541720 — Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in conducting research and analyses in cognitive development, sociology, psychology, language, behavior, economic, and other social science and humanities research (as defined in the official U.S. Census Bureau 2022 NAICS Manual).
Exclusions & Cross-References
- Marketing research--are classified in Industry 541910, Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling;
- and
- Raising funds for disease awareness--are classified in U.S. Industry 813212, Voluntary Health
- Organizations.
Overview Facts
Legacy SIC Concordance
Trace the historical mapping chain from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) to the modern 2022 NAICS code format.
- SIC 8732 - Commercial Economic, Sociological, and Educational Research (via SIC1987:8732→NAICS1997:54172→2002:541720→2007:541720→2012:541720→2017:541720→2022:541720)
- SIC 8733 - Noncommercial Research Organizations (via SIC1987:8733→NAICS1997:54172→2002:541720→2007:541720→2012:541720→2017:541720→2022:541720)
Suggested Product Service Codes (Advisory)
The following Product Service Codes (PSCs) are advisory suggestions aligned with this NAICS code. Note: NAICS and PSC codes map to different dimensions of procurement (industry vs. product/service). There is no official binding 1:1 crosswalk.
- PSC AJ12 — GENERAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY R&D SERVICES; GENERAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; APPLIED RESEARCH
Source: DoD DPCAP PSC Selection Tool (Ingested: 2026-06-29)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is NAICS code 541720 valid in 2022? ▾
Yes, 541720 is a valid 6-digit 2022 NAICS national industry code representing 'Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities' under Sector 54 in the official classification index.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS code 541720? ▾
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has established a small business size standard of $28,000,000 for NAICS code 541720 (Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities), calculated based on receipts.
What is the legacy SIC equivalent for NAICS 541720? ▾
According to official Census Bureau concordance tables, NAICS code 541720 (Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities) maps to legacy 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes: 8732 - Commercial Economic, Sociological, and Educational Research, 8733 - Noncommercial Research Organizations.
Related Pages & Tools
Further regulatory reference links for NAICS code 541720:
- Sector 54 Directory Hub — List of related industries in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector.
- SIC ↔ NAICS Crosswalk Tool — Look up mappings between legacy SIC codes and modern classifications.
- NAICS 541720 to SIC Crosswalk — Bidirectional mapping to legacy SIC codes (Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities).
- SBA Size Standards Guide — Complete rules and averaging periods for small business classifications.
- Calculating Annual Receipts Guide — Detailed worked example of revenue calculation rules.
- IRS Principal Business Activity Guide — How NAICS codes map to corporate and entity tax filings.