Welcome to the Social Science and Law blog

As a social scientist teaching in a law school, I’m interested in exploring how social science is used – and sometimes misused – in legal cases. I developed this site as part of the Social Science and Law course I offer regularly at Cornell Law School.

The course, and the blog, have two broad aims:  (1) to support the development of a critical ability to identify sound (or flawed) social science research, and (2) to learn how to employ social science theory and research to address legal questions. Cases included in the course and on this blog illustrate both successes and failures in the use of social science in law across a diverse array of topics, including race and gender discrimination in education and employment, trademark litigation, the death penalty, punitive damages, predictions of dangerousness, drug courier profiles, battered woman syndrome, and eyewitness testimony.

This blog presents analyses of some of the key cases and topics involving social science and law. It offers links to many of the relevant social science research articles, relevant research materials, expert reports, and other legal documents in these cases. It’s my hope that this enriched presentation, which goes well beyond what can be offered in traditional law school casebooks, will help in the development of a deep appreciation of the complexities of using social science in legal domains.

I hope you find this site useful.

Regards,

Valerie Hans