Institute for Research in the Social Sciences

Michelangelo's painting from the Sistine Chapel, but with an android instead of the Heavenly Father..

Empirical Work in the Age of AI

An event co-organized with the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Stanford Impact Labs on April 17, 2026. Thanks to all who attended!

Watch the recording

Warrior of Clarity (Blue Topaz), 2019, Acrylic, ink, & silicone on muslin on panel, 64 in x 36 in

Now on view at IRiSS

Patterns of Resonance

An exhibition of paintings by Bay Area artist Michelle Mansour

Visit the artist's website

Photo by NASA

Data-Driven Discovery for the Social Sciences

Photo by Element5 Digital

ANES wins 2024 Past Policy Impact Award

The American Association for Public Opinion Research recognizes the American National Election Studies, the longest-running, most widely cited time series of voting behavior data in the world.

American National Election Studies

Federal Statistical Research Data Center

National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent to Adult Health

Social Science Research Support

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Our Mission

Growing access to novel data sources, the development of powerful computing tools, and innovation in quantitative and qualitative research methods are opening a new frontier for social scientists to explore bold, inventive research questions. In this burgeoning era for social science research, the Stanford Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRiSS) facilitates first-rate interdisciplinary research, trains the next generation of scholars, and incubates research projects to address critical societal challenges. IRiSS ensures that world-class, evidence-based research is produced to meet evolving problems in areas of governance and democracy, economic inequality, immigration policy, and other social issues that affect communities across the globe.