why social science

SSRC President Anna Harvey Answers “Why Social Science?”

The latest Why Social Science? guest post comes from Anna Harvey, President of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), who writes about a new SSRC initiative to combat health mis- and disinformation.

“Why Social Science” Can Help Us Learn Self-Compassion

The latest Why Social Science? guest post comes from social psychologist Yuki Miyagawa of Otemon Gakuin University in Osaka, who writes about his research on learning self-compassion, which can help us become more resilient individuals.

“Why Social Science” Matters for AI Research

The latest Why Social Science? post comes from Corinna Turbes, Policy Director for the Data Foundation, who writes about the need for better data to enable social scientists to conduct artificial intelligence (AI) research.

CommuniVax Coalition Answers “Why Social Science”

The latest Why Social Science? post comes from a group of anthropologists on behalf of the CommuniVax Coalition, an alliance of social scientists, public health experts, and community advocates working to strengthen COVID-19 vaccination efforts in the United States, particularly in communities of color.

“Why Social Science” Can Help Plan for Returning to In-Person Work

The latest Why Social Science? post comes from Sunita Sah, of the University of Cambridge, who writes about how understanding anxiety and decision-making can help organizations plan for returning to the office while minimizing their employees’ anxiety. Read it here and subscribe.

“Why Social Science?” Looks at Trans Activism and Linguistics

The latest Why Social Science? guest post comes from sociolinguist Aris Keshav who writes about the contributions trans activists have made to linguistics, and how engaging with trans activism can help shape the way we think about language. Read it here and subscribe.

“Why Social Science?” Focuses on Combatting Hate and Discrimination Against Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders

The latest Why Social Science? guest post comes from Kevin Carriere, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Washington & Jefferson College, who writes about how insights from the social sciences can be used to help overcome biases and stereotypes against Asian Americans. Read it here and subscribe.

“Why Social Science?” Can Help Us Communicate Numbers

The latest Why Social Science? post comes from Ellen Peters, Director of the University of Oregon’s Center for Science Communication Research, who writes about ways policymakers can communicate numbers and statistics in ways that enhance—rather than diminish—the public’s understanding. Read it here and subscribe.

John Anderson, NAE President, Answers “Why Social Science?”

This week’s Why Social Science? comes from John Anderson, President of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), who writes about the importance of collaboration between engineers and social scientists. Read it here and subscribe.

Why Social Science? Celebrates Anthropology Day

The latest Why Social Science? post highlights Anthropology Day, which the American Anthropological Association (AAA) celebrates every February. Anthropology Day is a day for anthropologists to celebrate and share their discipline with the public around them. Read it here and subscribe.

“Why Social Science?” Focuses on COVID-19 Vaccination

The latest Why Social Science? post comes from the authors of the recent National Institutes of Health (NIH) report “COVID-19 Vaccination Communication: Applying Behavioral and Social Science to Address Vaccine Hesitancy and Foster Vaccine Confidence,” who write about the evidence-informed best practices communities should use when sharing information about the vaccination process for COVID-19. Read it here and subscribe.

NSF’s Kellina Craig-Henderson Answers “Why Social Science?”

The latest Why Social Science? post comes from Kellina Craig-Henderson, Deputy Assistant Director of the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate (SBE) at the National Science Foundation (NSF). Dr. Craig-Henderson wrote for NSF’s Science Matters blog about her experiences confronting stereotypes as an African American female scientist and about SBE’s new Build and Broaden program, which directs resources to researchers at minority-serving institutions. Read it here and subscribe.

“Why Social Science” Can Help Us Combat Pandemic Fatigue

The latest Why Social Science? post comes Jay Maddock, professor of public health at Texas A&M University, who wrote for The Conversation about what social science can tell us about pandemic fatigue— and how we can mitigate it. Read it here and subscribe.

“Why Social Science?” Looks at Women and Political Ambition

The latest Why Social Science? guest post comes from the authors of Why Don’t Women Rule the World? Understanding Women’s Civic and Political Choices, who write about the obstacles facing women with political ambitions and research-backed strategies to overcome them. Read it here and subscribe. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

“Why Social Science?” Focuses on Misinformation and Online Extremism

The latest Why Social Science? guest post comes from the developers of a series of free online teaching modules on “Confronting Digital Extremism,” who write about how social science can help us arm ourselves with the necessary skills to combat misinformation and online extremism. Read it here and subscribe. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

Psychology of COVID-19 Authors Answer “Why Social Science?”

The latest Why Social Science? guest post comes from the authors of Together Apart: The Psychology of COVID-19, a free book from SAGE Publishing, who write about how social and behavioral science findings can be used to encourage people to take action to protect themselves and their communities from COVID-19. Read it here and subscribe. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

Kenneth Prewitt Answers “Why Social Science?”

This week’s Why Social Science? guest post features an article by Kenneth Prewitt, President of the American Academy of Political and Social Science and Carnegie Professor of Public Affairs at Columbia University, who argues that the social sciences can better incorporate ethical frameworks in order to end structural racism. Read it here and subscribe. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

“Why Social Science?” Features Experts on Policing

The latest Why Social Science? post features an article from The Conversation that asked several social scientists who study different aspects of policing to explain what their research has found that could help reduce police prejudice and violence. Read it here and subscribe. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

John Haaga Answers “Why Social Science?”

The latest Why Social Science? post comes from Dr. John Haaga, who retired as Director of the National Institute on Aging’s Division of Behavioral and Social Research in 2019. He writes about the light COVID-19 has shed on the work the U.S. needs to do in order for Americans’ health outcomes to catch up to those in peer countries. Read it here and subscribe. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

Demographer Allison Plyer Answers “Why Social Science?”

The latest Why Social Science? post comes from Dr. Allison Plyer, Chief Demographer of The Data Center, an independent research institution based in New Orleans, who writes about how the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on minority communities is exacerbated by institutional racism. Read it here and subscribe. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

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