Social Sciences

Revealing how society works

At the forefront of critical social, political and economic issues important to Hoosiers, IU researchers and students are engaged in multidisciplinary initiatives throughout the state. Striving to better understand and find solutions in many key areas involving race, gender, class, health, justice and more, IU researchers are working to strengthen Indiana’s communities.

Featured stories

Belonging exercise improves college students’ academic persistence

Students who participated in an online belonging exercise completed their first year as full-time college students at a higher rate than their peers

 

Read about the exercise

New institute addresses stigma around mental health

Thanks to the Jim Irsay family, a new insititute is to become a leading national center for addressing the stigma surrounding mental illness and other health issues such as HIV, epilepsy, cancer, dementia and addiction.

Read more about the institute

Preventing overdose deaths

IU researchers are working to reduce opioid deaths in Indiana by providing timely data to improve resources and services that help people who use drugs stay as healthy as possible. 

Learn about the project

Leading race and ethnicity research

Issues of racism, injustice, and inequity plague our nation and our world, but research can help lead to dramatic transformations in our society. Indiana University centers, institutes, and individual faculty members are exploring myriad aspects of race, ethnicity, and inequality.

Learn more about their work across IU's campuses

Social Science research by the numbers:

73research projects were supported by IU's Racial Justice Research Fund

#2ranking for IU’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs on U.S. News & World Report’s list of best public affairs programs  

75years of ground breaking research on sexual health and human sexuality through the Kinsey Institute

Everyone plays a role in ending stigma in our society

Stigma -- a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person -- can be one of the primary barriers to seeking treatment and support for mental health issues, substance use disorder and other health issues. At Indiana University, we are committed to addressing this issue.

Learn more about our "A Conversation With ..." campaign, which brings together famous IU visitors, students, faculty and staff, who are sharing their own personal stories in an effort to put an end to stigma.

Learn more about the campaign