Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI)
CatalogAbout
The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) is a professional organization that brings together psychologists and allied social scientists to apply psychological research and theory to social issues. SPSSI offers grants, awards, fellowships, publications including academic journals and books, and hosts conferences to promote the application of social science to addressing pressing social problems. The organization has consultative status with the United Nations and engages in policy work, position statements, and advocacy.
Funding Opportunities
Applied Social Issues Internship Award
The Applied Social Issues Internship Award is designed to encourage research that is conducted in cooperation with a community or government organization, public interest group, or other not-for-profit entity that will benefit directly from the project. This program provides financial support to undergraduate seniors (including rising seniors), graduate students, and first-year post-doctorates in psychology, applied social science, and related disciplines. Awards range from $300 to $2,500 to cover research costs, community organizing, and in unusual cases, a stipend for the intern. The program emphasizes collaborative research that bridges academic work with real-world applications in community settings. Applicants must be SPSSI members and are encouraged to secure cost sharing from their sponsoring department or organization. The application requires a detailed proposal describing the research or intervention, including theoretical rationale, assessment plans, and dissemination strategies for findings to relevant parties and policy makers.
Social Issues Dissertation Award
The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) offers the Social Issues Dissertation Award to encourage excellence in socially relevant research. This annual award recognizes outstanding doctoral dissertations in psychology or social sciences with psychological subject matter that demonstrate scientific excellence and potential application to social problems. The award is open to any doctoral dissertation accepted between March 1st of the previous year and the current year's deadline. Applicants must have successfully defended their dissertation prior to the award deadline. A first prize of $1,000 and a second prize of $500 are awarded annually to the dissertations that best demonstrate scientific excellence and potential application to social problems. Applicants are required to submit a 500-word summary of their dissertation including the title, rationale, methods, results, and implications for social problems, along with a cover sheet containing contact information and university details. Finalists are later asked to provide certification from their dissertation advisor of the acceptance date and a full electronic copy of the dissertation. The award cycle runs annually with a May 1st deadline. Initial notifications are sent by July 13th, and final decisions are announced by September 1st. Applicants may only submit one paper to one SPSSI award per year and cannot submit to the Dissertation Prize twice.
Otto Klineberg Intercultural and International Relations Award
The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) presents the Otto Klineberg Intercultural and International Relations Award, honoring Dr. Otto Klineberg (1899-1992), an early president of SPSSI and distinguished figure in intercultural and international relations. This award recognizes the best paper or article of the year on intercultural or international relations from a social psychological perspective. The competition is open to both members and non-members of SPSSI, with graduate students especially encouraged to submit. Entries can be unpublished manuscripts of general chapter or article length, in press papers, book chapters, or journal articles published no more than 18 months prior to the submission deadline. Submissions from across the social sciences are encouraged, provided the paper clearly demonstrates relevance for psychological theory and research in the domain of intercultural and international relations. The award provides $1,000 to the winner, with special weight given to originality of the contribution, whether theoretical or empirical. Applicants may only submit to one SPSSI paper award (Allport, Klineberg, or Dissertation Awards) per year, and in case of multiple submissions, individuals may only serve as single author or first author on one submission.
Gordon Allport Intergroup Relations Prize
The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) offers the Gordon Allport Intergroup Relations Prize honoring the memory of the late Dr. Gordon W. Allport, a founder and past president of SPSSI. The prize recognizes the best paper or article of the year on intergroup relations, a field about which Professor Allport cared deeply. The award carries a $1,000 prize and is given annually for outstanding published work on intergroup relations. Originality of the contribution, whether theoretical or empirical, will be given special weight. The research area of intergroup relations includes such dimensions as age, gender, and socioeconomic status, as well as ethnicity. Eligible entries must be works published during the calendar year preceding the year of submission, including articles, chapters, or other works published in their primary form. All entries must be submitted in English for consideration. This prestigious prize is sponsored by The Gordon W. Allport Memorial Fund of Harvard University and SPSSI.
SPSSI Two-Year College Teaching & Mentoring Excellence Award
The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) offers an award recognizing the contributions of faculty at two-year institutions in furthering SPSSI's mission to advance the understanding of social issues. Community and junior college faculty have unique opportunities to reach pre-professional students for whom an associate's degree or a certificate program may be their terminal educational goal. Two-year faculty are uniquely positioned to advance SPSSI's goals through work at their institutions. This award recognizes teaching and/or initiatives at the two-year college level that share applied, social issues research with students and/or surrounding community. Nominees should be two-year college faculty members who have significantly incorporated psychological or allied social science research on social issues through integration into courses or programs, development of initiatives or educational programs, or presentation of workshops or training highlighting social issues research to students and/or the surrounding community.
Teaching Resources Award
The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) Teaching Resources Award recognizes innovative activities, assignments, and projects related to the psychological study of social issues. The award rewards SPSSI members who have developed novel resources that advance students' understanding of social issues and can be used in a variety of settings, including on-ground and online courses, as well as small or large groups. Up to five prizes of $150 are awarded annually to members who have created and utilized resources for undergraduate, graduate, or online courses. Recipients' submitted materials may be included on the SPSSI website to build an online teaching resource center for public use. The award aims to foster innovative teaching methods that enhance student engagement, critical thinking, and understanding of social issues.
