COVID-19
How are social sciences making a difference?
https://www.youtube.com/embed/tyZU2iKYfAA
COVID-19 has wrought unprecedented disruption around the world. From exacerbating social and economic inequalities, and destabilising billions of children’s education, to threatening global progress on climate change: no sector of society has remained untouched by the pandemic.
Researchers across Oxford's Social Sciences Division mobilised rapidly to confront these complex challenges. Here you can discover the latest COVID-19 research news, explore the vast range of social sciences research taking place across our departments, watch interviews and conversations with social scientists across the Division, and explore highlights of our researchers' expert commentary and analysis in the media.
Insights, news, and expert opinion from Oxford's social scientists
                                
        We need to define the rules of a post-pandemic world
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        We need to define the rules of a post-pandemic world
11 February 2022
                                    
                                
        Cash incentives for vaccination could be an effective long-term strategy – here’s how to fund it
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Cash incentives for vaccination could be an effective long-term strategy – here’s how to fund it
25 January 2022
                                    
                                
        When will life return to normal after the pandemic?
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        When will life return to normal after the pandemic?
2 December 2021
                                    
                                
        Thousands of primaries benefit from Oxford oral language programme
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Thousands of primaries benefit from Oxford oral language programme
27 April 2021
                                    
                                
        Are we on track for a green recovery? Not Yet. Hundreds attend Oxford-UN eco event.
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Are we on track for a green recovery? Not Yet. Hundreds attend Oxford-UN eco event.
10 March 2021
                                    
                                
        Thousands of children have not seen parents for a year: hidden impact of COVID on prisoners’ families
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Thousands of children have not seen parents for a year: hidden impact of COVID on prisoners’ families
15 March 2021
                                    
                                
        The pandemic's mortality impact in England and Wales: 63,000 more deaths and a year off life-expectancy
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        The pandemic's mortality impact in England and Wales: 63,000 more deaths and a year off life-expectancy
27 January 2021
                                    
                                
        Oxford COVID-19 Monitor reveals January lockdown has a third less national impact on movement than March shutdown
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Oxford COVID-19 Monitor reveals January lockdown has a third less national impact on movement than March shutdown
12 January 2021
                                    
                                
        New £2m global policy project to address social impacts of COVID-19
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        New £2m global policy project to address social impacts of COVID-19
3 December 2020
                                    
                                
        COVID-19 vaccine: reliable communications needed to beat ‘infodemic’ of misinformation
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        COVID-19 vaccine: reliable communications needed to beat ‘infodemic’ of misinformation
10 November 2020
                                    
                                
        United States' COVID-19 response cost more American lives than World War I
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        United States' COVID-19 response cost more American lives than World War I
2 October 2020
                                    
                                
        Study finds ‘significant increase’ in child-to-parent violence in lockdown
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Study finds ‘significant increase’ in child-to-parent violence in lockdown
20 August 2020
                                    
                                
        The parenting support that works - around the world
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        The parenting support that works - around the world
18 August 2020
                                    
                                
        Progress against the multiple dimensions of poverty was made before the pandemic – but now it is at risk
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Progress against the multiple dimensions of poverty was made before the pandemic – but now it is at risk
21 July 2020
                                    
                                
        Oxford COVID-19 study: face masks and coverings work
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Oxford COVID-19 study: face masks and coverings work
16 July 2020
                                    
                                
        COVID-19 and the post-Brexit immigration system
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        COVID-19 and the post-Brexit immigration system
1 July 2020
                                    
                                
        Oxford dashboard highlights potential future COVID-19 virus hotspots
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Oxford dashboard highlights potential future COVID-19 virus hotspots
30 June 2020
                                    
                                
        Parenting in a pandemic: resources have helped over 50 million families so far
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Parenting in a pandemic: resources have helped over 50 million families so far
30 June 2020
                                    
                                
        Why the pandemic could slash the amount of plastic waste we recycle
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Why the pandemic could slash the amount of plastic waste we recycle
22 June 2020
                                    
                                
        COVID-19 in care homes: What happened and how should we go forward?
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        COVID-19 in care homes: What happened and how should we go forward?
17 June 2020
                                    
                                
        How has behaviour changed under the COVID-19 lockdown?
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        How has behaviour changed under the COVID-19 lockdown?
5 June 2020
                                    
                                
        International lawyers: Time’s up for global cyber hackers
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        International lawyers: Time’s up for global cyber hackers
5 June 2020
                                    
                                
        Strategic distancing: the middle-ground between isolation and re-opening society
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Strategic distancing: the middle-ground between isolation and re-opening society
5 June 2020
                                    
