The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently issued a request for input for a revised definition of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (BSSR). The new definition will be used to assess and monitor NIH BSSR funding, although it will not change what research NIH is interested in or funds.

The new definition would replace the entirety of the current definition, which was developed in 1996, and has been periodically updated since then.  

NIH wants feedback on if the new definition is clear, what language would improve its clarity, whether it captures the full range of the NIH's health-related behavioral and social sciences research, and how well it distinguishes BSSR from other disciplines of research.

This request for input provides an opportunity for family scholars to champion the importance of Family Science research, and ensure that families are recognized specifically in research definitions. 

View the new proposed definition. 

Submit and view comments by February 22, 2019.