Social Science Insights

How to Encourage Community Change How can you use social science to encourage communities to change collective behaviours? We cover how to identify a behaviour that needs to change, how to target the key audience, how to encourage change, and the best mode of communication to reach the intended community. The provided check list will help you communicate effectively with local communities.

How can organisations use social science to encourage collective change? See how to target key audiences and how to choose the best mode of communication, as well as a useful check list

How to establish good record-keeping habits:
✔️Implement a systematic approach. E.g. Regular review of actions register
✔️Use a comprehensive agenda. E.g. Recurring items on safety and equity
✔️Understand legal obligations. E.g. Now & future

socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology

Drawing of a wooden filing cabinet

I've led evaluations in government and not-for-profits. Common issues include:
❌Recommendations from major reports not actioned
❌Minutes omit key decisions on safety & equity
❌Poor records management leads to negative health outcomes

socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology

A Black woman with long black hair is typing in a large office, with other people hazy in the back

Dive into two case studies of state inquiries I led, which relied on current and historical records. These show how internal documents continue to have legal implications for decades, and how present-day agencies are accountable for the past. socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology

How to Improve Record-Keeping Organisations can improve their record-keeping by adopting a systematic approach, and using techniques developed through social science research. Discover tips for small businesses and not-for-profit organisations on how to document important decisions, understanding legal obligations, and keeping records safe.

Organisations can improve their record-keeping by adopting a systematic approach developed through social science research. Discover tips on documenting key decisions, understanding legal obligations, and keeping records safe

Are schools making young people lonelier? New study confirms disturbing trend Our schools are often viewed as a place for social connection, a safe space, however a new study is challenging this idea, suggesting they may also be emotionally isolating environments where loneline...

#Sociology study finds youth loneliness results "from the presence of unwanted connections." I.e. "Loneliness in a crowd... you’re surrounded by people who’ve got social connections but you’re actually really not happy with them & in some ways they’re quite negative" educationhq.com/news/are-sch...

"[I] will not be travelling to the United States right now because it feels very dangerous to do so." Travers, Prof of #Sociology and president elect of the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport is trans person and they're not alone in refusing to risk travel www.msn.com/en-ca/news/c...?

'Easy way forward' for tiny homes as NSW-first pilot gets greenlight Shellharbour Council approves a plan for a tiny homes planning pathway which it says could be adopted statewide, as owners face uncertainty around legal installation.

Tiny homes on standard blocks are a must to help combat housing affordability. The fact governments have planning laws that restrict facades to a minimum spend or occupation size is mind blowing. ACT needs to be next.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

Example of visual social science. Participants took photos of their walks, recorded audio field notes of their sensory experiences, annotated a Google map, and participated in interviews

bsky.app/profile/docs... #socialscience #health

‘Just normal’, ‘calming’ and ‘well looked after’: a qualitative exploration of adolescents’ constructions of active mobility and place in Australia Abstract. The active mobility experiences of adolescents intersect with those of younger children and older youth in many ways. However, existing research

I really love these studies in @healthpromint.bsky.social that share young peoples views. Really nice methods and photos in this study. Fascinating theme around mobility as connection:

"It is very lonely walking by yourself, even though it is a quick walk."

academic.oup.com/heapro/artic...

Class action against Work for the Dole alleges racial discrimination A class action on behalf of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people alleges a Commonwealth Work for the Dole scheme was tougher on remote participants than on jobseekers in cities.

‘CDP participants had to work "many more hours" in order to qualify for their payment, when compared to the equivalent city-based Jobactive Work for the Dole program’ www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

Infographic with a drawing of two people of colour holding a megaphone and holding up signs of planet Earth, with Piotr Sztompka's 'The Sociology of Social Change'

In The Sociology of Social Change, Piotr Sztompka argues that social change occurs when six elements come together: action, organisation, roles, inclusion, specialised groups, and local context. socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology

Community Learning Community learning addresses the socio-economic outcomes of community members through a long-term, life-long education program. This includes strengthening skills and knowledge of community members…

Community learning addresses the socio-economic outcomes of community members through a long-term, life-long education program. Find out how local councils use social science to improve community programs socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology

Emergency Decision-Making Behavioural science can help to address emergency decision-making and reduce fatalities in the community. We conducted a masterclass with the New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) to&nb…

We worked with emergency services to stop people driving through floodwater. Use our framework to identify the causes of risky behaviour and how to design an intervention that encourages change socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology

Redesigning Programs This social science project identified what stops people from voluntarily signing up to free rehabilitation programs. These results may help other community programs to improve their services.

