Social Psychology

The Social Psychology Program is a recurring funding opportunity administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), under the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) and the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS). This program supports theoretically grounded empirical research that advances fundamental explanations of human behavior, attitudes, and experience within the field of social psychology. NSF, an independent federal agency, plays a central role in supporting research across various scientific disciplines in the United States, with a strong emphasis on innovation, public benefit, and advancing scientific understanding. The primary objective of the Social Psychology Program is to support projects that investigate how social forces, including cognitive, motivational, emotional, neural, and physiological processes, shape individual and collective human behavior. Proposals must present robust theoretical frameworks and empirically testable hypotheses. High priority is given to studies that incorporate rigorous methodologies such as experimental designs, naturalistic observations, longitudinal data analysis, field studies, or computational models. Proposals are expected to generate new insights into the social dynamics influencing human interaction and experience. Applications are welcome from researchers who aim to develop new theories or methodologies in social psychology. Proposals that address global challenges and demonstrate potential for high societal impact are particularly encouraged. However, the program does not support projects with the primary aim of clinical practice improvements, disease-related outcomes, or interventions for physical or mental illness. Similarly, research involving non-human animals is only considered when it clearly contributes to understanding human social behavior. Applicants must submit proposals in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Accepted proposal types include regular research proposals, Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) proposals, research in undergraduate institutions (RUI), rapid response research (RAPID), early-concept exploratory research (EAGER), and small conference proposals for events scheduled at least one year out. However, doctoral dissertation improvement awards and mid-career advancement awards are not accepted. Evaluation of proposals is based on two major criteria: intellectual merit and broader impacts. Intellectual merit considers the soundness of the theoretical foundation and empirical design, while broader impacts assess the project's potential to benefit society, enhance national security, improve life quality, promote STEM talent, and increase public engagement with science. Proposals should include a comprehensive Data Management and Sharing Plan aligned with NSF open science best practices. PIs are encouraged to provide a list of suggested reviewers in the Single Copy Document section of the application. Proposals must be submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov under program solicitation PD 22-1332. Target submission deadlines are January 15 and July 15 annually. The next upcoming due date is January 15, 2026, with the subsequent cycle expected on July 15, 2026. For application inquiries or fit discussions, researchers are advised to contact Program Director Jessi L. Smith at jlsmith@nsf.gov or (703) 292-8740, ideally with a one-page project summary and reference page in advance of scheduling a meeting.

Contact program director before submission; include a summary with project merit and broader impact.