Social sciences

Historian Craig Wilder featured in new Ken Burns filmThe head of the MIT History section served as a consultant on the director's latest documentary, “The Central Park Five.”

School within a school: MIT ConcourseA learning community in which MIT freshmen explore the sciences, humanities and social sciences in a small, close-knit community (with a kitchen!)

Study: At most a third of us show a consistent approach to financial riskEmpirically rich new study finds most people alter their risk-management approach depending on the type of financial decision.

Said and Done for November/December 2012Digest of humanities, arts and social sciences

Three awards for MIT research in anthropology, economics and political scienceMikusheva receives Elaine Bennett Research Prize; Petersen wins Distinguished Book Award; Helmreich wins Rachel Carson Prize.

Explained: Margin of errorWhen you hear poll results reported with a certain margin of error, that’s only part of the story.

How Jonathan Gruber became ‘Mr. Mandate’An MIT economist’s path to the center of health-care policymaking in Washington.

Q&A: Michel DeGraff on teaching STEM in KreyòlA model for reaching science-hungry students around the world who speak local languages

Said and Done for September 2012Digest of MIT humanities, arts, and social sciences.

Understanding gambling addictionFor machine gamblers, it’s not whether they win or lose — it’s how much they play the game.

The economic cost of increased temperaturesStudy: Warming episodes hurt poor countries and limit long-term growth.

Five MIT researchers win presidential early career honorsJarillo-Herrero, Lu, Pathak, Sinha and Thaler among 96 winners.

Said and Done for June/July 2012Digest of MIT humanities, arts and social sciences

Bits of buildings: How is computing changing the architect’s job?In a new book, an MIT researcher looks at the influence of high-tech simulations on the profession of architecture.

The complexities of cognitive comparisonsIn experiments, linguists examine how we make everyday judgments about groups of objects.

Amy Finkelstein wins John Bates Clark MedalMIT economist lauded for work on health care markets.

Anthropologist Silbey receives award for research on forging safety in science labsAligning ideals and real-world conditions

Three MIT economics doctoral students selected as among the world's most promising

MIT's Communication Forum conducts a conversation for scholars — and citizensHas explored media and change for more than 30 years

All the difference in the worldIn new book, economists Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson assert that above all else, political institutions — not culture or natural resources — determine the wealth of nations.

Erica Caple James receives $25,000 Levitan Prize in the HumanitiesA 'consummate anthropologist'

Current SHASS MacVicar Faculty Fellows reflect on teaching at MITNew fellows to be named Friday; current SHASS fellows discuss the significance — and the sheer fun — of teaching the Institute's students

Political science PhD candidate Christopher Clary helping to shape U.S. defense policy

3 Questions: Adam Berinsky on the unpredictable GOP campaignPolitical scientist who studies public opinion assesses a campaign with wildly fluctuating polls.

Said and Done for January 2012The humanities, arts and social sciences monthly digest.

The group that built the fieldScientific reunion commemorates 50 years of Linguistics at MIT