Social Science Methods Research Articles

Building social equity and person-centred innovation into the end TB response.

Reducing systemic inequities in testing, access to care, social protection - and in the scientific process - is essential to end TB. Incorporating social science methods and expertise on inequity into the mainstream TB response would help ensure that political commitments to equity move beyond symbolic gestures. We convened a meeting between TB social scientists, people with lived experience, civil society and community members to discuss equity within the global TB response. Here, we propose five means by which a social science lens can strengthen equitable, person-centred responses and reconcile the public health significance of TB with the principles of social justice.

Asking to Listen: Engaging Social Scientific Methods as a Listening Practice in Global Catholicism

Asking enables listening. This paper explores how the practice of asking, when enacted as an intentional social scientific process, can facilitate the synodal value of listening across the global Catholic Church. Drawing upon social science methodologies and evidence, it demonstrates that effective listening is not merely passive reception but proactive invitation to engage diverse or silenced perspectives. Systematic asking incorporates everyday people and experiences otherwise overlooked and creates space for difficult topics. Seeing listening as a practice of asking underscores the value of setting rules for engagement that promote a posture of reception that fosters trust and openness through humility, curiosity, and willingness to step into worlds different from one’s own. Embracing this mutual approach can prompt a more inclusive synodal process, enhancing the church’s ability to engage meaningfully with all in its midst.

Ho Chi Minh’s Ideology on Environmental Protection and that Ideology’s Significance of Environmental Protection Awareness Education for Students

During the process of leading the country, Ho Chi Minh soon outlined strategic directions for the country’s development, including the issue of environmental protection. Educating environmental protection awareness for all classes of people, especially the young generation, is of great significance. The young generation, including youth and students, is a part of society that the Communist Party of Vietnam always pays attention to training and nurturing; they will become the core force shouldering the responsibility of the country’s future. The purpose of this study is to clarify Ho Chi Minh’s Ideology on environmental protection, and the significance of that Ideology in educating environmental protection awareness for students today. To achieve this goal, the study uses disciplinary and interdisciplinary research methods in social sciences and humanities. Research results have shown that Ho Chi Minh’s ideology on environmental protection is still valuable today. At the same time, inheriting those values for environmental protection education activities for students will bring about great changes in the awareness and actions of Vietnamese students. Proposing necessary solutions will help universities improve the quality of environmental protection education for students at present and in the future.

Anarchy, Evolution, and Ethics in International Relations

Abstract Challenging the Realist claim that international anarchy produces an amoral sphere of political action, Brian C. Rathbun argues that anarchy has selected for individuals with a particular moral sense. Flipping Realist arguments around, he claims that individuals would have never survived the hardships of anarchy if they were completely amoral. Rather, morality is a precondition for survival in anarchy. But unlike Constructivists, who maintain that socially constructed norms over time have civilized international politics, Rathbun claims that a morality is part of our human nature, and thus, a material feature of the world. To substantiate his claims, Rathbun adeptly applies insights from multiple disciplines, marshalling empirical evidence generated through a variety of natural and social scientific methods.

Empowering Communities through Akhuwat Foundation's Microfinance Initiative in Bhakkar, Punjab

Poverty is a global problem with several facets that affect millions of people worldwide. This study investigates the role of microfinance, mostly through the Akhuwat Foundation, in reducing poverty in the undeveloped district of Bhakkar, South Punjab, Pakistan. Akhuwat Foundation provides small loans to the needy to raise them out of poverty. This qualitative study takes an interpretive social science method, combining a meta-analysis of relevant literature with in-depth interviews of stakeholders using open-ended questions. According to the data, recipients primarily use these loans to start businesses, which leads to increased income and, as a result, poverty alleviation. However, limited resources limit the extent of lending, demanding increased loan-giving capacity to reach more people in need. Moreover, respondents require further training in business management or entrepreneurial capacities, which is not addressed by microfinance institutions such as Akhuwat Foundation before loan acceptance. Pre-loan training is required for optimum use of funds for business purposes, which limits microfinance's potential influence on poverty alleviation.