Our social science project identified what stops people from voluntarily signing up to free rehabilitation programs. Programs can make it easier to sign-up, by reducing the number of steps, and simplifying referrals and eligibility requirements socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology

Behavioural Science in Urban Planning Here is an example of behavioural insights in Melbourne. To reinforce the desired behaviour (only cross when green, walk left), the physical environment provides clear cues.

Here is an example of behavioural science in action. To reinforce the desired behaviour (only cross when green, walk left), the physical environment provides clear cues. This is known as choice architecture. socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #behaviouralscience

Two Black women put their hands up in a meeting

Race, gender, and class inequalities are institutionally reproduced in the public service through formal practices (e.g. policies) and informal interactions (e.g. employee sanctions). See how this happens through written documents: socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology #socialpolicy

A hand draws a decision tree saying 'y' and 'n'

My research shows how the process in which government documents are negotiated and drafted ignores race inequity. This leads to poor racial literacy in the creation and governance of social policies. socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology

A racially diverse group sits around a boardroom table with their laptops open

Read an excerpt of my research on ‘Race at Work Within Social Policy.' I explore how lack of racial literacy maintains hegemonic diversity. That is, focusing on individualistic approaches, without dismantling racism and other structural inequities socialscienceinsight... #sociology #socialscience

Protesters in Australia hold signs saying 'Treaty, justice, reparations'

Our research on historical and ongoing racial injustice provided a systematic way to review policy gaps and uncover how the state maintains systemic inequality. socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology

People protesting in Australia, holding signs saying Black Lives Matter

We reviewed state-sanctioned violence and policy failures affecting First Peoples. This includes analysis of 14,800 historical records, evaluation of 6 programs, and other public evidence. socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology

Drawing of people orotesting, many of them raising their fists in the air

I led a multidisciplinary research team for a state inquiry into social injustice imposed on First Peoples. Here is how we used social science to deliver analysis of policy issues and state programs. socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology

Infographic of people of colour standing looking sad with their arms around each other, holding up fists, and hugging. Quote says: 'Statements like “It was just a joke” or “What’s the big deal?” reflect a lack of understanding that a single seemingly insignificant act or statement may symbolise a much larger system of oppression or discrimination. Effective leaders understand the deeper relevance of microinequities, rather than dismissing them as isolated events.'

'Effective leaders understand the deeper relevance of microinequities, rather than dismissing them as isolated events.' Read about how workplaces can proactively create an environment of justice and dignity. socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology

Infographic of various people of colour holding their fist up and hugging. Quote says: ‘The protection of dignity is one of the most important challenges that people of colour face in corporate organisations. Dignity is the ability to experience a sense of self-worth while also being principled about respecting the equal worth of their lives. Dignity is a relational concept, even when it appeals to a sense of individuality.’

‘The protection of dignity is one of the most important challenges that people of colour face in corporate organisations.' - Professor Philomena Essed socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology

Infographic showing women of colour holding flags, raised fists, in wheelchairs. Quote says: ‘At work, the accumulation of seemingly petty experiences of disrespect, humiliations, rejections, blocked opportunities, and hostilities symbolically signifies the ‘‘glass ceiling’’ or ‘‘concrete wall,’’ where colour is a determining factor for upward mobility or for moving sideways, to the centre of an organisation.’

Professor Philomena Essed on racism and microaggressions at work, creating a '‘‘glass ceiling’’ or ‘‘concrete wall,’’ where colour is a determining factor for upward mobility.' socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology

A Black woman doctor smiles at a white woman in a hospital room

See how social science was used to analyse and improve a healthcare program. Using an influential messenger can encourage behaviour change: socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology #health

Two Black people speak with an Asian male doctor, who holds a writing pad

I worked with a health organisation to encourage general practitioners to refer eligible patients to a free treatment program. See case studies of how to improve GP referrals: socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology

Look at a case study with advice on how to increase referrals to health and wellbeing programs.

➡️Start with a call to action
➡️Reduce information
➡️Show the benefits
➡️Use an influential messenger

socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology #health #communitywork

Check out examples of how to design effective messages for target audiences, and how to measure the impact of information campaigns. socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology

A white woman sits atop a cliff, looking into a distant, winding road

Do you want to measure behavioural change following a communication campaign? Here's some social science tips and examples of how to design a specific call to action you can track. socialscienceinsight... #socialscience #sociology