Sage publishes impactful research that helps to influence and inform policy, practice, and the public. In 2019 we launched an effort to improve the methods used to measure the impact of social and behavioral science (SBS) – beyond citations – and ultimately, bring sustained attention to their value.
Read our monthly Social and Behavioral Science Newsletter to find interesting resources from the community and join our free online events showing how social and behavioral science make impact.
“I’m proud to say that Sage is a company that advocates for policy that will enable science, especially social and behavioral science which is often underfunded, to make real-world impact. We believe that social and behavioral sciences can improve, and even save, lives”
Sage Policy Profiles allows researchers to see their impact
Sage Policy Profiles lets researchers easily see specific citations of their work in policy documents and then illustrate and share that work’s impact graphically. The tool is powered by Overton, which hosts an extensive repository of global policy documents, guidelines, think-tank publications, and working papers.
The free-of-charge, browser-based tool shows researchers where their work appears in evidence-based policies, offering insights into how policymakers make use of their research.
Impactful social and behavioral science
Measuring and recognizing impact
The latest social and behavioral science news
What Do We Know and What Should We Do About…?
This book series uses insights from the social and behavioral sciences to inform our understanding of key issues often misrepresented, simplified or misunderstood in modern society and the media. Browse the series.
Join the impact conversation at Social Science Space
Impactful social and behavioral science reaches far beyond the academy. Instead of merely counting journal citations, consider the legacies left by inspirational researchers, improvements brought to policy and practice based on new research, and fresh approaches to tackling societal challenges. The articles below explore these various measures of impact. Browse the full collection at Social Science Space and join the conversation using #SocialScienceImpact.
Three Social and Behavioral Scientists Discuss the ‘Real-World’ Impact of Their Research
By alerting governments to social issues, disseminating their research to those most directly impacted by the pandemic, and helping policymakers make informed decisions, these social and behavioral scientists are working to make positive change in the world.
What I Have Learned from Social Science
Shortly after his election as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, Sage’s Ziyad Marar reflected on what social science has meant to him, and why his interest continues to this day.
2020 Proved Value of Social Science to Wider World
A global pandemic is a medical crisis, but there’s a big difference between developing a vaccine and vaccination. And that difference is fundamentally social.
Universities Are More than Their Score in Rankings Tables
Why do we laud universities for taking a responsible approach to journal metrics and turn a blind eye to their participation in, and celebration of, the global rankings?
Why Social Science? Leaders Need to Know How to Lead with Evidence
When facts are presented in forms that make sense to us—using the science of science communication—leaders can inform and motivate better choices.
Writing Scholarly Articles That Get Cited More Than the Competition
Conducting good research requires authors to know a lot about their work. Authors, however, often forget or simply do not realize that potential readers are less familiar with the intricacies of the research.
Impact Looks Different Across Disciplines So Let’s Acknowledge That
Scientists in STEM work more frequently with forward causal inference, moving from one cause to its effects, controlling for all conditions. Researchers in SSH work typically the other way round, that is, using backward causal inference.
NSF Letter Frames Concept of ‘Broader Impact’
While it’s tough, or even impossible, to know whether any particular piece of fundamental research will have a guaranteed societal impact, it is possible to make an educated prediction.
Advocating for social & behavioral science
Sage is proud to partner with organizations that work to ensure that the impact of social and behavioral science is recognized by policymakers, funders, and those in the public sphere.
