Coastal Services Center

What is Social Science?

Just what is social science? Most people have heard the term before, but how many really understand what it means and what it can offer to coastal management? Sometimes used in conjunction with the term human dimensions, social science is the process of explaining, describing, and predicting how individuals and groups act and behave.

Some of the most challenging decisions in coastal management depend on the relationship between people and the environment. Coastal managers have become increasingly aware of the importance and helpfulness of using social science information and tools.

Most environmental research is within the field of natural sciences; however, the experience of coastal managers has shown that a better understanding of the human dimensions of coastal issues is as important as understanding the biological and physical aspects.

Observing, surveying, and assessing the public are just a few of the many methods for understanding a community’s attitudes, perceptions, and needs. Finding the right techniques for each management decision can mean all the difference.

Social Science in the Decision-Making Process

In natural resource management, three recognized stages can be utilized in most decision-making processes. The stages—planning, implementation, and evaluation—are helpful in assessing a situation and determining the best course of action. Social science tools can be used in any or all the stages to help provide information about social, economic, and cultural conditions within the community.

Phase One: In the first stage, when coastal managers are studying an issue and deciding what strategy they might pursue, social science tools and resources can provide helpful information about current conditions.
Potential tools to use: census, economic data, resource-use patterns, a cost-benefit analysis, and needs assessments.

Phase Two: After a course of action has been decided upon, the implementation phase brings additional needs for people-related information.
Potential tools to use: surveys, social network analyses to identify key constituents, and focus groups.

Phase Three: Evaluation is an important but often overlooked part of the process. Social science methods can help measure impacts and identify future needs and strategies.
Potential tools to use: observation, interviews, and content analysis.

For more information, check out Research Resources for the Social Sciences or the Web Center for Social Research Methods.

Some Tools of the Trade

Many tools and methods can be used to obtain social science information. A few examples follow. For additional tools and more in-depth information, visit the social science Tool Table.

• Case study research – An in-depth investigation at a specific location. Case studies may help managers understand the beliefs, perceptions, interactions, and attitudes of the groups they wish to examine.
• Focus groups – A structured process with typically eight to twelve participants that gathers opinions on a series of predetermined questions. The goal is to gather a range of opinions and ideas.
• Observation – A technique to collect information through personal or recorded observation.
• Social assessment – An assessment to determine changes, social structures, and processes within a certain group or community. The technique gauges political, social, and economic trends in the community and the roles of race, age, and gender.
• Survey – A standard list of questions administered formally or informally in person or by phone, Internet, or mail. Additional tools include comparative research, content analysis, cost-benefit analysis, demographic analysis, ethnography, historical research, interviews, network analysis, nonmarket valuation, predictive modeling, rapid rural appraisal, secondary data analysis, social impact assessment, and social network analysis.

Social Science Drivers

Changing socioeconomic conditions play a critical role in driving the development of many of the information resources and decision-support tools designed by the NOAA Coastal Services Center.

From changing populations and transportation patterns in coastal communities to impacts on public health from harmful algal blooms, the Center recognizes the importance of identifying the socioeconomic trends occurring along the nation's coasts and using this understanding to target the development of new tools, information, and capacity-building activities for coastal managers.

The projects identified as "social science drivers" highlight the importance of social and economic drivers, or factors, in shaping new geospatial technologies and decision-support tools.