The Workshop on Developing Guidance for Social Science Methods in ICES (WKGuideSSM) will develop practical, ICES-wide guidance to support the appropriate, ethical, and consistent use of social science methods and data in ICES science and advice. As social data and methods such as surveys, interviews, and focus groups are increasingly used across ICES expert groups, this workshop will help ensure that their application meets established social science standards and legal requirements.
WKGuideSSM will produce technical guidelines on the design and use of commonly applied social science methods, as well as best practices for social and economic data management, including data storage, metadata documentation, transparency, and reproducibility of analyses. The workshop will also address differences between qualitative and quantitative data and promote the effective use of existing ICES tools and frameworks.
Why this workshop matters
High-quality social science is essential for credible, policy-relevant ICES advice. Inconsistent application of methods, unclear data governance, and limited opportunities for replication can undermine scientific quality and stakeholder trust. WKGuideSSM will strengthen the integration of social science across ICES by providing clear guidance, raising awareness of ethical and legal responsibilities, and identifying priorities for future social and economic data collection to support ecosystem-based management and advice.
Please find the registration link on the right.
* The decision on whether the workshop will be hybrid or fully online will depend on the number of in-person registrations and will be made by 1 March.
