People are embedded in complex social environments that affect how they make decisions. That’s as true of your employees as it is of your clients, customers, or beneficiaries. Constraints and incentives, often invisible to decision-makers, are made visible through thoughtful sociological investigation. That’s where we come in.

Who We Are

In the mid-2010s, our co-founders all came to the same conclusion—organizations, communities, and individuals all benefit from a better understanding of their social world, but shockingly little of that knowledge ever makes it out of the halls of academia.

That’s why we set out to bridge the gap between cutting-edge academic research and the world of entrepreneurs, policymakers, and do-gooders. We help them create positive change using context-rich social data and insights.

Who We Work With

Social Enterprises & Nonprofits

We love nonprofits, and we don't think they get nearly enough credit or attention. These organizations employ many of the best people and tackle some of the most intractable problems we face as a society. Our research gives leaders a more holistic view of the problems their trying to solve and promotes collaboration with stakeholders.

Socially Responsible Businesses

For many businesses (though not nearly enough, in our estimation) "doing good" is more than a mission statement or tagline, it's a way of operating in the world. This matters because governments and nonprofits alone cannot solve all of the world's problems. Blending public-sector values with private-sector agility can raise new possibilities but also create new challenges. We can help you navigate this complexity.

Educators

Society expects a lot from schools. They’re often tasked with ameliorating social problems that are deeply entrenched by the time they manifest in the classroom. Socio’s holistic research methods and decades of expertise help educators address issues—like intergenerational poverty—that originate outside of school but drastically affect school outcomes.

Local and State Governments

While trust in the federal government has plummeted in recent decades, people still believe in local and state governments to make a positive difference. And they’re not wrong to do so—our research has found that the best solutions are usually the ones most proximate to the problem. We help policy makers and agencies craft and carry out solutions that make sense in context.

Aerial view of a busy crosswalk with many pedestrians walking in different directions, some carrying umbrellas and shopping bags.

Experts of data science

Our team has extensive experience constructing and analyzing complex data to understand social phenomena. With expertise across the life course (i.e. childhood, adolescence, young adulthood and elderly) and in a variety of cultural contexts, they have consulted for the Veterans Association, Utah Department of Workforce Services, Granite School District, Provo School District, Circles USA, United Way of SLC, the Utah State Legislature, Brigham Young University, and more. Collectively, they have 30+ years of experience publishing and consulting on a diverse set of topics.

Four elderly men are playing chess on a park bench during sunset, with trees and some blurred figures in the background.

Experts of context

Numbers without context tell us almost nothing. Socio brings quantitative analysis to life with rich insights from cutting edge social science research, as well as context-rich qualitative methods. This means your organization can make decisions using both a wide breadth of data and a rich depth of understanding. Our team has performed mixed-methods research on at least three continents and helped dozens of organizations make better decisions with a richer understanding of the social world.

Our Team

  • Black and white photo of a smiling man with short hair, wearing a collared shirt and sweater.

    Benjamin Gibbs, PhD

    CO-FOUNDER

    Dr. Gibbs is a professor in the Department of Sociology at Brigham Young University. He has published on a wide range of topics including early childhood development, education, intergenerational poverty and more.

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    Lance Erickson, PhD

    CO-FOUNDER

    Dr. Erickson is a professor in the Department of Sociology at Brigham Young University and an applied statistics expert. He is a seasoned specialist in data analysis, survey construction, and research methodology.

  • A smiling woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing hoop earrings and a black top, in an indoor setting.

    Ruth Hardy, MS

    SENIOR CONSULTANT

    Ruth is an international development professional specializing in the economic and social impacts of multinational corporations. She holds a master's degree from the London School of Economics and has extensive experience in program evaluation, impact research, and policy analysis.

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    Tyler Dial

    ANALYST

    Tyler is a skilled data scientist with experience in the financial and social sectors. He helps organizations think through difficult social problems using advanced econometrics, machine learning, and data visualization. He is currently completing an MS in Data Science at Northwestern University.