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Research at the School of Social Sciences

The School of Social Sciences (SSS) drives impactful research that explores the complex interplay between individuals and society. Leveraging diverse disciplines — Economics, Psychology, Public Policy and Global Affairs, and Sociology — our research spans multiple levels of analysis. From neural and physiological processes to decision-making, social behaviours, and the dynamics of macro social institutions, we address critical issues shaping humanity today.

Key research areas include the social, political, psychological, and economic implications of challenges such as demographic shifts, technological advancements, and sustainability. Our work contributes to impactful national and international research and engages local communities to tackle pressing social concerns.

Our four strategic research clusters foster interdisciplinary collaboration:  

Through these efforts, SSS@NTU remains at the forefront of addressing societal challenges and contributing to meaningful change.

Areas of Research

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School Research

Aging, Inclusion and Healthcare​ Research Cluster

Information on the Aging, Inclusion and Healthcare Research Cluster.

The Aging, Inclusion, and Healthcare Research Cluster addresses critical ageing issues in Singapore and Asia, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across SSS disciplines. It drives innovative solutions for age-friendly policies, communities, and healthcare while promoting engagement through research, outreach, and the MSc in Applied Gerontology programme.

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School Research

Cognitive and Behavioural Science Research Cluster

Through research sharing activities, the cluster aims to foster research collaborations and generate research findings and programmes that can help boost healthcare, wellbeing, education, technology advancement, and societal welfare.
The cluster will be collaborating with LKC Medicine, NBS, Engineering Schools (such as CEE, MAE, and SCSE), research centres such as CRADEL, CLIC, ARISE, LILY, NTU-WeBank Joint Research Centre, NTU-LTA Transport Research Centre, and Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Singapore.

The Cognitive and Behavioural Science Research Cluster unites researchers across behavioral economics, psychology, neuroscience, and sociology to study cognition, decision-making, memory, and brain functions across all life stages. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration with NTU schools, research centers, and external partners, the Cluster drives advancements in healthcare, education, technology, and societal welfare.

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School Research

Environment and Sustainability​ Research Cluster

The Environment and Sustainability Research Cluster aims to facilitate, cultivate, and produce multi-disciplinary, collaborative, and innovative research focused on sustainable environment, urban sustainability and smart cities, and social resilience. It brings together scholars from the disciplines of Economics, Sociology, Psychology, and Public Policy in an effort to critically inform public debate and seek solutions to the challenges posed by climate changes, urbanization, natural hazards, man-made disasters (e.g., terrorism, wars), and transboundary crises (e.g., financial crisis, epidemics, cyber warfare). It strives to advance knowledge on how sustainability can be pursued over the long term on national, regional, and global levels as well as promote sustainable development practices. It also strives to enhance the capacity of individuals and communities to cope with challenges and bounce back after a challenging condition or traumatic experience.
The Cluster aims to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue and collaborations across the university through informal gatherings, workshops, formal seminars and conferences, submission of joint external grant proposals, and having joint publications. Besides, it aims to establish a strong research network with local and foreign universities, research centers, and policy groups through seminars, conferences, and research collaborations. Also, it aims to mobilize citizens to become important agents of change in sustainable development and promote the well-being of communities in times of adversity through communications and outreach activities. These activities include newsletters, webinars, awareness events (e.g., public forum), school presentations, public talks, and exhibitions. It is expected that the work of the Cluster can support policymakers and practitioners to make evidence-based decisions for promoting sustainable development and enhancing social resilience as well as engage citizens in adopting good practices for sustainable development.

The Environment and Sustainability Research Cluster focuses on collaborative, multidisciplinary research to address challenges in urban sustainability, climate change, and social resilience. It brings together experts from Economics, Sociology, Psychology, and Public Policy to seek solutions for global issues like natural hazards, urbanization, and man-made disasters.

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School Research

Policy and Society​ Research Cluster

The Policy & Society research cluster promotes interdisciplinary research on social, economic and policy issues, with a focus on Southeast Asia and other parts of Asia. Research will explore interactive dynamics between local, national, regional, and global actors, and unveil the forces and mechanisms behind social change, economic development, and governance transformation. While recognising the importance of rigorous research, we pay special attention to policy implications of our research and foreground the efforts to connect researchers and policy stakeholders, such as governments, NGOs, and communities. The cluster members work on a wide range of issues, including, but not limited to, trade, politics, security, new industries, food, migration, ethnicity, religion, social justice, social institutions, and popular movements.

The Policy & Society Research Cluster explores social, economic, and policy issues in Southeast Asia, focusing on the dynamics between local, national, and global actors. It connects researchers with policy stakeholders to address challenges like trade, politics, migration, and social justice.

Research Centres

Economic Growth Centre
Research Centre

Economic Growth Centre

The Economic Growth Centre (EGC) has been actively producing research output on East Asian economies and offers a platform for academic exchange through various programmes, research networks and collaborations, and joint academic events. We aim to advance research in applied economics fundamental to economic policy and train the next generation of scholars, policymakers, and practitioners in related areas.

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Research Centre

Centre for the Study of Social Inequality (CSSI)

The Centre for the Study of Social Inequality (CSSI), established in October 2024 at NTU, is Singapore's first research centre focused on inequality. Its mission is to advance multi-disciplinary research on inequality and to make academic knowledge accessible, connecting theory with practical solutions for society. 

Our Research Publications

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Research Publications

At NTU School of Social Sciences, our faculty publishes in top-tier journals and influential books, addressing key social, political, and economic issues. Their research shapes knowledge in fields like Economics, Psychology, Public Policy, and Sociology, and bridges theory with practical application, informing policy and practice. The School's work, through interdisciplinary collaborations, contributes to both local and global discussions, advancing Singapore's role as a hub for social science research.

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