# 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.

- **SOC code:** 19-4061.00
- **Canonical URL:** https://singulariki.com/roles/role-19-4061-00
- **Also known as:** Graduate Research Assistant, Research Assistant, Research Associate, Social Research Assistant, Clinical Research Assistant, Graduate Assistant, Research Aide, Research Technician
- **Frame:** "AI exposure" means task overlap (how codifiable the work is), not jobs lost or a forecast. Every figure below is traced to a named public dataset.

## What this work is

**Core tasks** (O*NET):
- Design and create special programs for tasks such as statistical analysis and data entry and cleaning.
- Obtain informed consent of research subjects or their guardians.
- Administer standardized tests to research subjects, or interview them to collect research data.
- Provide assistance with the preparation of project-related reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
- Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results.
- Recruit and schedule research participants.
- Screen potential subjects to determine their suitability as study participants.
- Perform descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses of data, using computer software.
- Track research participants, and perform any necessary follow-up tasks.
- 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.

**Emerging tasks** (O*NET):
- Write grant proposals.

## Skills, tools, capabilities

**Knowledge, skills & abilities** (O*NET, highest importance first):
- English Language _(knowledge)_
- Reading Comprehension _(essential_skill)_
- Oral Comprehension _(ability)_
- Written Comprehension _(ability)_
- Oral Expression _(ability)_
- Active Listening _(essential_skill)_
- Writing _(essential_skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(essential_skill)_
- Written Expression _(ability)_
- Information Ordering _(ability)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(ability)_
- Computers and Electronics _(knowledge)_

**Skills in demand:**
- English Language _(Common Skill)_
- Reading Comprehension _(Common Skill)_
- Writing _(Common Skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(Common Skill)_
- Active Listening _(Common Skill)_
- Information Ordering _(Specialized Skill)_
- Microsoft PowerPoint _(Common Skill)_
- Microsoft Excel _(Common Skill)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Complex Problem Solving _(Common Skill)_
- Inductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Speech Recognition _(Specialized Skill)_

**Tools & technology:**
- Microsoft Excel _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Microsoft Office software _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Microsoft PowerPoint _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Python _(hot technology, in demand)_
- R _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Adobe Illustrator _(hot technology)_
- Adobe InDesign _(hot technology)_
- C++ _(hot technology)_
- ESRI ArcGIS software _(hot technology)_
- Extensible markup language XML _(hot technology)_
- IBM SPSS Statistics _(hot technology)_
- JavaScript _(hot technology)_

## AI exposure & outlook

- **AI task-overlap index:** 78th percentile (High) across all occupations — composite of current-era exposure studies (ai-exposure-index-v1).
- **Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.):** 82nd percentile (High) — source: felten_aioe.
- **LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou):** 79th percentile (High) — source: eloundou_gamma.
- **AI assistant applicability (Microsoft):** 69th percentile (High) — source: microsoft_applicability.
- **Frey–Osborne (2013, historical computerization estimate):** 55th percentile — kept separate from current-era studies.
- **Remote-capable (Dingel–Neiman):** yes — task structure, not who actually works remote.
- **Projected employment (BLS 2024–34):** 4.4% growth (About average); 5.2k annual openings; 40.6k → 42.3k jobs.
- **Pay & employment (BLS OEWS, May 2024):** median $58,040; 32,940 employed.

## How people actually use AI here

Anthropic Economic Index — measured AI conversations mapped to this occupation's tasks:

- **Automation vs augmentation:** 45% automation, 51% augmentation (usage-weighted).
- **Autonomy median:** 4.0 (higher = AI acts more independently).
- **Dominant collaboration mode:** directive.

**Tasks most handed to AI here:**
- Conduct internet-based and library research. _(12.2% of measured AI use; directive)_
- Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results. _(6.7% of measured AI use; directive)_
- Prepare, manipulate, and manage extensive databases. _(5.0% of measured AI use; directive)_
- Design and create special programs for tasks such as statistical analysis and data entry and cleaning. _(4.2% of measured AI use; directive)_
- Provide assistance in the design of survey instruments such as questionnaires. _(2.3% of measured AI use; learning)_
- Provide assistance with the preparation of project-related reports, manuscripts, and presentations. _(1.4% of measured AI use; directive)_
- Present research findings to groups of people. _(1.3% of measured AI use; learning)_
- Edit and submit protocols and other required research documentation. _(1.1% of measured AI use; task iteration)_

**Example prompts (honest phrasings of the tasks above — starting points, not endorsed instructions):**
- Help me conduct internet-based and library research.
- Help me prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results.
- Help me prepare, manipulate, and manage extensive databases.
- Help me design and create special programs for tasks such as statistical analysis and data entry and cleaning.
- Help me provide assistance in the design of survey instruments such as questionnaires.

## Sources

- **O*NET** (30.3) — U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development. https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html
- **BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** (May 2024) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- **BLS Employment Projections** (2024–2034) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- **Anthropic Economic Index** (v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27)) — Anthropic. https://www.anthropic.com/economic-index
- **Microsoft “Working with AI”** (working-with-ai) — Microsoft Research. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/
- **“GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.)** (arXiv 2303.10130) — OpenAI / academic. https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130
- **AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE)** (Felten, Raj & Seamans) — academic. https://github.com/AIOE-Data/AIOE
- **Frey & Osborne (2013)** (frey-osborne-automation) — academic. https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/publications/the-future-of-employment/
- **Dingel & Neiman (2020)** (dingel-neiman-workathome) — academic. https://github.com/jdingel/DingelNeiman-workathome

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_Generated from Singulariki's joined dataset; data snapshot 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-19-4061-00_