Applied Sociology Projects
A curated directory of step-by-step methodological guides, analytical workflows, and open templates for self-directed sociological projects.
Write an Ethnographic Field Report
- Five Simple Steps for Helping Students Write Ethnographic Papers (Teaching Culture / Lindsay A. Bell)
- Writing an Ethnography (Open SLCC / John Gauthier)
- A Simple Introduction to the Practice of Ethnography and Guide to Ethnographic Fieldnotes (Brian A. Hoey)
Conduct a Qualitative Interview Study
- Strategies for Qualitative Interviews (Harvard University Department of Sociology)
- Semi-Structured Interviews Guide (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Qualitative Research Guidelines Project)
Design a Survey Instrument
- Writing Survey Questions (Pew Research Center)
- Designing Effective Questions and Questionnaires (Principles of Sociological Inquiry / Amy Blackstone)
Analyze Secondary Survey Data
Conduct a Sociological Content Analysis
- Content Analysis Method and Examples (Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health)
- Content Analysis | Guide, Methods & Examples (Scribbr / Amy Luo)
Conduct a Sociological Case Study
- Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Writing a Case Study (USC Libraries)
- How to Do Case Study Research (UMass ScholarWorks / Donna M. Zucker)
Write a Policy Brief
- How to Write a Policy Brief (International Development Research Centre)
- Food Security Communications Toolkit: Preparing Policy Briefs (Food and Agriculture Organization)