Sociology Research
We explore core sociological areas of contemporary and real-world importance.
Sociology Research at Newcastle
We explore core sociological areas of contemporary and real-world importance. We also embrace the benefits of interdisciplinarity through cultivating exchanges in areas such as social anthropology and bioethics, alongside developing interests in the sociology of crime.
Our research agenda prioritises research aimed at making a real difference and in particular focuses on addressing inequality, disadvantage, exclusion and social injustice.
Sociology research clusters and groups
REF 2021
Sociology at Newcastle has produced a strong showing in REF2021.
We're pleased to see that 30% of our activities have been classified as world leading across:
- publications
- our research environment
- the societal impact of our research
Our research power has also increased by 40%. This is the total rating of our research, multiplied by the number of colleagues who submitted.
We're very pleased to see that 43% of our research publications have been classified as world leading. This is double the proportion that was identified in this way in the last REF exercise in 2014.
87.5% of our research environment has been assessed as supporting research of an internationally excellent quality.
67% of the societal impact of our research has been classified as having outstanding and considerable reach and significance.
Since our REF2021 submission in March 2021, we've continued to build our research activity and culture. New grants are already underway with funders such as:
- ESRC
- AHRC
- Leverhulme
- NIHR
New monographs are being published, including those by new colleagues who have recently joined us. Undertaking research that aims to contribute to the worlds around us in multiple ways remains at the heart of what we do.
Find out more about our REF 2021 submission.
Research expertise
Our research focuses on addressing inequality, disadvantage, exclusion and social injustice. We sustain and develop a research environment that nurtures research of the highest quality, values diverse forms of excellence, has social impact locally and globally and which makes a substantial mark in both sociology and interdisciplinary exchanges.
We are committed to producing research with a policy, practitioner and social and cultural purpose, to pursue work that is for the public good, locally, nationally, and internationally.
Examples of the kinds of impact our work is having include:
- Impacts on creativity, culture and society. Several colleagues work with creative industries and the third sector, including local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with creative arts organisations and with educational organisations for adults and for young people.
- Impacts on social welfare and public policy. This is a central impact activity pursued by different members of staff in close collaboration with both users of welfare services and organisations that advocate for, as examples, welfare reform, disability rights, and migrants’ rights and well-being.
- Impacts on practitioners and delivery of professional services, enhanced performance or ethical practice. Ongoing partnerships with practitioners and policymakers are embedded in the research of several colleagues. This includes for example in the fields of health and clinical evaluations, provided training to NHS Trusts, and working with national advocacy groups.
We are also part of two important research units that are vital components to our agenda of contributing to society by the work we do.
Policy Ethics and Life Sciences Research Centre (PEALS)
We aim to produce world class research focused on the social and ethical debates around the contemporary life sciences.
North East Child Poverty Commission (NECPC)
The North East Child Poverty Commission (NECPC) is a stakeholder network that believes that all children should have an equal chance in life.
Research-led teaching
We offer some of the most wide-ranging teaching programmes in the sociology subject in the country as part of both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. We are a diverse and international community of researchers and teachers.
Collaboration and interdisciplinary connections
We embrace the benefits of interdisciplinarity through cultivating exchanges in areas such as social anthropology and bioethics, alongside developing interests in the sociology of crime.
Collaboration sits at the centre of our research activity, in particular collaboration with non-academic individuals and organisations who are equal partners in the research we undertake. We have over 50 research relationships with non-academic groups across the policy, practice, NGO, and civil society spheres.
Many of these collaborations are long-standing and provide the foundation for our impact and engagement activities, which are fully integrated into all aspects of research development and activity
Our research funding
Our research is supported by funding from a broad range of bodies including:
