“Medicine is a social science and politics is nothing else but medicine on a large scale...medicine as a social  science, as the science of human beings, has the obligation to point out problems and to attempt their  theoretical solution; the politician, the practical  anthropologist, must find the means for their actual  solution”.
(Rudolf Virchow so-called founder of ‘social medicine’)

This portfolio of work seeks to develop a critical social and behavioural science (SBS) for, and of, the evidence-based healthcare landscape in South Africa, Africa and more broadly. The specific objectives are to: 1) Undertake critical SBS research for, and of, the evidence-based healthcare landscape; 2) Provide training, support and mentorship in conducing and interpreting critical SBS research within the evidence-based healthcare landscape; 3) Translate our critical SBS work for consumption by other research and non-research stakeholders so that it has an impact within research, policy and practice

What do we mean by “social and behavioural science” (SBS)?

The social and behavioural sciences include a range of disciplines e.g. anthropology, psychology, sociology, economics with a broad shared focus on understanding individual thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and social practices. In the context of public health, SBS offers insights into the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of health and illness, and is increasingly valued as part of a complex, people-centered approach to tackling multifaceted public health challenges.

What do we mean by “critical”?

A ‘critical’ SBS seeks to reimagine dominant ways of understanding by analysing power structures and relations; unsettling widely held assumptions in public health and uncovering the roots to health problems that lie within social systems and institutions.

More information about our SBS portfolio work is available here, including our flagship Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES) Hub

Portfolio lead: Sara Cooper (sara.cooper@mrc.ac.za)