Application and Sociological Practice
Applying sociological knowledge to institutions, communities and professional practice.
Research areas · Social sciences
Research Topics
ICSR brings together theory, evidence and critical inquiry to investigate the institutions, relationships and transformations that shape contemporary societies.
Sociology and social inquiry
Understanding the social world
Sociology brings together theory and evidence to explore and challenge our understanding of the social world and the frameworks through which knowledge about it is produced.
Sociological theory examines, develops and refines these frameworks, making their assumptions clearer, more incisive and more useful. It also requires critical reflection on the factors that influence knowledge and on what distinguishes justified belief from opinion.
These debates include rational-choice models, the influence of social networks, feminist, race and queer perspectives, and the cultural and social legacies of colonialism and imperialism.
TheoryConceptual frameworks that explain social structures, meanings and change.
EvidenceRigorous empirical research grounded in transparent and appropriate methods.
Critical inquiryReflection on assumptions, power, knowledge and competing interpretations.
Areas of expertise
ICSR research fields
Established in Rome on 14 November 2016, ICSR promotes conceptual development and informed analysis across a broad range of interconnected topics.
Biology and Sociology
Examining the relationships between biological processes, social structures and human behaviour.
Comparative and Historical Approaches
Understanding societies through comparison, historical development and institutional change.
Crime, Law and Deviance
Studying social norms, legal systems, crime, control and forms of deviance.
Culture
Exploring meanings, symbols, values, identities and cultural production.
Economics, Markets and Consumerism
Analysing markets, consumption, economic behaviour and their social consequences.
Education
Investigating educational institutions, inequalities, learning and social mobility.
Family and Life Course
Studying family structures, generations, transitions and changing life trajectories.
Gender and Sexuality
Examining gender relations, identities, inequalities and sexual cultures.
Global Issues
Addressing transnational change, globalisation and challenges that cross national borders.
Human Resources Management
Studying people, skills, organisational practices and employment relations.
Inequalities and Stratification
Analysing class, status, power, opportunity and unequal access to resources.
Innovation Policy
Exploring public and organisational strategies that enable innovation and social development.
Knowledge Economy
Investigating knowledge, expertise, information and value creation in contemporary economies.
Leadership and Organizational Change
Studying leadership, governance, transformation and organisational culture.
Marketing Strategy
Analysing markets, communication, branding and strategic relationships with publics.
Media and Digital Communication
Studying media systems, digital platforms, communication practices, audiences and the social impact of emerging technologies.
Medicine and Health
Exploring health, illness, care, medical institutions and health inequalities.
National and Regional Competitiveness
Studying territorial development, productivity, institutions and regional advantage.
Place and Environment
Examining space, cities, communities, ecosystems and environmental change.
Politics
Analysing power, institutions, participation, public opinion and political communication.
Race and Ethnicity
Studying identities, boundaries, migration, discrimination and multicultural societies.
Religion and Spirituality
Exploring belief, institutions, secularisation and contemporary forms of spirituality.
Research Methods
Developing qualitative, quantitative, mixed and digital methods for social research.
Social Change
Investigating transformations in institutions, practices, values and collective life.
Social Psychology and Interaction
Studying identity, perception, interaction, groups and everyday social behaviour.
Strategic Management and Planning
Exploring decision-making, strategy, governance and long-term organisational development.
Technology
Analysing digitalisation, platforms, innovation and the social consequences of technology.
Theory and Knowledge
Developing concepts and frameworks for understanding society and the production of knowledge.
Work and Organizations
Studying labour, professions, workplaces, organisations and changing employment systems.
From research topics to research projects
Discover how ICSR transforms these fields of inquiry into studies, publications and international scientific collaboration.