Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics

The Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics (MMS) Program, housed within the National Science Foundation's Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE), aims to foster innovation in analytical and statistical methods that support a wide array of social, behavioral, and economic research. This interdisciplinary program is particularly notable for its collaboration with a consortium of federal statistical agencies, enabling the MMS program to fund projects that contribute to the development and use of official statistics. It supports both theoretical and applied research that advances statistical modeling, measurement, and data collection techniques applicable across disciplines. The program supports multiple funding mechanisms, including Regular Research Awards, Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement (DDRI) Grants, Conference and Community-Development Awards, and Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Supplements. MMS also participates in the NSF-wide CAREER program. While regular research awards form the bulk of its portfolio, MMS prioritizes proposals that are methodologically innovative, grounded in theory, and beneficial across several fields. Proposals addressing issues in data collection, measurement quality, survey design, inferential methods, and data integration from multiple sources are particularly encouraged, especially when they have potential to benefit federal statistical systems. Eligibility for MMS grants is broad, encompassing U.S.-based institutions of higher education, including public and private colleges and universities. DDRI grants require submission from a PI who is the advisor or faculty member at the doctoral student’s institution, with the student named as co-PI. Unaffiliated individuals are ineligible. The program does not limit the number of proposals per PI or organization, encouraging broad participation. The MMS program emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and welcomes teams spanning fields such as statistics, computer science, linguistics, and cognitive science. Funding is awarded through standard or continuing grants. Approximately $3.76 million is allocated annually, with an estimated 15 to 35 awards made per year. Additional funding may be provided by participating federal statistical agencies for projects aligned with their missions. DDRI awards are capped at $18,000 (inclusive of direct and indirect costs), and REU supplements may request up to $8,000 per student, supporting up to two students per award. Cost sharing is prohibited, and indirect cost limitations are not imposed beyond standard NSF guidelines. Applications must be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov, following the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide. Letters of Intent and Preliminary Proposals are not required. DDRI proposals must include a signed statement from the PI affirming the student’s readiness to begin the proposed research. All proposals must include a Data Management Plan. Review criteria include NSF’s standard evaluation of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts, with particular attention to interdisciplinary innovation and societal benefit. Proposals are accepted biannually with deadlines on the last Thursday of January and August, recurring annually. The next anticipated deadline is August 27, 2026. Review and notification typically occur within six months of submission. MMS projects must adhere to NSF reporting standards, including annual and final reports. Funded projects may be invited to present findings at federal statistical agency meetings, fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration across disciplines.

Emphasize interdisciplinary innovation, theoretical grounding, and broad utility across SBE fields.