Statistical physics and emergent behaviour: from spin models to cultural complexity. In memory of Ralph Kenna (27.08.1964-26.10.2023)

It’s been sixty years since Ralph’s birth day and soon it will be one year since he left us. Initially, this collection of papers was being prepared as a Festschrift - a birthday greeting, and now it is published in his memory. It is difficult to write this foreword, because Ralph is not only a fellow physicist and a close collaborator, he is a very close friend. It is also difficult to write because, in a short text, it is hard to reflect the versatility of his gifts: from statistical physics to field theory, from the science of complex systems to quantitative methods in social sciences and humanities, from scientometrics to history of physics. This is not a complete list of areas that he enriched thanks to his talent and hard work. What’s more, his activities in scientific research are inseparable from his public activities, be it the protection of historical heritage or the restoration of historical memory in Ireland, his motherland, or the collection of funds for the fight against serious diseases in the UK, where he worked, or his participation in the organisation and evaluation of research work on a pan-European scale. The integrity of his personality is one of those features that first come to mind when we think about him, repeatedly.

On the Limits of Empirical Ecocriticism: Empathy on Non-Human Species and the Slow Violence of Climate Crisis

ABSTRACT The impact literature has on its readers has recently become a topic of interest to an increasing number of literary scholars who contemplate the relationships between environment and fiction. Empirical ecocriticism is a relatively young sub-area of ecocriticism where the empirical methods of social sciences are applied. This article discusses two major areas in empirical ecocriticism: the emotions evoked by both the representations of non-human species and climate literature. The focus is not solely on the premises of empirical ecocriticism but also on the often-conflicting results it has produced. By presenting critical observations on its limits so far, the article proposes outlines for further development of empirical research on environmental fiction.

A profissão de sociólogo-sociologia: Os preceitos teórico-prático, as práticas técnicas e os procedimentos profissionais do conhecimento do mundo humano

In the nineteenth century, with the constitution of the capitalist system, social life coexisted with a situation of crisis and social pathologies that put at risk the very sociability of the political system in evidence. At this time, philosophical and naturalist thinkers and intellectuals considered the need for a field of scientific study that would study the causes and origins of social disturbances and problems: sociology emerges – the science of the direction and orientation of society. Its institutionalization process resulted in the professionalization of the sociologist or social scientist and in the school constitution of vast areas of teaching and research. Today, the training of the sociologist is outdated for the resolution of contemporary problems, mainly due to some theoretical-methodological inconsistencies that have not yet been diagnosed or defined with greater precision and methodical systematicity, such as, for example. the theme of subjectivity that has brought all kinds of forms of erratic perceptions and left social science at the mercy of all kinds of antagonism, oppositions and ambiguities of divergent interests and points of view. With the use of the hypothetical-deductive-inductive method of social science and procedures of methods and techniques of investigation, it was identified that social science was constituted on solid bases of scientific foundations that go back to ancient Greek thought, and as Auguste Comte had announced, when he defined the dimension of the social as an objective unit of sociology, conferring to its objectivity the maximum degree, even going so far as to call sociology – the science of the direction and organization of society – as social physics and social mathematics for its high level of sociological precision of its scientific procedures in line with the interpretations and explanations of the course of events, facts or phenomena of life in society

Effectuating international law against corruption: Behavioral insights

Abstract International law against corruption is mainly based on individualized criminalization and deterrence, including legal persons. Implicitly, since corruption is a white-collar crime, the conventions assume self-interested rational actors. That was the state-of-the-art thinking when the international conventions against corruption were developed around the turn of the millennium. This is the correct starting point but has failed to deliver the expected results. The United Nations (UN) has turned to behavioral science but the UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is lagging behind and behavioral approaches have played a minor role. I submit that they can enrich the set of instruments by using (social)psychological insights. This article discusses additional tools based on behavioral insights and new social science methods used to gain a more holistic understanding of corruption. It makes concrete substantive and institutional suggestions for fighting corruption which could be taken up by UNODC and in international (soft) law. It also discusses the limitations.

