Sociology looks at how society works, how people connect, and how they behave in different social setups. High school students find sociology gives them an interesting way to see the world around them. Doing a sociology survey lets them use sociological ideas and methods to answer real questions. If you want to find interesting sociology survey topics for your high school project here are ten ideas that will help you look into important social issues and trends.
1. Social Media and Teen Behavior
Social media has changed how teens connect, talk, and relate to each other. A survey about social media can show you how platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok affect friendships, self-image, and daily life.
Sample questions:
How much time do you spend on social media each day?
Do you think social media helps or hurts your friendships?
Has social media changed how you act because of your friends?
This topic would be good to look at how technology shapes social behavior.
2. Peer Pressure and Decision-Making
Peer pressure is a classic sociology topic and even more relevant for high school students. A sociology survey can measure how much influence peers have in decision making for academic decisions, activity participation and risky behavior.
Sample questions:
Have you ever changed your behavior to not be different from a friend?
What kind of peer pressure do you find yourself in most?
How can you avoid or limit negative peer pressure?
This sociology topic can help you examine group dynamics, which is an important topic to sociology.
3. Bullying and School Climate
Bullying is a persistent problem at school and a major topic for sociological research. In this sense, a sociology survey can help determine the amount of bullying, forms of bullying (physical, verbal, cyber), and the impact of bullying on school climate.
Sample questions:
Have you personally witnessed or experienced bullying at school?
What form of bullying do you observe most commonly?
In your opinion, does your school do enough to prevent bullying?
As a sociology topic, this topic is important as it relates individual experience with institutional response.
4. Family Structure and Academic Success
Family is a primary institution of sociology. A sociology survey on family structure - i.e., blended family, single-parent families, extended family, etc. - can provide insight into how young people's family structures impact their academic success or overall health and well-being.
Sample questions:
What is your family structure?
How involved are your parents/guardians in your education?
Do you believe your family structure affects your performance in school?
This subtopic is centered on sociology of family and youth.
5. Cultural Diversity and Inclusion in Schools
Sociology puts a lot of emphasis on culture and diversity. A sociology survey can be created to evaluate perceptions of cultural representation, inclusivity and if students have had experiences with discrimination in school.
Sample questions:
Do you feel your culture is respected in school?
Have you been aware of or a victim of cultural discrimination?
What can your school do to be more inclusive?
This sociology topic talks about cultural norms and values which creates the social environment.
6. Gender Stereotypes and Expectations
Gender is a fundamental concept in sociology. A sociology survey can look into how gender roles and gender related stereotypes affect students’ aspirations, behaviors and interactions with others.
Sample questions:
Do you feel pressure to act a certain way because of your gender?
Have you noticed gender stereotypes in your classes or activities?
Do you think your school promotes gender equality?
This sociology topic explains the sociology of gender which shapes youth identity.
7. Socioeconomic Status and Access to Opportunities
Sociology is particularly interested in the subject of socioeconomic status. A sociology survey might explore the effect on the ability of students to access extracurricular activities, academic resources and social experiences depending on their economic background.
Sample questions:
Are there things you want to be involved with but cannot afford?
How would you characterize your family’s economic condition?
What role, if any, does social class play in participation in school activities?
This area of sociology examines social inequality and the lack of opportunities.
8. Attitudes about Environmental Issues
Environmental sociology looks into how social factors affect values and behaviors towards the environment. A sociology survey can measure students’ attitudes towards issues like climate change, recycling and sustainability.
Sample questions:
How concerned are you about environmental problems?
What do you do to help the environment?
Is your school doing or encouraging anything to protect the environment?
This topic allows students to make links between sociology and some real-world challenges of greatest urgency facing the world today.
9. Body Image : The Effects of Media
Mass media is an integral piece of society, its influence is great, and notable are its effects on the development of culture, and the liberalizing of mindset. One study in sociology might examine if exposure to media messages affect how students feel about themselves, and how they feel about their bodies.
Sample questions:
How often do you see "perfect" body representations represented in media?
Has the media influenced the way that you feel about your body?
Where do you get your information about health and exercise?
This area of sociology focuses on the relationship between media and culture.
10. Youth Participation in Social Movements
Sociology is the study of group behavior and social change. A sociological poll about youth participation could look at students' involvement in social causes, volunteering or civic participation.
Sample questions:
Have you participated in a protest or social campaign?
What social problems are most important to you?
Do you believe young people can change society?
This sociology topic can illustrate the power of youth to shape social change.
Guidelines for Doing a Sociology Survey
Start with your research question: All sociology surveys need a specific question or hypothesis.
Choose a representative sample: All sociology surveys should be representative of the population that you are studying.
Multiple Question Types: Use rating scales, open-ended or multiple choice for better sociology data. Privacy Be respectful of others, especially for sensitive subjects regarding sociology.
Results summary: Look for patterns and relationships to answer what you discovered about your sociology topic.
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