and potential solutions to contemporary social problems.