The Lynn Stuart Weiss Lecture
The Lynn Stuart Weiss Lecture was established in 1998 by Drs. Raymond A. and Rosalee G. Weiss, in memory of their daughter, Lynn, whose interests centered on the science and art of politics, with a focus on world law. The Lecture fund is administered by the American Psychological Foundation (APF), and the Lecture series is administered by the Committee on Division/APA Relations (CODAPAR). An annual lecture presented at the APA Annual Convention will be related to Lynn's goal of searching for ways in which world peace could be attained. Her interest centered on the science and art of politics with a focus on world law. The Lecture is intended to connect Lynn's focus with the range of interests in at least four of APA's Divisions: Division 9 (Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues), Division 41 (American Psychological-Law Society), Division 48 (Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict and Violence: Peace Psychology), and Division 52 (International Psychology). CODAPAR solicits speakers on a rotating basis from the above divisions. The award is made annually and selection for the award rotates through the four divisions mentioned above. The selected speaker will receive a $1,000 honorarium, and APF will provide a printed brochure to be disseminated during the lecture that includes information on Lynn Stuart Weiss, as well as the selected speaker. The programming hours for the Weiss Lecturer will be provided by APF. Applicants must be current SPSSI members, be mid- to late-career level, not have been previously selected for the Lynn Stuart Weiss lecture, and be available to give a 50-minute lecture in person at APA's annual Convention. Nominations and self-nominations are encouraged.
Kurt Lewin Award
Named for the late Kurt Lewin, a pioneer in the science of group dynamics and a founder of SPSSI, this prestigious award is presented annually for outstanding contributions to the development and integration of psychological research and social action. Although Kurt Lewin made contributions in many fields, his activities and research were a remarkable personal crystallization of the goals of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. The award is given in honor of Kurt Lewin and of his legacy. Typically, the award recipient is invited to present a distinguished address as part of SPSSI's program at the annual meeting. The winner of the award also receives a plaque and $1,000.
SAGES Program - SPSSI Action Grants for Experienced Scholars
The SAGES Program (SPSSI Action Grants for Experienced Scholars) was established to encourage retired members to apply their knowledge to helping solve social problems or to assist policy makers to solve social problems. Proposals are invited that use social science research findings to address social problems through direct action projects, consulting with not-for-profit groups, or through preparing reviews of existing social science literature that could be used by policy makers. Each year, a number of small grants in the $2,000-$3,000 range are funded. A larger exceptional grant up to $10,000 is a rare possibility and can be spent over a two-year period. Money can be used for hiring staff (including clerical assistance), computing fees, travel, telephone, or other justifiable expenses. Funding cannot be used as a stipend for the applicant. Proposals are evaluated based on how well they build on existing social science research and theory, the feasibility of the project, and the importance of the project.
Researchers in the Global South Grants Program
SPSSI's Researchers in the Global South (RGS Grants Program) is a unique funding opportunity for international members of SPSSI conducting research on social issues outside of the United States. The funding is modeled after SPSSI's long standing Grants-in-Aid program and is designed especially to support scientific research on social issues in the Global South and Majority World settings (e.g., Africa, Latin America, Asia, and southern and eastern Europe). The Committee welcomes proposals involving unique and timely research opportunities, underrepresented institutions, graduate students, and junior scholars, volunteer research teams, and actual (not pilot) projects. Funds may be used for various research activities, but are not available for the indirect costs of institutions. Preference is given to applicants who are based in the Global South conducting research about social issues in the Global South. Funding up to $1000 is available for graduate student research, with strong preference given to applications from students at the dissertation stage. Funding up to $2000 is available for research by SPSSI members who already have a Ph.D. In exceptional circumstances the amount may exceed $2000. In cases of proposals of comparable quality, preference is given to applications from scholars working in circumstances where research support is limited. The program has two annual deadlines (October 1st for Fall round and May 1st for Spring round). Applicants must be members of SPSSI and can submit only one application per deadline. Documentation of IRB approval or equivalent ethical research compliance must accompany every submission.
Grants-In-Aid Program
The SPSSI Committee on Grants-in-Aid (GIA) supports scientific research in social problem areas related to the basic interests and goals of SPSSI, particularly those that are not likely to receive support from traditional sources. The Committee especially encourages proposals involving unique and timely research opportunities, underrepresented institutions, graduate students and junior scholars, volunteer research teams, and actual (not pilot) projects. Funding up to $1,000 is available for graduate student research, with strong preference given to students at the dissertation stage. Funding up to $2,000 is available for research by SPSSI members who already have a Ph.D. Applicants can be at any stage of their academic work at any type of institution, though preference is given to applications from scholars working in circumstances where research support is limited. Grants are awarded twice each year with a Spring round deadline of May 15th, and winners announced by July 20th. Proposals for highly timely and event-oriented research may be submitted at any time during the year for ad hoc review within one month. Funds are not normally provided for travel to conventions, travel or living expenses while conducting research, stipends of principal investigators, costs associated with manuscript preparation, or indirect costs of institutions.
Applied Social Issues Internship Award
The Applied Social Issues Internship Award is designed to encourage research that is conducted in cooperation with a community or government organization, public interest group, or other not-for-profit entity that will benefit directly from the project. The award supports undergraduate seniors (including rising seniors), graduate students, and first-year postdoctoral researchers in psychology, applied social science, and related disciplines. Awards range from $300 to $2,500 to cover research costs, community organizing, and in unusual cases, a stipend for the intern. Cost sharing by sponsoring department or organization is desirable. Applicants must be SPSSI members and must secure both a faculty sponsor/supervisor and an organizational sponsor to support the research activities.
At a Glance
- Total Funding Opportunities
- 24
- Active Now
- 12
- Source Domain
- spssi.org
Catalog Data
This funder profile was automatically extracted from grant listings. Information may be incomplete.
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