"Research officers undertake and conduct research into a variety of issues or areas."

Research officers may undertake the following tasks:

• carry out phone conversations with members of the public, organisation representatives or special interest groups to gather information
• conduct research using a variety of sources including the internet, journals and publications, or other relevant literature
• collate their research for statistical or publication purposes
• write up the results of their research for publication purposes
• collect and analyse biological, meteorological or other types of data or samples for scientific study
• study long and short term trends in population growth and health, in the areas of biological, medical and health research
• study the behaviour of animals for the purposes of zoological research
• study social, economic or social trends in order to develop policy
• perform administration, record keeping or statistical tasks related to research
• pursue funding for further research.
• With experience and sometimes further study, promotion to managerial positions is possible.
  

Research officers can work in a wide variety of fields including medical, biological, educational, social, academic, economic and political areas.

Personal Requirements:

• enjoy research
• able to analyse and collate information
• good oral and written communication skills
• able to work as part of a team
• able to manage workload and meet deadlines
• good organisational skills.

Graduates develop generic skills in:

• Written expression
• Capacity to analyse and interpret in a dispassionate and objective manner
• Critical thinking
• Knowledge application
• Problem solving
• Computer literacy
• Conceptual ability
• Creative self expression
• Decision making
• Data aquisition and analysis
• Communication
• Research techniques
• Marshalling facts in support of arguments
• Personal growth/critical self awareness
• Understanding of cultural differences

Relevant Degrees. These links will take you directly to the UTas handbook Bachelor of Arts (recommended majors - Sociology) Bachelor of Social Science

For further information... Download the Humanities and Social Sciences brochure In Adobe Acrobat format Faculty of Arts Career Selector Contact the School of Sociology and Social Work for more information