Sociological research at Oxford is renowned for combining rigorous method and analytical theory.

Oxford sociologists pioneered the collection and analysis of survey data in Britain, and this remains one of our core strengths. We are at the forefront in developing quantitative methods, including the analysis of complex networks and computer simulation. The Centre for Experimental Social Sciences (Nuffield) provides infrastructure for designing and conducting social experiments. Our expertise also encompasses ethnographic and archival/historical research.

In subject matter, our research reaches far beyond British society, to encompass systematic cross-national comparison as well as the detailed study of Asian and Latin American societies.

Research Strands

Oxford Network for Social Inequality Research

The Oxford Network for Social Inequality Research promotes theoretically informed, methodologically sound and policy-relevant research into social inequalities in contemporary societies.

Centre for Research into Elections and Social Trends

Within political sociology, the Centre for Research into Elections and Social Trends specializes in the quantitative analysis of social attitudes and voting behaviour. The Department also has expertise in other areas, including national identity, ethnicity, and social movements.

Centre for Time Use Research

The Centre for Time Use Research collects and analyses cross-time, cross-country data on how people spend their time, researching the dimension of time in social life. For further information on our data and publications visit our website at www.timeuse.org or view the slides from this Powerpoint presentation.

Extra-legal Governance Institute

The Extra-legal Governance Institute studies the ways in which economic and social activity may be governed by institutions and structures that are outside the state.

The Analysis of Social Networks

The analysis of social networks drawing on the expertise of disciplines across the social and natural sciences, is undertaken by the Nuffield Network of Network Researchers and the Center for Complex Agent-Based Dynamic Networks.

Analytical Sociology

The Department has pioneered analytical sociology, which identifies generalizable social mechanisms and elucidates the logic of individual action.

Family Sociology

Family sociologyencompasses the domestic division of labour, decision-making and bargaining within marriage, inequalities within households, work-life balance, single motherhood, and mate selection.