A new research hub has launched at Indiana University to boost efficiency, collaboration and innovation in the social and behavioral sciences. The Institute for Social and Behavioral Research unites five existing centers and integrates their expertise in research design, statistical methods, data access, management and grant writing under a single umbrella to create a “one-stop shop” for researchers.

“The creation of the Institute for Social and Behavioral Research demonstrates Indiana University’s commitment to supporting high-quality, interdisciplinary research,” said Brea Perry, IU associate vice president for research and vice provost for research at IU Bloomington. “By combining these resources, we will increase efficiency, innovation and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and facilitate groundbreaking research that addresses important societal challenges.”

A key feature of the new institute, located at IU Bloomington’s Morrison Hall, is the Indiana Federal Statistical Research Data Center, which provides secure access to restricted data from federal agencies covering demographic, economic, health and labor market trends. The facility is the first of its kind in Indiana, allowing scholars to leverage federal microdata in their research. The Federal Statistical Research Data Center is a collaborative effort involving the IU Social Science Research Commons, the Kentucky Research Data Center and the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Institute for Social and Behavioral Research includes several other core IU Bloomington research centers. They are:

• The Social Science Research Commons, which offers research infrastructure and methodological training.
• The IU Center for Survey Research , with over 40 years of expertise in survey design and data collection.
• The Center for Evaluation, Policy and Research, specializing in policy analysis and evaluation.
• The Indiana Statistical Consulting Center, providing statistical support across IU campuses.
• The IU Research Data Commons, an initiative that serves as the “front door” to data and data sets by supporting production, sharing and collaboration around research data infrastructure.

These centers have long played a crucial role in supporting research, but their consolidation under the Institute for Social and Behavioral Research framework is expected to streamline services, strengthen research proposals and generate cost savings through shared resources.

Under the stewardship of Executive Director Emily Meanwell, the institute will continue to provide existing resources while also offering new services like the Research and Evaluation Design Support for grant proposals. With many research projects involving human subjects or data collection, the institute is uniquely positioned to support researchers from the initial stages of protocol development to the acquisition and analysis of complex datasets. Built on the strong foundations of its contributing centers, the Institute for Social and Behavioral Research will enhance outreach and provide support to researchers across all IU campuses.

“The Institute for Social and Behavioral Research allows us to take a more holistic approach to research support, combining expertise across multiple disciplines,” Meanwell said. “This integration ensures that researchers have access to the tools, data and consultation they need to advance their work, fostering innovative solutions to complex social challenges.”

Aligned with the goals of the IU 2030 strategic plan, the institute represents a key step in promoting productivity in pursuit of high-impact research and creative activity. It will become a transformative resource, establishing a new benchmark for social and behavioral research at Indiana University and beyond.

For more information, contact the Institute for Social and Behavioral Research at isbr@iu.edu.

Dan Melnick is assistant director of research communications.