How does humanities and social sciences (HSS) research benefit society?

This article systematically reviews 65 sources to examine the social and political impacts of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) research on society, focusing on both instrumental (tangible economic benefits) and intrinsic (long-term non-economic benefits) values. It finds that HSS contributes to society's survival by supporting the functions of adaptation, goal attainment, integration, and latency, as conceptualized in Talcott Parsons' social systems theory. Social impacts include cultural enrichment, preservation of national identity, job creation, and economic growth through creative industries and professional consulting, while political impacts involve evidence-based policymaking addressing social, economic, health, technological, and environmental challenges. The article highlights the importance of HSS in shaping cultural values and informing policies that maintain social cohesion and resource allocation, emphasizing the need for problem-oriented research and enhanced policy support to maximize HSS's societal contributions.