                                
        Why coronavirus death rates won’t fall as quickly as they rose
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Why coronavirus death rates won’t fall as quickly as they rose
5 June 2020
                                    
                                
        COVID-19 Government Response Tracker extends to economic and testing measures
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        COVID-19 Government Response Tracker extends to economic and testing measures
1 June 2020
                                    
                                
        COVID-19 lockdown data shows men travelled 48% more than women
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        COVID-19 lockdown data shows men travelled 48% more than women
28 May 2020
                                    
                                
        Young Lives study to provide rapid new insights into COVID-19 impacts
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Young Lives study to provide rapid new insights into COVID-19 impacts
27 May 2020
                                    
                                
        Social Sciences awards over £210,000 to projects addressing social, economic, cultural, & environmental impacts of COVID-19
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Social Sciences awards over £210,000 to projects addressing social, economic, cultural, & environmental impacts of COVID-19
28 May 2020
                                    
                                
        Coronavirus school closures impact 1.3 billion children – and remote learning is increasing inequality
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Coronavirus school closures impact 1.3 billion children – and remote learning is increasing inequality
21 May 2020
                                    
                                
        Green COVID-19 recovery packages can boost economic growth and help tackle climate change 
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Green COVID-19 recovery packages can boost economic growth and help tackle climate change
6 May 2020
                                    
                                
        Social Sciences COVID-19 projects awarded funding
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Social Sciences COVID-19 projects awarded funding
30 April 2020
                                    
                                
        OXFO venture 'Crowdless' app helps avoid lockdown crowds
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        OXFO venture 'Crowdless' app helps avoid lockdown crowds
29 April 2020
                                    
                                
        Demographic science aids in understanding the spread and fatality rates of COVID-19
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        Demographic science aids in understanding the spread and fatality rates of COVID-19
27 April 2020
                                    
                                
        New factsheet identifies types, sources, and claims of COVID-19 misinformation
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        New factsheet identifies types, sources, and claims of COVID-19 misinformation
22 April 2020
                                    
                                
        New Covid-19 Impact Monitor reveals UK population moves drops by 98%
      
    
                                                                                                        
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                                    
                                                                
                    
        
        
            
        New Covid-19 Impact Monitor reveals UK population moves drops by 98%
15 April 2020
                                    COVID-19: The impact of social sciences research
Find out more...
COVID Conversations
Oxford Answers: Leadership in extraordinary times
How are social sciences making a difference?
                                
        Reducing violence against children and improving child wellbeing through evidence-informed parenting resources delivered globally to 196 million people during the COVID-19 pandemic
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        Reducing violence against children and improving child wellbeing through evidence-informed parenting resources delivered globally to 196 million people during the COVID-19 pandemic
                                
        Data driven policy interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        Data driven policy interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic
                                
        Refugee-Led Social Protection During COVID-19
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        Refugee-Led Social Protection During COVID-19
                                
        COVID-19 Parenting Emergency Response
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        COVID-19 Parenting Emergency Response
COVID-19 research, collaborations, and intiatives across the Social Sciences Division
                                
        International Public Policy Observatory (IPPO)
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        International Public Policy Observatory (IPPO)
                                
        Oxford Answers: Business insights and COVID-19
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        Oxford Answers: Business insights and COVID-19
                                
        Oxford Covid-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT)
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        Oxford Covid-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT)
                                
        Oxford Martin Programme on Pandemic Genomics
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        Oxford Martin Programme on Pandemic Genomics
                                
        The UK COVID-19 news and information project
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        The UK COVID-19 news and information project
                                
        The Coronavirus and Mobility Forum 2020
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        The Coronavirus and Mobility Forum 2020
In the media
                                
        Social costs of pandemic will be felt for a decade, report suggests (ITV News)
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        Social costs of pandemic will be felt for a decade, report suggests (ITV News)
                                
        Melinda Mills addresses vaccine concerns on BBC Radio 5Live
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        Melinda Mills addresses vaccine concerns on BBC Radio 5Live
                                
        Carl Benedikt Frey: Covid-19 will accelerate automation
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        Carl Benedikt Frey: Covid-19 will accelerate automation
                                
        Covid-19: Rise in kids attacking parents in UK lockdown
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        Covid-19: Rise in kids attacking parents in UK lockdown
                                
         Philip N Howard: ‘Social media need a radical rebuild’
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        Philip N Howard: ‘Social media need a radical rebuild’
                                
        Researchers turn to wearable tech in race to track Covid-19
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        Researchers turn to wearable tech in race to track Covid-19
                                
        How the pandemic has affected periods
      
    
                            
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
        
        
        
            
        
        
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              
                  
              