Sociology Research

research staff
See examples of our staff research

Research in Sociology at Newcastle University is on an upward trajectory evidenced by the production of high quality publications, engagement in major academic and policy debates, and our driving forward a number of interdisciplinary research agendas.

In our first ever submission to the Sociology panel in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, Newcastle Sociology finished a respectable 17th out of 39 sociology units in the UK.

Our broad research aims are:

  • To make a significant contribution to the discipline by conducting theoretical and empirical research of high international standard
  • Help redefine the core concerns of sociology by advancing new inter- and trans-disciplinary perspectives.
  • To make a significant contribution towards advancing the state of knowledge on the key issues of our time, and informing the relevant academic and policy debates.
  • Enhancing the public relevance of sociology through the meaningful engagement of non-academic actors in all stages of the research process.

Sociology staff submitted 312 publications in the last RAE period, including 142 refereed journal articles, 91 book chapters and 28 books.

These included agenda-setting works such as: Outhwaite's The Future of Society (Blackwell, 2006), Richardson, McLaughlin and Casey’s Intersections Between Feminist and Queer Theory (Palgrave Macmillan, 2006), Shakespeare’s Disability Rights and Wrongs (Routledge, 2006), Castro's Water, Power and Citizenship (Palgrave Macmillan, 2006) and Hollands’ Urban Nightscapes (Routledge, 2003).

Our upward trajectory in terms of research is reflected in grant income, with the unit obtaining over £9m (over £5.2m ‘spend’) for 101 projects, and a rapid rise of postgraduate research.

We also have a vibrant research seminar series with both invited speakers and current Sociology staff and postgraduate students presenting their work. Many of the seminars we have available via podcasts online.

Research Community Sociology

The Sociology research community at Newcastle has very active research clusters and networks, and one associated Research Centre.

Sociology Research Clusters:

Research Groups (school and university wide):

The School also hosts other cross-School (and Faculty) research groups, where membership spans disciplines.

Research Centre:

Postgraduate Research

Postgraduate numbers have risen substantially since 2001 and we have been very successful in obtaining numerous funded PhDs (including ESRC CASE Studentships and 1+3 and 3 Studentships. In addition we run an MA in Sociology and Social Research which has ESRC recognition and helps feed into a thriving postgraduate culture. We also have a strong stake in the new MA in Interdisciplinary Latin American Studies (MALAIS), run jointly with the School of Modern Languages.

Further information