What Do Social Science Research Assistants Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Social Science Research Assistants assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management. They also design and create special programs for tasks such as statistical analysis and data entry and cleaning.

Other tasks include:

• Obtain informed consent of research subjects or their guardians.
• Administer standardized tests to research subjects, or interview them to collect research data.
• Provide assistance with the preparation of project-related reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
• Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results.
• Recruit and schedule research participants.
• Screen potential subjects to determine their suitability as study participants.

We asked Social Science Research Assistants how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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69% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 65% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Social Science Research Assistants allocate and manage laboratory space and resources. They perform data entry and other clerical work as required for project completion.

• Conduct internet-based and library research.
• Supervise the work of survey interviewers.
• Prepare, manipulate, and manage extensive databases.
• Recruit and schedule research participants.
• Track laboratory supplies and expenses such as participant reimbursement.

We asked some Social Science Research Assistants a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	57% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	46% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	49% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	24% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	10% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	6% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Social Science Research Assistants also collect specimens such as blood samples, as required by research projects. They may also track laboratory supplies and expenses such as participant reimbursement.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Social Science Research Assistants Obtain informed consent of research subjects or their guardians. They might also Administer standardized tests to research subjects, or interview them to collect research data.

In addition, they Edit and submit protocols and other required research documentation.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Track research participants, and perform any necessary follow-up tasks.

To some Social Science Research Assistants, it is also their responsibility to Supervise the work of survey interviewers.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Social Science Research Assistant, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

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