The Role of Social Science in Law: Introduction

Abstract

Should social science play a role in legal decision-making? Has social science had any impact on law to date and, if so, what kind of impact? What is the best way to use social science knowledge in legal settings? Scholars and legal professionals have long wrestled with these questions, both in the United States and in other areas of the world. Yet, although the issues have been widely debated, there is still much work to be done in developing a systematic analysis of translation between law and the social sciences. This Introduction draws together literature from a variety of fields that speak to this issue, working to develop a new cross-disciplinary synthesis.

Keywords: Social Science and Law, Legal Translation, Methodology, Law and Society, Law and Literature

JEL Classification: K40