About SSRI
SSRI Mission
Our mission is to foster research that addresses critical human and social problems at the local, national, and international levels. We do so by bringing together researchers from different disciplines around emerging areas of study, and by providing consultation, financial support, shared, accessible infrastructure, and services to social scientists at Penn State.
Our research support is aimed at promoting:
- Research by investigators from diverse fields within the social and behavioral sciences
- Research collaborations across disciplinary lines, across colleges and research centers, and across universities
- The activities of multidisciplinary and translational research centers
SSRI Strategic Foci
Causes and Consequences of Inequality. Investigating the widening gaps in health, education, and resources across the population, with a focus on racial/ethnic minorities, rural populations, children and families, older adults, and other historically or socially disadvantaged groups. Research areas include micro, meso, and macrolevel structural determinants of inequality, and the development of evidence-based practices and policies that promote equity and social justice.
Human Development and Behavior. Studying how biological, psychosocial, cultural, and environmental factors shape individual human development and behavior across the lifespan.
Social and Environmental Determinants of Health. Examining how social, political, economic, demographic, environmental and historical factors, as well as health communication and the health care system, affect the health and health behaviors of individuals and populations over the life course.
Innovative and Data Intensive Research Methods. Developing and using sophisticated approaches to research and study design including cutting-edge methodologies in data collection, integration, modeling and analytics, and other innovations to study individuals and populations over time and across space.
Individual and Community Impact. Fostering partnerships with members of community and policy groups to create, evaluate, and deploy research. This includes translation and dissemination of scientific knowledge.
SSRI Institutes/Centers
The Child Maltreatment Solutions Network serves as a key local, state, and national resource dedicated to solving the complex problem of child maltreatment. We (1) conduct impactful new science that will change the health and developmental trajectories for individuals and families affected by or at risk of child maltreatment, (2) accelerate the translation of science to practice and policy change, (3) provide opportunities to train and educate the next generation of child maltreatment professionals, and (4) increase awareness to mobilize public investment in prevention and treatment. Together we are a network of transdisciplinary scientists working in conjunction with advocates, practitioners, and policy makers to create dynamic system-wide solutions.
An interactive and comprehensive resource for professionals working with military families, the Clearinghouse is expert in the science of program implementation and evaluation.
The CSA Core promotes and enhances Penn State’s social and behavioral research by developing and applying innovative spatial statistics and analysis methods and Big Data analytics for both social and non-social research.
Launched in 2018 from a strategic investment by Penn State in its effort to help fulfill its strategic plan, the CSUA was established to enable Penn State to leverage its translational research expertise toward a world free from addiction as a step toward enabling individuals, families, and communities to reach their full potential.
The EIC facilitates the translation of social science research into measurable societal impact by increasing its relevance to policymakers and practitioners. This includes accelerating partnerships to access, protect, link and analyze sensitive data, as well as providing the core infrastructure to facilitate the translation of research into policy.
EIC is co-supported by the Prevention Research Center in the College of Health and Human Development and SSRI.
The center provides researchers with a connection to restricted data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Health Statistics.
PRI encourages, organizes, and supports innovative research and training in the population sciences. With the talents of over 100 outstanding scholars, PRI provides a supportive and collegial environment to stimulate collaborative, externally funded research. The institute is an NICHD supported population center.
QuantDev develops new methods for the study of human behavior (measurement, study design, and analysis techniques) and uses them to study behavioral change.
QuantDev is co-supported by Human Development and Family Studies in the College of Health and Human Development and SSRI.
The SLEIC fosters innovative research in the social, behavioral, biological, engineering, and materials sciences where imaging methodologists play a central role.
The SRC provides a range of services, including data collection, survey design, sampling, data entry, survey data management, and data analysis.
SSRI Affiliate Program
The SSRI Faculty Affiliate program is creating a community of Penn State researchers to engage in social and behavioral science research, education, outreach, and other initiatives. SSRI supports the efforts of affiliates by enabling collaborative research, communicating funding and other opportunities, and increasing the visibility of SSRI to external collaborators and funding agencies.
Citing SSRI
Inside SSRI
SSRI PowerPoint Presentation
The SSRI PowerPoint presentation gives an overview of SSRI's mission, structure, funding opportunities, co-funded faculty program and more. Download the presentation.
SSRI Annual Report
- Read the 2021-2022 SSRI Annual Report (web)
- Read the 2019-2021 SSRI Annual Report (web)
- Read the 2018-2019 SSRI Annual Report (pdf)
- Read the 2017-2018 SSRI Annual Report (pdf)
- Read the 2016-2017 SSRI Annual Report (pdf)
- Read the 2015-2016 SSRI Annual Report (pdf)
- Read the 2014-2015 SSRI Annual Report (pdf)
- Read the 2013-2014 SSRI Annual Report (pdf)
SSRI Administrative Report
Keep in Touch
Contact SSRI
Phone: (814) 865-1528
Email: ssri-info@psu.edu
Address: 114 Henderson Building, University Park, PA 16802