Published in 1963, Informal Sociology introduces sociological thinking through discussions of social observation, cultural life and the interpretation of behaviour. Cameron considers subjects including humour, jazz musicians, folk music and political attitudes. These sit alongside questions about research methods and the sociology of knowledge, giving the book a range that extends from particular social activities to the ways sociologists develop and assess explanations.

One concern is the relationship between numerical evidence and social understanding. In Knowledge Without Numbers, Cameron questions the idea that everything important to sociology can be counted or expressed statistically. He distinguishes the availability of measurable data from its significance, drawing attention to aspects of social life that numerical analysis may miss. Alongside this discussion, the book addresses observation, interpretation and the assumptions through which people make sense of their social surroundings.