Projects / Programmes
Social psychology and Sociology of everyday life
January 1, 2009
- December 31, 2012
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.03.00 |
Social sciences |
Sociology |
|
| 5.09.00 |
Social sciences |
Psychology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S210 |
Social sciences |
Sociology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.04 |
Social Sciences |
Sociology |
social psychology, everyday life, life course, transition, sociology of family, youth studies, gender studies, sociology of health, sociology of body, interpersonal relationship, interpersonal communication, social vulnerable groups, drop-outs, marginalisation, exclusion
Researchers (11)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
The program is based on the analysis and evaluation of, and reflection on, new contents, trends, activities, practices and institutions belonging in the micro-sphere of everyday life. Everyday life has become a strategic goal and the strategic basis in the production and reproduction of modern developed societies. In this sense, the focus of social research has been shifting from the once predominant, grand themes to everyday life providing place for all those who used to be socially excluded (or are still excluded). During the next program term, our activity will concentrate on the following analysis:
1. Changes in life paths and the family structure in Slovenia. Despite the outward appearance and ideological proclamations, which define the family as a social model of privacy and intimate community, our thesis is that the family is an area and subject of political interests on several levels. Every state, particularly the welfare state, intervenes in social reproduction, which is a privilege of the family, so the relationship between the two inevitably becomes more intense. We will analyze the changes that have been brought about by the individualization of life paths and the transition from adolescence to adulthood with a special stress on the leaving of family of parents and starting own family; what we have in mind here is primarily the study of semi-family structures (LAT) i.e. changed patterns of partnership or family communities formation, and analysis of young families.
2. The quality of life of socially vulnerable youths in Slovenia: we will research the quality of life of drop-outs i.e. youths who failed at school, youths living in socially threatened environments, and those living in non-supportive families.
3. Changes in attitude towards health and disease, food practices and attitude towards one's own body. We will test the hypothesis that it is precisely the changed attitude towards health, body and physical self-image that discloses greater need for self-control, self-discipline, self-denial and self-management.
4. The analysis of the ideologies and exclusion practices. Human rights debate has given legitimacy to differences which have been gaining, or demanding, an equal position in the collective awareness. In this sense, the focus of research has been shifting from the once predominant, grand themes to everyday life providing place for all those who used to be socially excluded (or are still excluded). Research thus turns into the voice of those excluded and partly fulfills the function of public advocacy by making excluded groups visible and present.
Our research work is based on traditional analytical interpretative approaches integrated into empirical research of said phenomena. The latter combines quantitative and qualitative research methods. Tested methods of quantitative data gathering and use of official statistical data will be supplemented with qualitative methods such as biographical and narrative methods, in-depth interviews, focus groups, discourse analysis and the like.
The shift from grand social topics to the analysis of everyday life also entails changes in epistemology and methodology of the approach. The primary importance of everyday life is the basis for quantitative methodology, since the world in which we live is accessible primarily through experience and co-experience. The everyday world is the world that defies the split into the subject and object of research which is characteristic of traditional scientific methodologies. One can research everyday life only by participating in that life. At the same time, we should heed the warnings of the analysts of everyday life who point out that the shift to everyday life should not be used as an alibi for superficiality in theoretical approach and research, or for groundless speculations.
