The Contemporary Relevance of the Social Sciences

The Campaign for Social Science was launched in 2011 to advocate social science to the UK Government and to the public, at a time of significant change in the higher education system. It campaigns for the restoration of the post of Government Chief Social Science Advisor and the retention of large-scale longitudinal research programmes. It also promotes social science in the media and on the web and organises road shows and other events to emphasise the value of social science. As of January 2015, the Campaign was supported by 80 universities, learned societies, charities and publishers.

Why the social sciences matter: eight principles Principle 1: The social sciences are the understanding of people, society, economy and places Principle 2: The UK is a social science powerhouse Principle 3: The social sciences bring economic value Principle 4: The social sciences serve society Principle 5: The social sciences facilitate innovation Principle 6: The social sciences improve people's lives by guiding good decision-making Principle 7: Social science subjects are open and available to all Principle 8: Social science skills are valued by employers and lead to well-paid careers Drawing it all together: conclusions and recommendations