Reflections on UK science–policy relationships in the light of Covid-19

This article discusses one of many reasons why the UK did so poorly in managing the acute phase of the Covid-19 pandemic despite having access to extensive and high-quality scientific evidence and advice: science–policy relationships. Drawing on the author’s participation in and experiences of the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE) and its behavioural sub-group, it discusses the following questions: 1. Was the model (framework) for translating scientific advice to policy-makers as effective as it could have been? 2. Could more have been done to communicate science and its implications for policy and practice to the public? 3. Should scientists speak to policy-makers and the public about matters beyond their particular area of study, reflecting their multidisciplinary working and understanding? 4. Do scientists have a social responsibility to discuss policy implications of scientific evidence and challenge politicians when their statements or behaviour go against prevailing evidence? Future directions of inquiry should investigate the process by which research evidence is translated and used, applying social science and implementation science methods, evidence and theories. A question deserving attention across academe and society more generally is how scientists can best interact with, and contribute to, social good beyond their well-trodden paths of academic publications and conference presentations.

Archaeology in space: The Sampling Quadrangle Assemblages Research Experiment (SQuARE) on the International Space Station. Report 1: Squares 03 and 05.

Between January and March 2022, crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) performed the first archaeological fieldwork in space, the Sampling Quadrangle Assemblages Research Experiment (SQuARE). The experiment aimed to: (1) develop a new understanding of how humans adapt to life in an environmental context for which we are not evolutionarily adapted, using evidence from the observation of material culture; (2) identify disjunctions between planned and actual usage of facilities on a space station; (3) develop and test techniques that enable archaeological research at a distance; and (4) demonstrate the relevance of social science methods and perspectives for improving life in space. In this article, we describe our methodology, which involves a creative re-imagining of a long-standing sampling practice for the characterization of a site, the shovel test pit. The ISS crew marked out six sample locations ("squares") around the ISS and documented them through daily photography over a 60-day period. Here we present the results from two of the six squares: an equipment maintenance area, and an area near exercise equipment and the latrine. Using the photographs and an innovative webtool, we identified 5,438 instances of items, labeling them by type and function. We then performed chronological analyses to determine how the documented areas were actually used. Our results show differences between intended and actual use, with storage the most common function of the maintenance area, and personal hygiene activities most common in an undesignated area near locations for exercise and waste.

Children picturing their own worlds: Using photovoice to amplify children's voice in sociological research.

This research note highlights an emerging transdisciplinary research method-photovoice-and why it is particularly suited for sociological studies of children and youth. Traditional social science data collection methods can be limited in their ability to capture both the depth and breadth of childhood experiences and children's perceptions of their experiences. We describe an emerging method, photovoice, that is used more frequently in other disciplines, and its suitability for sociologically studying youth and children. We describe the limitations of traditional social science methods and how photovoice can help overcome some of these limitations. Photovoice engages participants as lived experts who contribute to both the data collection and analysis in an individual and collective manner. Through taking photos and discussing their meaning, participants can share abstract feelings and discuss sensitive topics in an imaginative format and express themselves creatively. We describe how previous research has used photovoice to work with youth from vulnerable circumstances and those who have experienced trauma as well as demonstrate how photovoice is well situated to bolster the tenets of sociological research.

