Social science
for social good.
We do research that helps change-makers create and report meaningful, positive impact.
Education
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.
Nonprofit
Many nonprofits have a compelling mission statement but struggle to achieve meaningful change. Our research can give leaders a more complete view of key populations so they can plan, execute, and measure impact more effectively, which in turn means more buy-in from stakeholders, employees and grantmakers.
Socially-Responsible Business
More and more, customers reward transparency and ethics in business, but many companies struggle to balance the need for profit with a desire for social good. We can help leaders navigate complexity and incorporate voices that matter in decision-making so that doing well doesn’t come at the expense of doing good.
Know what’s happening.
Make a difference.
See through the eyes of the people you serve.
Measure what matters most.
Be guided by established social science.
Make human-centered decisions.
Report your social impact to stakeholders and grantmakers.
How it works
Step 1: You send over a bit of info.
Send us a brief description of your organization and its goals, as well as any research questions you’ve got stirring. We’ll set up a call where we can gather the additional details we need to put together a proposal.
Step 2: We present a custom plan.
After performing a preliminary review of relevant literature, we’ll craft a custom research proposal including timeline and price estimates, research methods, and project objectives. Often, a grant has already been secured at this point. If not, the proposal (and literature review in particular) can often be incorporated into a grant application.
Step 3: We gather, analyze, and report.
We’ll carry out the research project, analyze the data, and summarize findings to you and your team. If needed, we can even craft custom reports for board members, granting organizations, or policymakers.
Step 4: Do your thing.
Now that you can see the world through the eyes of those you serve, and are measuring the good you’re doing for them, you Knowledge is power, and you just got a lot more powerful for good.
How well do you understand your target context?
Going beyond big data.
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Learn about problems from the people experiencing them. We use a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods to explain not only what is happening, but why. Big data, paired with rich ethnographic insights, can help you understand the meaning, perspectives, and priorities of group-behavior that matter most to your organization.
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From simple data visualization to innovative insights, we help you draw the most complete picture possible from data (including data you already have).
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From policy reform to intergenerational poverty, complex problems require new ways of thinking. The best way to achieve meaningful change is by bringing together distinct perspectives. We help you get the right voices in the mix and navigate collaborative tension.
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Data can’t tell a story without context. We help you tell a more accurate and compelling story to your target population, your employees, other stakeholders, and even yourself.
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Resources are often extremely scarce. Being able to demonstrate credibility, efficacy, and impact can make all the difference in the eyes of grantmaking organizations.
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Struggling to produce high-value content? Imagine sharing with your customers and stakeholders original research that you commissioned. We bring the same holistic, social-science approach, only this time your audience is our audience.
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Benjamin Gibbs, PhD
CO-FOUNDER
Dr. Gibbs is a professor in the department of sociology at Brigham Young University. He earned his PhD at Ohio State University in 2009 and has published on a wide range of topics including early childhood development, education, intergenerational poverty and more. He has helped numerous organizations and governments to remove obstacles and to enable individuals and families to succeed.
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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 earned his PhD at UNC Chapel Hill in 2005. He is a seasoned specialist in data analysis, survey construction, and research methodology. His attention to detail makes any project more likely to achieve its intended objectives.
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Jacob Wixom
CO-FOUNDER / MANAGING PARTNER
Jacob is an applied sociologist with experience in ethnography, consumer research, and organizational consulting. Some of his recent work includes two years consulting on a collaborative engineering project based in the Brazilian Amazon, qualitative analysis of several education initiatives, agency work with 100+ SMEs, and partner marketing for a Fortune 100 tech company.
