University of Massachusetts Amherst

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By taking guidance from our research faculty’s interests and supporting their efforts, the Institute draws its dynamic strengths and directions from the evolving enterprise of contemporary social research and delivers seminars on​ ​research issues. Additionally, we​ offer​​ short courses/workshops led by our consulting staff skilled ​in specific methods and data program packages.

*Methodology Consultants are ​f​unded by the Graduate School at UMass-Amherst

 

What We Do

The Institute for Social Science Research works to build a collaborative space for researchers, faculty, and graduate students to explore ideas together and obtain support for their research. We aim to promote the findings of innovative social science research through communication and outreach.

We offer many resources to researchers in the UMass community, including workshops, seminars on research issues, walk-in research consultation, and support for proposal writing and grant administration. The Institute for Social Science Research also maintains a list of Five College courses related to research methods, as well as information about useful research tools and opportunities across the UMass campus. Our training lab houses 12 computers installed with a variety of analytic software packages, and is staffed by highly qualified consultants led by our Methodologist. Our seminar room accommodates meetings and small events in support of social science research interests. We also loan out digital transcription equipment. To reserve the seminar room or to inquire about availability of equipment, please contact Karen Mason at 5-5970 or mason@issr.umass.edu. 

We administer three internal seed funding opportunities aimed at helping UMass researchers develop proposals for external funding. ISSR offers a Scholars Program available to all social science faculty across the University. ISSR administers research and travel grants for faculty in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and the Graduate School’s Dissertation Research Grants program for Ph.D. students in SBS departments.