The strange career of Millian methods in comparative social science

Abstract For half a century, comparative social science has been closely associated with John Stuart Mill’s methods of comparison. However, few social scientists had heard of Mill’s methods in 1970. Within a decade, the methods of agreement and difference had become part of the methodological canon—despite Mill’s objections that these methods should under no circumstances be used in the social sciences. Comparativists continued to overlook the methods that Mill actually proposed for the social sciences, which relied on an analogy with astronomical observations rather than chemistry experiments. Yet Mill’s own empirical research offered substantive findings without dwelling much on methods. Over the past half-century, successful works of comparative social science have pursued all three versions of Millian methods: the comparative methods that he widely associated with; the alternative methods that he proposed for social science; and the actual methods that he pursued, whose success lay in their creativity, not in methodological recipes.

Increasing the Reproducibility and Replicability of Supervised AI/ML in the Earth Systems Science by Leveraging Social Science Methods

AbstractArtificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) pose a challenge for achieving science that is both reproducible and replicable. The challenge is compounded in supervised models that depend on manually labeled training data, as they introduce additional decision‐making and processes that require thorough documentation and reporting. We address these limitations by providing an approach to hand labeling training data for supervised ML that integrates quantitative content analysis (QCA)—a method from social science research. The QCA approach provides a rigorous and well‐documented hand labeling procedure to improve the replicability and reproducibility of supervised ML applications in Earth systems science (ESS), as well as the ability to evaluate them. Specifically, the approach requires (a) the articulation and documentation of the exact decision‐making process used for assigning hand labels in a “codebook” and (b) an empirical evaluation of the reliability” of the hand labelers. In this paper, we outline the contributions of QCA to the field, along with an overview of the general approach. We then provide a case study to further demonstrate how this framework has and can be applied when developing supervised ML models for applications in ESS. With this approach, we provide an actionable path forward for addressing ethical considerations and goals outlined by recent AGU work on ML ethics in ESS.

FOREST FOOD RESOURCES IN THE SAKHA REPUBLIC (YAKUTIA)

According to the “Ecosystem Services of Russia” Prototype of National Report (2016), data on terrestrial ecosystem resources in Russia are fragmented. The purpose of this work is to fill the existing gaps in the knowledge of the biodiversity of plant species and the sustainability of traditional food systems across the economic zones of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). Materials and methods. Although the range of edible plants in Yakutia counts more than 100 species, only nine species of berries, eight species of mushrooms, and three species of other food plants were classified as resource-significant based on the consolidated archive materials of the IBPC at FRC YaSC SB RAS and the results of the field studies carried out in 2002-2019. This list of twenty species was tested via a socio-economic survey undertaken as part of the RISE project in 2021-2023. The study was conducted with the permission of the local biomedical ethics committee of the Medical Institute of the North-Eastern Federal University. Each participant signed an informed consent form to be surveyed, according to the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki, which regulates the research involving human subjects. The study embraced 400 rural households. Results. The data on biological stocks of resource-significant food species of Yakutia’s forests were presented based on the consolidated archive materials and results of the field studies undertaken by the IBPC at FRC YaSC SB RAS. Coupled research methods of natural and social sciences were used to produce the estimates of the economic reserves of berries and mushrooms across economic zones of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) and the volumes of their harvesting by rural households and the population of the region in general. Conclusion. Social methods have proven reliable for studying biodiversity in a large-sized region. They allow to fill the gaps in the databases built on the results of field studies, particularly in terms of popularity and, accordingly, the prevalence of certain food species. The higher productivity and diversity of flora in Southern Yakutia were confirmed compared to the Arctic and other economic zones. Funding. The reported study was performed under the e-Asia Climate Call and funded by RFBR, project number 21-55-70104, and project VI.52.1.8. “Theoretical and applied aspects of investigation the diversity of the vegetation of Northern and Central Yakutia (East Siberia)” 0376-2016-0001; registration number АААА-А17-117020110056-0.

