Research at the Department of Sociology
Research at the Department of Sociology follows the tradition of the Vienna School of Sociology, which is oriented towards social problems and develops sociological theories and social diagnoses on the basis of empirical research.
Main Research Areas
Currently, the key areas of research are:
Work | Organisation | Gender
- Forms of work and work relations
- Flexible work
- Organisational processes
- Segregation by gender
Migration | Cities | Social Policy | Social Inequality
- Diversity of forms of migration
- Socio-structural diversity
- Integration
- Relations between majority and minorities
Family | Generation | Life Course | Health
- Socio-demographic trends
- Construction of family patterns / stages of life
- Generational relationships
- Longevity
Knowledge | Culture | Visual Worlds
- Dynamics of change of material culture
- Expertise, professionalism and competence
- Cultural change through media change
- Visual sociology
Main Research Methods
The main empirical methods used are:
Complex Statistical Methods for Analysis
- Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis
- Structural equation models
- Sequence data analysis
Interpretative Methodologies and Methods
- Interpretive paradigm
- Grounded theory
- Methods of biographical research
Analysis of Images, Film and Media
- Participatory photo interviews
- Visual segment analysis
- Ethnographic films
Projects
The Department of Sociology carries out a variety of third-party funded research projects. The diversity of topics and methods plays an important role in extending and deepening academic knowledge.
Research Platforms and Networks
Members of the Department participate in research platforms and research networks of the University of Vienna, where they carry out interdisciplinary and innovative research on topics relevant for society.
The data centre is a project of the Department of Sociology that provides employees and students with access to secondary data. The primary objective is to support early stage researchers and promote the research activities of members of the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Research Teams
Teams operate under the guidance of professors from the Department and focus on diverse topics and methods. They consist of postdocs, predocs, teaching assistants and sometimes administrative staff.
The Department of Sociology aims to combine the knowledge, the experiences and the methodological approaches from its main areas of research in its own project “Wege in die Zukunft” ("Pathways to the Future"). Students actively participate in the project.
Publications
Current Issues
IfS Working Papers
The Department’s Working Papers series is an opportunity for interested academics and students affiliated with the Department to publish their research results as well as well-founded discussions of current socio-political developments.
