Top 7 Mobile Apps for Sociology Students (and Pros)

The American Sociological Association indicates that sociology is the study of society. Furthermore, this includes the study of our social lives, social behaviors, and social groups.

While many sociologists use surveys, interviews, experiments, and personal observations to learn more about how (and why) we interact with each other, another tool that can offer great insight into how we function as a collective unit is mobile apps.

But which apps are most enjoyed by sociology students and pros alike? Here are a few to consider.

1. GCSE Sociology

$1.99 – iOS only

Part of being a successful sociologist is knowing the terms and ideas most relevant to social groups and their behaviors. One way to test your knowledge in this area is to quiz yourself, an option that is available via the GCSE Sociology app. With multiple-choice quizzes and a number of sociology-based flashcards, this app can help you increase your confidence about what you know in this field. It's also a great way to brush up on any sociological theories and practices that can make you the best sociologist possible.

2. Social Theory

Free – Android and iOS

Would you like to learn more about some of the most well-known social theorists to date? Maybe you want to know about the social theories that exist, you'd appreciate instant access to easy-to-understand videos about social theory, or would love links to online sites that can provide even more theoretical information. You can do all of these things with the Social Theory app. Designed by The Students of Social Theory, this mobile application provides enough history to give you a better understanding of why sociology is what it is today.

3. ResearchGate

Free –iOS only

Staying current with the latest research in your field is critical as it allows you to always work with the latest and greatest data based on recent scientific studies. However, you can spend hours upon hours trying to keep current when doing manual online searches. Instead, the ResearchGate app effortlessly links you to the newest data released within the sociology field. It also enables you to connect with the researchers themselves, so you can send them messages with all of your questions about their studies.

4. Evernote

Basic is free, Premium is $7.99 per month – Android and iOS

If you're conducting your own research in the field—maybe you're at a local shopping center to gain a better understanding of how certain groups make purchases or perhaps you're interviewing families at the park to get a clearer view of how important they view their social time—you need a place to record your data. The Evernote app is one option as it helps you keep notes, record ideas, and store images that are synced to all of your devices and can easily be shared with other members of your team.

5. CLEP Sociology Buddy

$2.99 – iOS only

This app is great for sociology students specifically because it allows you to take exams and study vocabulary flash cards centered around the sociological profession. Plus, they appear to update this mobile app quite often, with each new year bringing with it a new set of questions. This is helpful since, like with any field, sociological advances are occurring all of the time.

6. Nextdoor

Free – Android and iOS

Sometimes the parts of society that are most interesting are those that are closest to home. One way to study them and learn more about the topics that are most important to the groups in this area is to download the Nextdoor app. This is a social app that allows all people within a given neighborhood or geographical area to share their questions, ideas, and concerns about the things going on around them. The one thing to know with this app is that you can only join for your particular neighborhood so your reach is somewhat limited, especially if your goal is to use this app for research purposes.

7. Meetup

Free – Android and iOS

This is another app that helps you see not only what activities people in certain communities enjoy doing, but also how they do them. For example, some cities have a high number of meetups that involve being physically active (think walking, hiking, biking, and dance). Others are more creative in nature (such as painting, drawing, and writing). By studying how these different groups engage in various activities, it gives you a greater glimpse of the things they hold dear.

Some of these apps for sociology students are free and others cost a couple of dollars to download. Either way, all of them can benefit you in your role as a sociology student or professional. It's up to you which ones will best help you meet your goals!

Pull out your smartphone and consider downloading these top mobile apps for sociology students and professionals to enhance your learning.