The EPoS research focus
The EPoS research focus brings together a large number of scientists in 7 research centres and 7 large research areas across 6 faculties.
The disciplines represented in the EPoS research focus area from the fields of business administration, educational science, media science, work and organisational psychology, philosophy, political science, sociology, statistics and economics deal with the following theoretical, methodological and content-related focal points on the basis of a broad spectrum of competences:
- We research framework conditions, structures and processes, behaviour and decisions and their consequences for institutions, markets, companies, organisations, groupings, communities and individuals in various cultural, digital and temporal-spatial contexts.
- We develop new methodological procedures for data collection and data analysis and work with theory-based empirical and experimental approaches as well as mathematical formal modelling.
- We deal with questions of philosophy of science, scientific reflexivity, scientific practices, relational theory and methodology.
In this way, we support decision-makers in politics, business and society in dealing with current and future challenges.
The researchers at "Economy, Politics & Society" strive for research of the highest quality and relevance through interdisciplinary and international collaboration, and all scientific questions are examined from multiple perspectives. This is also reflected in high-ranking publications, the quality of submissions of competitive research proposals and the promotion of young researchers in the established Doctoral colleges.
Andrea Hemetsberger
"We join scientific forces for the betterment of Economy, Politics & Society in our region and in a broader European context."
Andrea Hemetsberger is Professor of Branding at the Institute of Management and Marketing. She is head of the Brand Research Laboratory and a student representative for the Master's degree programme in Strategic Management. From 2011 to 2020, she was spokesperson for the research platform 'Organisations & Society' and subsequently took over the management of the new research focus EPoS. She is the contact person for the strategic development of the focus area, formation and networking of research centres and areas, networking with other focus areas, development of activities of the focus area, questions of internationalisation and the contribution of the focus area to the outside world.
Dominik Duell
"Science done right often means to end up with more questions, which hopefully means to finally find the right question to ask for learning about the world."
Dominik Duell is Assistant Professor of Experimental Political Science. He researches whether and how diverse groups can master common tasks and achieve goals. In behavioural experiments and with the help of survey research, he investigates in particular the causes of structural discrimination, how stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination affect elections, how equality can be ensured in the labour market or how algorithmic governance could ensure fair decision-making processes, but instead often deepens inequalities between groups.
Markus Walzl
"Science is ... not opening the door to infinite wisdom but helps to avoid infinite error. (I am afraid Bert Brecht said that before)."
Markus Walzl is Professor of Microeconomics and Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Statistics. He is project leader in the FWF-funded special research area Trust Goods, Incentives and Behaviour and researches the effect of competition on moral behaviour, the optimal design of contracts and allocation mechanisms as well as the scientific theoretical foundations of economics. He is a self-confessed Rhinelander and a passionate musician.
Participating research centres
- Accounting Theory & Research
Leiter: Albrecht Becker
- Bildung - Generation - Lebenslauf (BGL)
Leiterin: Gabriela Gniewosz
- Innsbruck Center for Philosophy of Religion
Leiterin: Katherine Dormandy
- Innsbruck Decision Sciences (IDS)
Leiter: Michael Kirchler
- Innsbruck Media Studies
Leiterin: Petra Missomelius
- Social Theory
Leiter: Frank Welz
- Strategische Führung, Innovation und Marke
Leiterin: Nicola Stokburger-Sauer
Research areas involved
Data Science and Statistics
Leiter: Nikolaus Umlauf
Organizational Participation and Meaning in Life
Leiterin: Christine Unterrainer
The management team is supported in its agendas and decisions by a steering group. The Advisory Board is made up of the heads of the research centres and working groups or their representatives.
- Albrecht Becker
- Leonhard Dobusch
- Franz Eder
- Gabriele Gniewosz
- Bernd Gössling
- Andrea Hemetsberger
- Thomas Höge
- Theo Hug
- Silvia Jordan
- Rudolf Kerschbamer
- Michael Kirchler
- Gerhard Mangott
- Hemma Mayrhofer
- Ulrich Metschl
- Petra Missomelius
- Kerstin Neumann
- Annette Ostendorf
- Ulrich Remus
- Martin Senn
- Wilfried Smidt
- Birthe Soppe
- Reingard Spannring
- Andreas Steinmayr
- Nicola Stokburger-Sauer
- Katrin Teichmann
- Nikolaus Umlauf
- Christine Unterrainer
- Janette Walde
- Markus Walzl
- Frank Welz