Social Sciences

What are Social Sciences?

Social sciences are a broad category of academic disciplines dedicated to the systematic study of human society, social relationships, and the structures that shape them. This field encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, and political science, each focused on understanding the complexities of human behavior, social institutions, cultural norms, and the interactions between individuals and groups within societies.

The Basic Idea

Social sciences examine how individuals and groups behave, interact, and influence each other within a society. The disciplines underneath this umbrella utilize various methodologies, from qualitative research like interviews and focus groups to quantitative approaches like closed-ended surveys and experiments; they also include both micro-level (individual and small group) and macro-level (institutions, systems, and societies) analyses. This variety is part of what makes social science so robust! 

The disciplines that make up the social sciences are also extremely varied within the field; the workday of a psychologist is very different from the workday of a political analyst. Social scientists can work in a variety of environments, whether that be in the field, in laboratories, or focusing on literature reviews or research applications. However, the social sciences often intersect with each other, along with many outside fields (like neuroscience, data science, and environmental science), which not only deepens our understanding of human behavior but widens the impact that the social sciences can have. Ultimately, the goal of all social sciences is to generate insights that can improve societal well-being, inform public policy, and enhance our understanding of social phenomena and humanity.

Social science means inventing a certain brand of human we can understand.


— Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Lebanese-American essayist and mathematical statistician

About the Author

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Annika Steele

Annika completed her Masters at the London School of Economics in an interdisciplinary program combining behavioral science, behavioral economics, social psychology, and sustainability. Professionally, she’s applied data-driven insights in project management, consulting, data analytics, and policy proposal. Passionate about the power of psychology to influence an array of social systems, her research has looked at reproductive health, animal welfare, and perfectionism in female distance runners.

About us

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I was blown away with their application and translation of behavioral science into practice. They took a very complex ecosystem and created a series of interventions using an innovative mix of the latest research and creative client co-creation. I was so impressed at the final product they created, which was hugely comprehensive despite the large scope of the client being of the world's most far-reaching and best known consumer brands. I'm excited to see what we can create together in the future.

Heather McKee

BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST

GLOBAL COFFEEHOUSE CHAIN PROJECT

OUR CLIENT SUCCESS

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Annual Revenue Increase

By launching a behavioral science practice at the core of the organization, we helped one of the largest insurers in North America realize $30M increase in annual revenue.

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Increase in Monthly Users

By redesigning North America's first national digital platform for mental health, we achieved a 52% lift in monthly users and an 83% improvement on clinical assessment.

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Reduction In Design Time

By designing a new process and getting buy-in from the C-Suite team, we helped one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world reduce software design time by 75%.

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Reduction in Client Drop-Off

By implementing targeted nudges based on proactive interventions, we reduced drop-off rates for 450,000 clients belonging to USA's oldest debt consolidation organizations by 46%

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