Department of Sociology

Our research

A row of old looking library books

Robust research shaping sociology and society

We are ranked 2nd in UK for research power in sociology (Times Higher Education research power measure, Research Excellence Framework REF 2021). Our academic staff are experts in their fields, developing new theoretical and methodological approaches to understand the dynamics of social life.

We work with Departments across the University and around the world, collaborating on cutting edge research. When students join the Department they become part of this lively research community, as they learn how to understand and challenge the world. Our research helps to shape society today; our work has helped to inform the UN, government departments, think tanks and public bodies around the world on issues as diverse as the rights of indigenous peoples, the regulation of the building industry, and organised crime and terrorism.

Our Department houses four research centres and five research clusters. We work particularly closely with the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER); a multidisciplinary research institute featuring world-leading expertise in quantitative analysis, survey methods and a strong portfolio of work on social policy. Our close working relationship with ISER provides our students with a unique and valuable research resource and unrivalled postgraduate study opportunities.

Use the links below to visit our cutting edge research structures and learn more about the exciting research which is taking place within the Department.

 

Our research centres

 Our research centres focus on specific areas of interest, whilst collaborating on research across the University and around the world: 

Our research clusters

 Our research falls around five broad categories which are reflective of the strengths of the Department:

A row of old looking library books
Explore our research

Discover cutting edge research from the University of Essex. Browse our site to find relevant publications, projects, groups, centres, postgraduate opportunities for research supervision and wider areas of interest. Simply search our site to find information relating to your subject.

Search our research

Highlights of our research

Books

Our academic staff regularly publish books on a wide range of topics. Their most recent work includes:

Dr Shaul Bar Haim

  • The Maternalists: Psychoanalysis, Motherhood, and the British Welfare State
  • Wilding Analysis: From the Couch to Cultural and Political Life

Dr Alexandra Cox

Dr Isabel Crowhurst

Dr Valentin Danchev

Dr Rhiannon Firth

Dr Carlos Gigoux Gramegna

Dr Ayse Guveli

Dr Michael Halewood

Dr Renee Luthra

Dr Tara Mahfoud

Professor Linsey McGoey

Professor John Preston

Professor Colin Samson

Dr Anna Sergi

Dr Katy Wheeler

Dr Neli Demireva

Professor Nigel South

Journal articles

Our academic staff regularly publish work in leading journals. Examples of their most recent work include:

Dr Shaul Bar Haim

Professor Eamonn Carrabine

Dr Alexandra Cox

Professor Pamela Cox

Dr Isabel Crowhurst

Dr Valentin Danchev

Dr Maitrayee Deka

Dr Neli Demireva

Dr Anna Di Ronco

Professor Chris Greer

Dr Ayse Guveli

Dr Katerina Hadjimatheou

Dr Michael Halewood

Dr Laurie James-Hawkins

Dr Renee Luthra

Dr Tara Mahford

Professor Lydia Morris

Professor Sean Nixon

Dr Johanna Romer

Professor Michael Roper

Dr Anna Sergi

Dr Carlos Solar

Professor Nigel South

Dr Jason Sumich

Dr Darren Thiel

Dr Katy Wheeler

Professor Colin Samson

 

 

 

 

 

 

Media

Our academic staff frequently feature within the wider press and media. Below are some examples of their latest appearances:

Dr Shaul Bar Haim

Professor Andrew Canessa

Professor Eamonn Carrabine

Dr Alexandra Cox

Professor Pamela Cox

Dr Neli Demireva

Dr Rhiannon Firth

Professor Chris Greer

Dr Ayse Guveli

Dr Katerina Hadjimatheou

Dr Laurie Hawkins

Dr Renee Luthra

Dr Tara Mahfoud

Professor Linsey McGoey

Dr Alita Nandi

Professor John Preston

Professor Michael Roper

  • Book to see the Lakeside Theatre/HLF verbatim testimony production based on interviews with children of First World War survivors Voices of the Great War.

Professor Colin Samson

Dr Anna Sergi

Dr Jason Sumich

Dr Katy Wheeler

Research projects

Our academics are actively working on many exciting research projects:

Dr Isabel Crowhurst

Dr Neli Demireva

Dr Ayse Guveli

Dr Johanna Romer

  • National Law, Transnational Justice? The role of legal status in parole decision-making in Catalonia, Spain
  • Deciphering Violence: New Network Analytic Tools to Improve Hate Speech Detection Online

Professor Michael Roper

Dr Anna Sergi

Professor Nick Allum

  • Prof. Nick Allum is working on a H2020-funded project: www.SOPs4RI.eu.

Dr Jason Sumich

Professor Lydia Morris

Anna Di Ronco and James Allen Robertson

Dr Renee Luthra

Research showcases

Research from the Department of Sociology examines key issues which help to shape our society. Read the research showcases which highlight the prestigious work of our academics:

Professor Andrew Canessa

Professor Pamela Cox

Dr Ayse Guyeli

Research news

Visit our Department news page and discover the very latest happenings in the Department of Sociology.

A block of flats
Contact us
Departmental Director of Research Dr Neli Demireva
University of Essex
Department of Sociology University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ
Telephone: 01206 873275