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 (funded by the Graduate School) 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 collaborates with the Graduate School’s Dissertation Research Grants Program to support Ph.D. students in SBS departments.