What is social science research?

Social science research is the research that scientists do that focuses on the causes and motivations of human behavior. Social scientists seek to understand why and how individuals and groups behave. These researchers apply the scientific method to examine behavior. Social scientists collect and analyze data in order to perform their research. You can put social science research to use in the fields of psychology and sociology, and you can apply your findings to any number of industries from economics to public health to business.

Why is it important to learn about social science research?

Social science research helps you learn about the reasons behind human behavior. Just as other forms of science can help you comprehend the world around you, social sciences can help you understand the motivations behind human actions and reactions, as well as how our institutions regulate and control behavior. You can apply the principles of social science research to help people become safer, healthier, and better connected to individuals and groups around them. The study of social science can help improve society as well.

What are careers that use social science research?

The two major disciplines that rely on social science research are psychology and sociology. Psychologists study the motivations and reasons behind the behavior of individuals and groups, while sociologists study the factors that determine the behavior of larger groups of people. If you perform social science research, either as a psychologist or sociologist, you can conduct studies for educational institutions or foundations. You can also work as a consultant to corporations or nonprofit organizations to help them better serve their clients and customers. Social science research allows you to help make life better for people locally and globally.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn about social science research?

When you take online courses on Coursera, you can learn a variety of topics from the history of social science disciplines to the issues that face today's analysts and researchers. You can learn the basics of effective statistical research, or you can take courses that explore more specific topics like how social science research affects the law profession or how to include more minorities in your research projects. Coursera hosts courses from prestigious partners like Vanderbilt University, the University of London, and Johns Hopkins University. From statistical analysis to the technological applications of data, you'll gain a firm grasp of the concepts you need to be successful in psychological or sociological research.

What are the benefits of taking an online Social Science Research course?

Online Social Science Research courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Social Science Research skills. Choose from a wide range of Social Science Research courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Social Science Research courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Social Science Research, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Social Science Research Courses - Learn Social Science Research Online

Explore the Social Science Research Course Catalog

Università Bocconi
Food & Beverage Management
Skills you'll gain: Food and Beverage, Hospitality Management, Restaurant Management, Product Quality (QA/QC), Global Marketing, Market Dynamics, Business Strategy, Consumer Behaviour, Value Propositions, Competitive Analysis, Innovation, Brand Management, Growth Strategies
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.9K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Preparing for Google Cloud Certification: Cloud Data Engineer
Skills you'll gain: Data Pipelines, Dataflow, Google Cloud Platform, Real Time Data, Data Maintenance, Data Lakes, Data Storage, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Data Analysis, Dashboard, Data Warehousing, Data Processing, Extract, Transform, Load, Cloud Engineering, Data Infrastructure, Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud Storage, Big Data, Tensorflow, Unstructured Data
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
19K reviews
Intermediate · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Coursera Instructor Network
GenAI for Legal Research
Skills you'll gain: Legal Strategy, Legal Research, Generative AI, Data Ethics, Legal Risk, Litigation Support, Legal Writing, Artificial Intelligence, Automation, Predictive Modeling, Ethical Standards And Conduct
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Minnesota
Human Resource Management: HR for People Managers
Skills you'll gain: Performance Management, Performance Appraisal, Employee Performance Management, Compensation Management, Compensation Strategy, Compensation and Benefits, Constructive Feedback, Workforce Planning, Human Resource Strategy, Human Resources, Employee Onboarding, Recruitment, Recruitment Strategies, Human Capital, Compensation Analysis, Talent Acquisition, Human Resources Management and Planning, People Management, Job Analysis, Payroll
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
15K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Applied Social Network Analysis in Python
Skills you'll gain: Network Analysis, Network Model, Graph Theory, Data Analysis, Pandas (Python Package), Applied Machine Learning, Matplotlib, Predictive Modeling, Simulations, Algorithms
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Michigan
The Science of Success: What Researchers Know that You Should Know
Skills you'll gain: Growth Mindedness, Action Oriented, Personal Development, Resilience, Conscientiousness, Optimism, Goal Setting, Open Mindset, Self-Motivation, Self-Awareness, Relationship Building, Positivity, Motivational Skills, Persistence, Social Skills, Lifelong Learning, Prioritization, Planning
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.8K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Santa Cruz
Coding for Everyone: C and C++
Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), Debugging, C (Programming Language), Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Software Design Patterns, Code Review, Data Structures, Computer Programming, Algorithms, Command-Line Interface, Programming Principles, Program Development, Computer Science, Computational Thinking, Integrated Development Environments, Graph Theory, Artificial Intelligence, Software Technical Review, File Systems, Game Design
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
9.4K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM Applied DevOps Engineering
Skills you'll gain: CI/CD, Istio, Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), Continuous Integration, Agile Software Development, Application Deployment, Test Driven Development (TDD), Gherkin (Scripting Language), Jenkins, Kubernetes, Code Coverage, OpenShift, Cloud Applications, Containerization, Agile Methodology, Behavior-Driven Development, DevOps, Secure Coding, Grafana, System Monitoring
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
7.2K reviews
Intermediate · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
The University of Edinburgh
Philosophy and the Sciences: Introduction to the Philosophy of Cognitive Sciences
Skills you'll gain: Artificial Intelligence, Agentic systems, Psychology, Anthropology, Human Learning, Human Development, Machine Learning, Science and Research
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.4K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Multiple educators
Object Oriented Programming in Java
Skills you'll gain: Unit Testing, Data Structures, Event-Driven Programming, Interactive Data Visualization, Java, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Development Testing, User Interface (UI), Debugging, Java Programming, Software Testing, Computer Programming, Software Engineering, Algorithms, Performance Tuning, Encryption, Programming Principles, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Software Design
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
15K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Data Engineering, Big Data, and Machine Learning on GCP
Skills you'll gain: Data Pipelines, Dataflow, Google Cloud Platform, Real Time Data, Data Lakes, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Dashboard, Data Warehousing, Extract, Transform, Load, Cloud Engineering, Data Infrastructure, Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud Storage, Big Data, Tensorflow, Unstructured Data, Data Integration, Data Migration, Data Processing, Data Visualization Software
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
18K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of California, Santa Cruz
C, Go, and C++: A Comprehensive Introduction to Programming
Skills you'll gain: C++ (Programming Language), Go (Programming Language), Debugging, C (Programming Language), Data Structures, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Software Design Patterns, Object Oriented Design, Code Review, Programming Principles, Computer Programming, Unit Testing, Algorithms, Command-Line Interface, Program Development, Integrated Development Environments, Software Testing, Computer Science, Computational Thinking, Graph Theory
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
9.4K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months