Social science researchers are often motivated by wanting to solve problems. Research does not have to lead to direct social and economic benefits for it to be considered social science, however. The questions you ask and the methods you choose define social science more than how you use the results. A project can be successful even if its only contribution is posing additional questions for future scholars and students to answer. At the same time, many of the insights that drive institutional changes in your community, school, or organization emerge from research conducted by social scientists in colleges and universities.
You will also find social science research in non-academic settings. Researchers working for governments or non-profit organizations might use social science research methods to evaluate the effectiveness of policy interventions or public projects. A private company might benefit from the same methods when analyzing how consumers will respond to new products or services. Take a look at the information below to learn more about these two types of applied social science research.
