Tag: Sociology

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

Social Science Quote of the Month

Social Science Insights

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

How to Stop Panic Buying

Social Science Insights

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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Social Science in Action
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

Social Science Insights

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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Social Policy
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 Insights

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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Business
A group of five people run on a bridge against a stormy sky

Using Social Norms to Change Behaviour

Social Science Insights

Social norms are the unwritten rules of acceptable behaviour that motivate us to follow social expectations. Social science shows how norms can be used to positively change behaviour.

  • A diverse group of friends sit in a cinema eating popcorn, with shocked and amused expressions. Title reads: Using norms to change behaviour
  • A Latin man holds a piece of glass in his hand, which reflects his stern gaze. Title reads: what are social norms
  • A group of five people run on a bridge against a stormy sky. Title reads: Descriptive norms
  • A white woman holds her hand out as if saying, 'Stop'
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Business
Young Black woman scrolling on her phone

Designing Effective Forms and Webpages

Social Science Insights

Programs and services can improve the customer experience by simplifying registration processes, and making webpages easier to navigate.

  • Young Black woman scrolling on her phone. Title reads: Designing Effective Forms and Webpages
  • Diverse people line up at a registration desk. On the side, a Black woman's hands scroll on a phone. Title reads: improving customer experience.
  • A Black woman with curly blonde hair reads her mobile phone outdoors against a white wall. On the side, is the mock up of a website. Title reads: barriers to action
  • Asian people seated on public transport scroll and watch their phones. Title reads: evaluation and analysis
  • An Asian man wearing a face mask reads his phone on the street beside his motorbike. On the side a while person's hands hold a phone with a large tick on the screen. Title reads: Simplify forms
  • A white older man in a hat and jacket writes on his phone outdoors. Two young white women are smiling while looking at one of their phones, in a cafe. Title reads: enhance webpages
  • A transparent picture of a plant on a desk behind glasses and a notebook. Title reads: how social science helped
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Business
Young male construction worker looks at his phone while holding a long pole. He wears a hardhat and hi-vis vest. A cement truck and mounds of dirt are in the background

Promoting Employment Services

Social Science Insights

Employment services often struggle to appeal to their intended clientele. Sending effective messages can increase sign-up. Messages should emphasise the ease, benefits, and comparative outcome of services.

  • A Latin American woman types on a keyboard
  • A group of white people wearing boiler helmets, hard hats, and goggles stand at a workbench
  • An older man's hand signs a paper
  • An older white man and a younger white woman wearing boiler suits smile at each other
  • Two Filipina women smile while holding a book and laptop
  • A South Asian man wearing a hi-vis vest and hard hat writes on a clipboard
  • An Aboriginal woman smiles while writing on her phone outdoors
  • Two Asian men look at a phone as they walk outdoors
  • An Asian man looks at his phone at a construction site
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Social Science in Action

Law of the Journey

Social Science Insights

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

How to Encourage Community Change

Social Science Insights

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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Business

How to Improve Record-Keeping

Social Science Insights

Organisations can improve their record-keeping by adopting a systematic approach, and using techniques developed through social science research. Discover tips for small businesses and not-for-profit organisations on how to document important decisions, understanding legal obligations, and keeping records safe.

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