Sociology, anthropology and social work

The Social Science Research Centre takes a collaborative approach to social science research within the University and the broader Canterbury region. Social scientists from Lincoln University and the Christchurch School of Medicine as well as those from the private sector and the Ministry of Social Development also collaborate.

A key aim of the centre is to develop joint research programmes with private sector providers. It also aims to improve the quality of graduate training in the social sciences by providing students with opportunities to gain research experience outside thesis/dissertation work. 

Our resesearchers are focusing on: sustainable development - globalisation, human settlement (urban and rural), environmental change, and social policy - families, housing, communities, employment, youth and aged, social exclusion, crime and penal policy.

The Te Awatea Violence Research Centre offers information, research and education to professionals, practitioners, groups and communities interested in violence reduction, prevention, and intervention. 

Research strengths

Human-animal studies

Areas of current research in human-animal studies include:

• Animals in emergencies
• Human-elephant relations
• De-extinction
• Animals in literature and culture
• Meat culture and vegetarian subcultures
• Chickens in history, culture and everyday life

Research centres and groups

• New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Social sciences

Areas of current research in social sciences include:

• Sustainable development - globalisation, human settlement (urban and rural), environmental change.
• Social policy - families, housing, communities, employment, youth and aged, social exclusion, crime and penal policy.
• Health - medicine, medical technologies and organisations, health policy, the body, well-being, sport and leisure.
• Technologies - sciences and technologies, material culture, innovations, technologies and organisational change, ICT and the digital divide.
• Culture and Identity - ethnicities, gender, bodies, sexualities, cultural politics, the media, cross-cultural studies.

Research centres and groups

• Social Science Research Centre

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Violence reduction, prevention, and intervention

Areas of current research in violence reduction, prevention, and intervention include:

• Child and family welfare
• Domestic violence, family violence, and violence against women
• Youth violence prevention

Research centres and groups

• Te Awatea Violence Research Centre

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are: