Research

Welcome to the Research Department of the Institute of Sociology!

The researchers at the Institute of Sociology stand for a theoretically diverse and methodologically and methodologically integrative approach to social science research. Research at the Institute is conducted in teams and in individual work under the premise of openness to different - qualitative and quantitative - methods, against the background of a broad and historically epistemologically guided approach to the theories of our discipline and with the aim of a publication culture that is appropriate to the subject matter, scientifically and socially relevant.

The thematic research foci at the Institute range from inequality - transformation - and sustainability to institutions - relations - and social practices to social theory - methodology - and cultural sociology and can be summarised thematically as follows:

INEQUALITY - TRANSFORMATION - SUSTAINABILITY

On the one hand, the focus examines inequalities based on social origin, gender or migration background, particularly in the areas of education and gainful employment. On the other hand, research is carried out on sustainability transformation, focussing on the production and consumption of food in the food system. In future, the analysis of socio-ecological transformation in the context of social inequalities will be at the centre of the collaboration, as it were at the interface between these two strands of research. The focus area examines the aforementioned topics in a spatial context, i.e. in its interactions between social environment, space and context at local, regional, national, international and global level as well as in relation to urban and rural areas. While the priority area as a whole corresponds to the fundamental impetus of the 2030 Agenda to combine social and environmental sustainability, its thematic focuses address the SDGs health and well-being (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12) and climate action (SDG 13). The priority area already cooperates with the FSP Alpine Space, the FSP EPoS and the FSP Cultural Encounters, Cultural Conflicts, the FP Centre for Interdisciplinary Gender Studies (CGI) and is actively involved in shaping the FC Mountain Agriculture. Close cooperation is sought with the planned professorship "Climate Policy in the Alps" at the Institute of Political Science and the professorship "Human Geography with Special Consideration of Sustainability and Transformation Research" at the Institute of Geography.

Researchers at the Institute for this specialisation:

Uunk, Wilfred, Univ.-Prof. Dr - Personal homepage

Stotten, Rike, Ass.-Prof. Dr M.A. - Agricultural and regional sociology

Blossfeld, Pia, Dr - Personal homepage

Wiesli, Thea, Dr - Agricultural and regional sociology

Müller Kmet, Bernadette, Mag. Dr. - Mail address

Arnold, Lukas, M.A. - Macrosociology team

Li, Mingming - Macrosociology team

Faltmann, Nora, Mag. Dr. - Agricultural and regional sociology

Froning, Paul, M.Sc. - Agricultural and regional sociology

Schermer, Markus, Univ.-Prof. i.R. Dipl. Ing.Dr. - Agricultural and regional sociology

INSTITUTIONS - RELATIONSHIPS - SOCIAL PRACTICES

The focus area researches processes and interactions between institutions, relationships and social practices. Central topics are the future of work, care and gender relations. (Gainful) employment and care form two - closely linked - cornerstones of human societies and socialisation. Both structure societies through the (re)production of class and gender relations. Against the backdrop of major trends of social change, such as digitalisation and globalisation, new tensions are emerging that need to be analysed. Building on the already institutionalised research group "Work. Care. Sociology" (Weicht/Pflüger), the development of an integrative perspective on work and are is being pursued. With these empirical fields, the research of the focus area addresses central societal challenges that the UN member states have committed to addressing in the 2030 Agenda: Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work (SDG 8), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) and Building Strong Institutions (SDG 16). The research of the focus area is committed to central development goals of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, such as the investigation of erosions of social orders and the effects of digital change. With its aim of systematically developing methods, the specialisation area contributes to the further expansion of methodological research at the Faculty. The focus area has already been cooperating with the FP Centre for Interdisciplinary Gender Studies (CGI) for many years and will play a greater role in shaping the university's FSP EPoS in the future.

Researchers at the Institute for this specialisation:

Pflüger, Jessica, Univ.Prof.in Dr. - Head of Institute - Personal homepage

Weicht, Bernhard, Associate Professor, Mag. Dr. - Internship Officer & Study Officer - Personal homepage

Mojescik, Katharina, Dr - Personal homepage

Waldenburger, Lisa, M.A. - Mail address

Scheytt, Carla, M.A. - Personal homepage

SOCIAL THEORY - METHODOLOGY - CULTURAL SOCIOLOGY

New social phenomena and technological developments require a critical reconsideration and, if necessary, further development of established theoretical and methodological approaches. By bundling competences in social theory, methodology and cultural sociology, this focus aims to initiate or implement a mutual "give and take" between reflective work on the fundamentals and application or topic-related research: The reconstruction and critical reflection of disciplinary foundations and scientific practices provides impetus for the future development of the discipline (innovation). This orientation enables new project designs that fit into the logic of the major funding bodies and thus favour increased third-party funding activity. With the foundations of qualitative knowledge, the focus area addresses SDG 4, quality education, as well as the reflexive-instrumental cross-cutting goals of the 2030 Agenda, peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16) and partnerships to achieve the goals (SDG 17). The FC Social Theory, led by members of the priority area, facilitates an interdisciplinary exchange on theoretical foundations among members of the FSP EPoS, the FSP Cultural Encounters - Cultural Conflicts and the CGI. In the future, this exchange is to be deepened along current debates in the social sciences (e.g. on posthumanism, positivism, decolonisation, AI) in order to contribute to the expansion of methodological research at the faculty and to further strengthen the FZ Social Theory.