Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences

Research fields

On the Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences, candidates receive research training and write their theses in one of eight research fields. Disciplinary discussions take place within the relevant disciplinary community and the departments, and the doctoral advisory boards, which assess research proposals during public presentations at the faculty, are organised along disciplinary lines. The teaching programme and ViDSS activities cover all research fields.

Violetta König

  • Communication

    Research in the field of communication examines processes of private and public communication through media and technology, and its infrastructural conditions. Analyses focus on the changes in media-based communication methods and topics communicated, as well as the resulting effects on individuals, society, politics and gender relations. Current main research topics cover the following areas: (1) journalism; (2) political communication and media policy; (3) advertising and public relations; (4) media history and media innovation/new media; and (5) the development of methods.

    Supervisors Department of Communication

  • Demography

    Demography is the scientific study of changes in population size and composition. It analyses the characteristics of human populations, such as age, sex, place of residence, level of educational attainment and labour force participation. Formal demographic analysis uses mathematical models to study these changes and make projections over several decades based on assumptions about future fertility, mortality and migration rates. Demography also comprehensively addresses the determinants and consequences of these population changes, including their impact on society, the economy and the environment worldwide.

    Supervisors Department of Demography

  • Development studies

    Research in development studies focuses on reflecting on global inequalities from a transdisciplinary perspective, critically discussing development cooperation and addressing questions of methodology and methods in development research. Integrating multiple perspectives into the analysis of problem areas is necessary to gain a profound understanding of political, economic, social and cultural processes, dynamics and power structures at global and local levels. Transdisciplinary development research incorporates the perspectives of various fields of knowledge and practice, aiming to link theory and practice.

    Supervisors Department of Development Studies

  • Nursing science

    In nursing science, our research focuses on nursing and care as social practices. By connecting nursing science with social science and public health expertise, we focus on the key challenges and emerging trends in family and community health nursing, primary healthcare, long-term care and palliative care. Our goal is to increase the scientific and social impact of nursing research by promoting interdisciplinary collaboration within regional and international networks. Our research activities are grounded in the lived experiences of individuals, families, and communities, as well as the social determinants of health. Our goal is to generate knowledge on how to support equitable, life-world oriented care and evidence-based practice across a diverse range of care settings and health systems. Central to our work are the needs of people at different stages of life, as well as the perspectives of those involved in nursing and care.

    Supervisors Department of Nursing Science

  • Political science

    The study of political science and government addresses questions of politics, governance, the state, democracy, and their development and change in different regions of the world, both empirically and theoretically. The four main areas covered are: (1) Political theory: research into the history of ideas, the normative foundations of political order and the transformation of gender relationships and political culture. (2) Comparative politics: comparison of political systems in different world regions, and study of democratic representation, public opinion, political institutions and organisations, and different policy fields. (3) Austrian politics: research into political competition, migration and diversity, and social policy, as well as Europeanisation. (4) International politics: analysis of globalisation and sustainability, and resource politics, as well as European studies. Activities in each of these fields are characterised by a problem-oriented approach to research and teaching, and a variety of research methods, as well as interdisciplinary cooperation. A common theme in research is the analysis of political transformation processes.

    Supervisors Department of Political Science Department of Government

  • Science and technology studies

    In science and technology studies, the focus is on the increasingly close links between scientific, technological, and societal change. Analysing these changes is highly relevant today, given that scientific and technological innovations are considered to be drivers of the economy and a means of overcoming major societal challenges. At the same time, new knowledge and technologies often raise controversial socio-political questions. Research subjects focus on analysing how knowledge and innovation are generated, the role of science and technology in organising societies at global and local levels, and how this is discussed and influenced in democracies. The role of values and evaluations in science and society, and questions of responsibility in research and innovation, are addressed across these different subjects. Interdisciplinary cooperation with the relevant scientific and technological fields is particularly important for science and technology studies at our faculty.

    Supervisors Department of Science and Technology Studies

  • Social and cultural anthropology

    Social and cultural anthropology involves studying diverse forms of cultural expression and ways of living from the perspective of those involved, as well as from comparative and historical viewpoints. These processes are considered in the context of regional and global developments. A key area of research is the world outside Europe, with a focus on international comparisons and transnational connections. In this context, the interaction between global transformations and local present-day processes is particularly relevant. Insights from the ‘global South’ and areas often described as the 'Euro-American periphery' play an important role in the multiple theoretical and methodological approaches of social and cultural anthropology.

    Supervisors Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology

  • Sociology

    In sociology, the focus is on analysing modern societies and their social structures, changes and challenges. The main aim is to provide empirical evidence and theoretical reflection in order to understand the complexities of the social world. Sociology draws on a long tradition of research in the humanities and social sciences, combining strong research strands at the Department of Sociology in Vienna, ranging from phenomenology-based sociology to empirically oriented Marienthal studies and important surveys in Austria. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are employed and developed further to address emerging social issues and contribute to national and international sociological debates. Engaging in dialogue with social actors is also a focus, in line with the mission to offer a better understanding of society that is relevant to national and international audiences. Research covers a broad range of areas, including (1) work, organisation and gender relations, (2) family, generations and life course, (3) migration, cities and social inequality, (4) knowledge, culture and visual worlds, (5) methodological innovation (qualitative and quantitative).

    Supervisors Department of Sociology Department of Economic Sociology (Faculty of Business, Economics and Statistics)
     

To top