Insights from social science research empower fisheries managers to make informed and adaptive decisions by providing critical information on key stakeholders. Social science and fisheries management practices have become more integrated in recent years, creating a stable foundation for future work on the seam of these two disciplines. Methods of social science data collection range from in-person interviews to broader surveys of the general population, and the applications of these data are equally diverse. In this presentation I will discuss a handful of social science methods that can inform fisheries management and will introduce the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s new Center for Conservation Social Science Research. Staff scientists are skilled in study design, a broad suite of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, and accompanying statistical analyses including the integration of social data with GIS. The center consults agency personnel, and collaborates with internal and external partners to conduct original research.