Research

Research at the Institute of Sociology

The research activities at the Institute of Sociology cover a wide range of topics, which are united by the concept of sociology as a problem-oriented science, in which theory and empiricism are interrelated. We regard sociology as a theory-driven, empirical science that increases our knowledge of the genesis of the social systems in our modern society, and the ways in which they are changing.

We greatly value the close connections between social theory and social research in the context of research designs that establish methodically controlled and inter-subjectively reproducible conclusions. From the methodological point of view, the research mainly operates with quantitative methods; however qualitative methods are increasingly being applied in social research.

One of the institute's fundamental research principles is that empirical science is primarily envisaged as fundamental research conducted independently of its financial source. A problem-oriented approach to empirical social research enables its results to serve as input for social and political discourses.

Our teaching activities impart knowledge of social perspectives covering all the major traditional theoretical and methodical approaches to the subject - wherever applicable within the context of the institute's key research areas. Consequently, we maintain close links between teaching and research.