Four people hold large, colourful speech bubbles over their heads while standing outside, in front of large trees

Social Science Quote of the Month

Take a look at our all-new-and improved social science quotes! These graphics are designed to promote social science knowledge and its positive impact on the public good.

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A white man's hand squeezes the pump as he fills his car with petrol

How to Stop Panic Buying

The war on Iran led to petrol shortages in early 2026. Some people panicked and stockpiled fuel. We look at the structural issues and biases that impact this behaviour, and how the social science theories, social norms, and morality messages may stop consumer hoarding in future.

  • A white man's hand pumps petrol into a car. Title: Social science of why people panic buy and how to stop it
  • Illustration of a green petrol pump on the bowser. Title: Poor policy planning
  • Illustration of a service station in the distance on a sunny day. Quote from Prof Tarryn Phillips, Dr Danielle Couch, and Dr Carmen Vargas: "We must continue to scrutinise fuel markets and disribution failures."
  • Illustration of a man with his fist covering his mouth and his other arm across his shape. He looks down, worried. Title: Fearing loss
  • Black and white illustration of a man and woman in silhouette against large arched windows. They look up and face away from each other, as if disagreeing. Title: misinformation feeds fear
  • Illustration of a young Asian woman hiding inside a large cardboard box, looking anxious. Title: Regain control
  • Illustration of two women in hijab walking outdoors with a Black South Asian man as they hold coffees. Title: blaming individuals doesn't help
  • A Black woman patient looks down, worried, as a white male doctor points at a device. Title: personalise the risk
  • A white woman smiles softly as she walks outdoors, and holds a paper heart over her chest. Title: appeal to morals
  • Illustration of a Black woman driving a car, smiling, with a male passanger beside her. Title: learn more: SocialScienceInsights.com
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A white woman blurred in the background holds up two letters close to the camera that say: N O

Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Qualitative Research

A letter signed by 419 researchers rejects the use of generative artificial intelligence for reflexive thematic research. I discuss issues of phenomenology, epistemology, and ethics.

  • A white woman blurred in the background holds up two letters close to the camera that say: N O
  • Aerial view of a focus group seated in a circle in the middle of a gym. Text says 419 researchers from 32 countries wrote a letter in Qualitative Inquiry, to reject the use of Gen AI in reflexive thematic research
  • Text showing primary reasons for rejecting GenA from qualitative research
  • Text with quote 'The central tent of social science research is to more deeply understand people and social processes...'
  • Close up of a schoolbag, with children blurred in the far back, sitting on a step doing homework. Quote at the top says: Researchers must anchor the process of making strong psychodynamic interpretations in their own humanity"
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Two white women and a man stand at the edge of a cliff. One of them points into the distancce while the other takes a photo with her phone

Measuring Public Information Campaigns

Social science can help marketers, decision-makers, and businesses to effectively use social norms to change behaviour. Below are two case studies on the environment and health.

  • Four diverse young workers sit around a table looking at documents and a laptop. Title reads: Measuring Public Information Campaigns
  • Four diverse people stand in a row looking at their phones, smiling, against an orange wall. Title reads: media campaigns
  • Two white women and a man stand at the edge of a cliff. One of them points into the distancce while the other takes a photo with her phone. Title reads: E.g. Environment
  • A diverse group of young women stand indoors in a tight circle, laughing
  • A group of Black women in hijab laugh while sitting in two rows. One of them fixes her friend's hijab
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Law of the Journey

Taking a look back at Ai Weiwei’s exhibition at the Biennale of Sydney, 2018. The work is called, ‘Law of the Journey, 2017.’ It tackles Ai Weiwei’s ongoing critique of European nations denying basic human rights to refugees.

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A silhouetted people walk down a hill, following one person in the lead

How to Encourage Community Change

How can you use social science to encourage communities to change collective behaviours? We cover how to identify a behaviour that needs to change, how to target the key audience, how to encourage change, and the best mode of communication to reach the intended community. The provided check list will help you communicate effectively with local communities.

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Social Media Tips for Not-For-Profits and Small Businesses

Social science offers helpful techniques and insights for sole traders, not-for-profits, and small businesses. Social science can inform social media policymaking, as well as providing methods to improve the impact of messages and encourage audiences to take positive action. This post covers tips about how to post and test messages.

Two women stand before a white board, showing a grid with the days of the week at the top and social media sites like Twitter and TikTok on the left
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How to Improve Services for Vulnerable Clients

Governments and companies provide a range of free services to improve the lives of vulnerable clients, yet few people take these up. Below is an overview of why this happens and how to improve take-up of life-saving services.  

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Team-Building Activities for Remote Teams

If you have a hybrid or remote team, or you run a lot of online meetings, you might be looking for new ways to engage your colleagues. Perhaps you’re seeking fun activities to break up long workshops. Here are suggestions of ice breaker games, polls and quizzes that go down a treat in small meetings and large workshops. These games are inspired by social science, by promoting cultural awareness, prompting safe discussion, and supporting diverse communication styles. Use these game templates for free.

A woman smiles down at her laptop with her hand outstretched
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Messages to Change Behaviour

Here are some tips on how to send effective SMS campaigns.

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