Significance for science
Research of processes and practices of everyday life is an important topic within research in the world and particularly in the EU, since it is essential for an overall monitoring of progress in human development, which is relevant for some important international indexes, such as Human Development Index (HDI), Gender related Development Index (GDI) and Human Poverty Index (HPI). In science different methodologies are used for measuring of these indexes, which are developed in accordance with the specificity of various environments, and this is triggering innovative research approaches and solutions. Actuality of more comprehensive research of everyday life on global level is visible also in the rise of research topics of health, family relations, equal opportunities, poverty and social exclusion, violence, all of which essentially influence on HDI and in particular on GDI. Our fundamental findings support theses’ of world’s leading social scientist that today crucial social conflicts are shifting from classical stratification conflicts (such as class conflicts) to the areas of changes and contradictions of the micro-sphere of contemporary life worlds. These include for example conflicts about quality of life, human rights, forms, methods and contents of self-realization of the subject, equal opportunities for all people, and tolerance of differences. These conflicts are taking place at the junction of everyday world and other worlds. Increase of these conflicts is anticipated for future, which is why it is not yet possible to talk about exists from the life world crisis. On the theoretical and empirical level we have tried to integrate approaches, reflect on and develop comprehensible and integrated ideas on how to think about discourse, subjectivization, representation, human rights and democracy. The approach we are developing highlights the importance of post-marxist, post-fundational and post-structuralist critical thought, since the latter contribute to the spread and reconceptualization of terms discourse, hegemony, subject, representation, identification. The importance of developing concepts is therefore theoretical, since we strive to understand and research ontological foundations of the everyday world and everyday life, and also empirical, since our studies conceptualize and research optical level of phenomena (eg, non-citizens and other deprived groups), and at the same time we are also trying to integrate both dimensions. Our research results have applicative scientific value. The transfer of responsibility for own life-courses to individual level in populations with higher risks often leads to cultural and political isolation, passivity, concentration of conflicts to private life, feelings of helplessness, mental distress and personal incompetence. For example, in the research on working poor we are exploring areas, which have not been at the forefront of social interest until now, since this is a new phenomenon, whose effects have yet to be demonstrated. Sociological research so far has not covered both problem sets at the same time – poverty and employment. Policy analysis on which we have worked are also modes of exploration, which are gaining importance, since they are focused on the effects of policies to the everyday life, which is one of the most important shifts in the social science. Research of covert forms of discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation that are specific to the period of neoliberal capitalism, exceed beyond the frontiers of research projects and analyses, which are derived without reflection from the thesis of a free choice.
Significance for the country
The significance of our research for the development of Slovenia can be seen in better understanding and predictability of the events that affect people primarily in the area of private life, everyday life practices and inter-gender and intergenerational relations. These are the areas for which most eminent contemporary sociologists note that they are becoming crucial for the “new quality of life” and sustainable development, but which have in social research so far often been aside, since priority was given to “great public themes”. Special features of the program group are high sensitivity and responsiveness to factors that affect the quality of life in Slovenia, which is reflected in the selection of research areas (orientation to the research of socially vulnerable minority groups such as youth, women, homosexuals, poorer strata of population, etc. and areas, which are very important for the quality of life: promotion of health, social and family policy, youth policy etc., where we are particularly interested in the possibilities of increasing participation of disadvantaged social groups). In the period from 2009 to 2012 our most relevant findings are those about intimate lifestyles, research of poverty and violence in intimate and partnership relations and research on socio-demographic and socio-economic factors of influence on risk behaviors (e.g. alcohol addictions). Slovenia somewhat lags behind in research on poverty, which is confined mainly to the analysis and use of data of national registries, such as data from national statistical office and other data about income and wealth of population. There is a lack of scientific research on this problem, which is aimed at studying effects, consequences, dynamics, and impact to the everyday life and their effects on social cohesion. These areas have been the subject of study in the program group in the last year and have had an impact on better understanding of poverty. Similar is true for our research on violence, which has been the first such study on a large sample in Slovenia and has had a significant impact on knowledge and understanding of the problem. With this, Slovenia has also fulfilled its obligations to international institutions. It has also influenced on the development of new social services and programs of government and NGO’s. Research about intimate lifestyles contributes to more conscious actions in this field, where risks are highly individual, but at the same time have important social consequences. These research results have been presented in a way which allows them to be quickly translated into practical measures (training, developing project MOSA - Mobilization of communities for a more responsible attitude towards alcohol, a website designed for those who shape alcohol policies in Slovenia, so they can act more collectively and professionally). Results of our scientific research have contributed to a better understanding and predictability of events, particularly in the area of crises and risks in the life courses of people belonging to socially vulnerable groups. Proof of this is the application of our results and findings in the policy analysis (social, family, employment, school, health), exceptionally high media interest for our results, the use of results in pedagogical practice, not only in university studies, but also in high school programs and in the professional training of civil society groups. We can see development and progress of the Slovenian society (perhaps especially) in a refined sensitivity towards population groups and areas of life, which are a key component of a “life-world, and are at the same time politically and scientifically underestimated.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
