Alexander Betts is Professor of Forced Migration and International Affairs at the University of Oxford. He was the Associate Head of the Social Sciences Division. He is an interdisciplinary social scientist whose research focuses on refugees and migration. His books include The Wealth of Refugees: How Displaced People Can Build Economies (Oxford University Press, 2021). He was awarded the Economic and Social Research Council's Outstanding International Impact Prize, and is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Science.

• Acknowledgements


• 1: What is Social Science?


• 2: Doing Social Science


• 3: Theories and Concepts


• 4: Methods and Methodologies


• 5: How Social Science Can Change the World


• 6: The Future of Social Science


• References


• Further Reading

Social Science: A Very Short Introduction offers an accessible overview of how social scientists understand and explain human behaviour. Based on real-world examples, it shows how social science can change the world in areas from climate change to pandemics.