Sociology research at Essex
Research interests
Our academics have a wide range of
research interests and areas of specialism. They also operate within five research groups
which reflect our strengths in subject areas like social division and culture to sociological theory and method.
We engage in cutting-edge work in a collegial environment that places a high
value on research. We make the most of intellectual synergies within and between
departments here at Essex and around the world. Our students become part of this
community of researchers and learn how to understand the world from experts.
Our expertise
Our academic staff are experts on a diverse range of topics and share a
commitment to developing novel theoretical and methodological approaches to
understand the contours and dynamics of social life more thoroughly.
Our work falls under five broad research groups that reflect our particular
strengths and interests.
- Social divisions and economic life.
Key themes: structured inequality; the
changing nature of work; advertising and
commercial culture; and migration and
minorities.
- Culture, identity and subjectivity.
Key themes: identity and subjectivity;
oral history and personal narrative; and
the culture industry.
- Public policy, welfare and
regulation.
Key themes: health and health care;
environmental issues; criminology;
ageing; and pensions.
- Transnationalism, nation and rights.
Key themes: citizenship and human
rights; multi-culturalism; indigenous
rights; and reconfiguring the nation.
- Sociological foundations - theory
and method.
Key themes: advanced qualitative and
quantitative techniques; social
structures; the micro-dynamics of social
life; and social theories.
The quality of our work
90 per cent of research judged to be internationally significant, with 60 per
cent rated as world-leading (Research Assessment Exercise 2008)
Our research is recognised to be exceptionally good.
We were granted the highest accolade (six stars) in the
last Research Assessment Exercise and are the only
department in the country to have achieved the top
ranking in every such exercise to date.
New research grants
Several staff members have recently been awarded grants for research.
Dr Nick
Allum: 'Public Perception of Biomedical Science: Analysing the Wellcome
Trust Monitor Surveys', Wellcome Trust.
Nick is working with PhD student Andreea Moldovan to understand what people
in Britain think about new developments in medical research and why some people
have less trust than others in science and scientists.
Dr
Andrew Canessa: 'Bordering on Britishness: An Oral History Study of
Gibraltarian Identity in the 20th Century', Economic and Social Research Council
(ESRC).
Andrew is collaborating with the Garrison Library in Gibraltar on a people’s
history of Gibraltar, asking Gibraltarians what life was like in the 30’s, 40’s,
50’s and right through to the present day.
Professor Mark Harvey: 'Social Change and Systems of Drinking Water
Provision in Taiwan: An Economic Sociology Perspective', British Academy.
Working with Dr William Li (National Dong Hwa University; Taiwan), Mark
explores how an item as mundane as drinking water reaches thirsty customers.