A Comprehensive Review and Evaluation of Deep Learning Methods in Social Sciences

A Comprehensive Review and Evaluation of Deep Learning Methods in Social Sciences

The life path of Irma Carrica: An approach to the political and health debates of the 1960s and 1970s using the biographical method

We reconstruct the life path of the Argentine nurse and popular activist Irma Carrica, understood as a political-professional experience tied to her social networks and marked by conflicts and contradictions inherent to her historical context. From this analytical perspective and considering the precautions suggested by the biographical method of social sciences, we delve into the political and health debates of the 1960s and 1970s, particularly concerning disputes over the meaning of "community" in the health field. Specifically, we focus on the contributions of a collective historical actor - heterogeneous and plural, yet identifiable in its various forms - that we have termed the Peronist Left in health. By analyzing their professional and intellectual networks, we emphasize the role played by Irma Carrica as a representative of this Peronist Left in health, in constructing alternative dynamics for community health approaches, which challenged the dominant epistemological and pedagogical paradigms.

Teacher Candidate Learning of Interdisciplinary Controversial Issues: Linking Social Studies and Science in the Elementary School Curriculum

ABSTRACT Teaching controversial issues poses challenges for teacher candidates, stemming from apprehensions about potential backlash and gaps in content and pedagogical knowledge. The prevailing emphasis on tested subjects such as mathematics and reading/writing in elementary school education often sidelines social studies and science, limiting opportunities for candidates to engage with these disciplines and their associated instructional strategies, including addressing controversial topics. Integrating social studies and science with other subject areas emerges as a viable approach to ensure comprehensive education. Teacher education coursework serves as a vital platform for exposing educators to interdisciplinary curriculum design and implementation. Such exposure prompts teacher candidates to reevaluate their preconceptions and practices concerning controversial issues. This article examines teacher candidate learning, contextualized within Interdisciplinary Pedagogical Content Knowledge (IPCK), during a two-week unit on interdisciplinary instruction that integrates social studies and science through controversial topics across two semesters of elementary school social studies and science methods courses. While findings reveal a perceptible shift in attitudes toward teaching controversy, the limited exposure to such issues in prior educational experiences impedes candidates’ ability to develop curricula reflective of this evolving perspective.

What makes randomized controlled trials so successful—for now? Or, on the consonances, compromises, and contradictions of a global interstitial field

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are a major success story, promising to improve science and policy. Despite some controversy, RCTs have spread toward Northern and Southern countries since the early 2000s. How so? Synthesizing previous research on this question, this article argues that favorable institutional conditions turned RCTs into “hinges” between the fields of science, politics, and business. Shifts toward behavioral economics, New Public Management, and evidence-based philanthropic giving led to a cross-fertilization among efforts in rich and poor countries, involving states, international organizations, NGOs, researchers, and philanthropic foundations. This confluence of favorable institutional conditions and savvy social actors established a “global interstitial field” inside which support for RCTs has developed an unprecedented scope, influence, operational capacity, and professional payoff. However, the article further argues that the hinges holding together this global interstitial field are “squeaky” at best. Because actors inherit the illusio of their respective fields of origin—their central incentives and stakes—the interstitial field produces constant goal conflicts. Cooperation between academics and practitioners turns out to be plagued by tensions and contradictions. Based on this analysis, the article concludes that the global field of RCT support will probably differentiate into its constituent parts. As a result, RCTs may lose the special status they have gained among social science and policy evaluation methods, turning into one good technique among others.

Redefining the boundaries of citizen social science to avoid a repackaging of common social science methods

Citizen science (CS) means including volunteers alongside professional researchers in the research process. CS is predominantly and traditionally used in natural sciences, but also increasingly in social sciences. The understanding of traditional CS is oftentimes completely transferred to citizen social science, which we argue is inadequate. As social sciences study human interactions, they involve people in their data collection all the time. Commonly used social science methods therefore already cover one type of CS that is defined by including volunteers mainly in data collection: contributory CS. This overlap creates an urgent need for redefining the boundaries of citizen social science. We argue for only calling those projects citizen social science that go beyond contributory projects to avoid the mere repacking of commonly used social science methods.