Researchers in this department analyse the networks and inequalities of social and economic life with qualitative and quantitative methods. A highlighted focus of the study of interpersonal networks is research on families. The family is a historically formulated and culturally defined social institution of prime importance regarding both the well-being of individuals and social integration, as well as the distribution of resources. Our research topics include:

• the quality and strength of ties; intimate relations; the structure of micro-networks; the dynamics of kin and non-kin relations;
• the formation of family patterns, attitudes regarding family forms and family life, partner selection, reproduction, pregnancy, abortion, childlessness, adoption, relationship maintenance after divorce;
• fatherhood;
• mapping of services and provisions supporting family life, analysis of accessibility;
• economic and social resources of families, their distribution within the family and other inequalities;
• social history of families, family formations and gender relations;
• women’s movements; women’s organizations today and in the past, women’s social history;
• the analysis of the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families.

Head of department: Albert, Fruzsina

Research fellows of the department: 

Acsády, Judit	Hajdu, Gábor
Brys, Zoltán	Herke, Boglárka
Dávid, Beáta	Sipos, Alexandra
Dupcsik, Csaba	Szalma, Ivett
Galántai, Júlia	Takács, Judit