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Jobs / Science and research / 19-4061.00

Social Science Research Assistants

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.

US jobs
30,640
Median wage
$61,990 a year
Job family
Science and research

Can agents do the work of social science research assistants?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Science and research: Some tasks (no change in 12 months)

Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.

Evidence: CORE-Bench, declared solved.

0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.

  • 17%Present research or technical informationNot measured
  • 10%Maintain operational recordsNot measured
  • 9%Develop research plans or methodologiesNot measured
  • 7%Evaluate the quality or accuracy of dataNot measured
  • 7%Collect information about patients or clientsNot measured
  • 6%Perform recruiting or hiring activitiesNot measured
  • 6%Design computer or information systems or applicationsNot measured
  • 5%Gather information from physical or electronic sourcesNot measured

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in science and research, not always this occupation's tasks.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

  • CORE-Benchby Princeton UniversityTask level · CORE-Bench-Hard accuracy (public test set)
    95.5%Claude Code + Claude Opus 4.5 (after manual regrading) · 3 Dec 2025
    Solved

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Design and create special programs for tasks such as statistical analysis and data entry and cleaning.
  • Provide assistance with the preparation of project-related reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
  • Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results.
  • Perform descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses of data, using computer software.
  • Verify the accuracy and validity of data entered in databases, correcting any errors.
  • Develop and implement research quality control procedures.
  • Prepare, manipulate, and manage extensive databases.
  • Perform data entry and other clerical work as required for project completion.
  • Conduct internet-based and library research.
  • Present research findings to groups of people.
  • Obtain informed consent of research subjects or their guardians.
  • Administer standardized tests to research subjects, or interview them to collect research data.
Other job titles for this occupation (28)

Clinical Research Assistant · Graduate Assistant · Graduate Research Assistant · Research Aide · Research Assistant · Research Associate · Research Technician · Social Research Assistant · Bilingual Research Interviewer · Data Analyst · Economic Research Assistant · Economist Research Assistant · Historian Research Assistant · Laboratory Assistant · Market Research Interviewer · Political Affairs Intern · Political Science Research Assistant · Postdoctoral Associate (Postdoc Associate) · Postdoctoral Fellow (Postdoc Fellow) · Postdoctoral Research Associate · Postdoctoral Scholar (Postdoc Scholar) · Psychologist Research Assistant · Research Data Analyst · Research Interviewer · Research Scientist · Social Science Research Assistant (Social Science RA) · Sociology Research Assistant · UX Research Assistant (User Experience Research Assistant)