Background for research and academic focuses
Through Østfold University College's research priority area, The Digital Society (DDS), the questions posed above are key research focuses in the group for social sciences. Social sciences embrace a wide range of professions and professional practices in both the public and private sectors. Social work aims to help citizens become independent and autonomous members of society. Social problems such as poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health challenges and bullying create exclusion and disruption in social relationships and networks. A key task with social work is to assist people with creating and maintaining relationships with family, friends, coworkers, colleagues and communities. Social work involves, among other things, establishing a trusting connection and close relationship with citizens who are struggling in order to remedy and prevent social problems. However, a current challenge with the digitalising of society, is how much of what was once consistent, close contact between the service recipient and service provider has now become streamlined and channeled through digital media. This digitalisation of services can potentially create a counterproductive distance between the parties. While most of us welcome the digitalisation and streamlining of our collective welfare state infrastructure, these technological upheavals could potentially lead to further exclusion and mistrust. Technological and material changes to the welfare society's structure can also cause changes to the welfare services, working conditions and user experiences. In the research group for social sciences, we work to explore how science and technology studies (VTS) can contribute not only to developing new perspectives and knowledge with societal changes but also the potential pitfalls that the digital society brings.
Science and technology studies are an interdisciplinary and hetergeneous field of research that is concerned with the connection between social conditions and the production of scientific knowledge and technology. For example, we can observe how a number of politicians, academics and business leaders have an enormous trust and belief that technology, knowledge development and science will solve contemporary crises, whether related to challenges with the welfare state or the climate crisis. This optimism does require a critical eye. Science and technology studies have focused considerable attention to understanding the social, cultural, and material conditions that are woven together with its otherwise seemingly objective and neutral representations. By investigating social science issues through VTS, we can provide new reflected and critical perspectives on our welfare society.
Purpose of the research group
The research group for social sciences is where we can develop research projects theoretically, methodologically and analytically. For us, the research group is a gathering place to create, discuss and drive forward research projects that we wish to develop. Thus, the research group is a place to discuss methodological approaches and techniques, as well as analytical and theoretical perspectives, preferably that are related to science and technology studies. At the same time, we are interested in the practical applications. Despite science and technology studies being preoccupied with ordinary, everyday practices, these practical applications have a surprising moral and ethical influence with the design of material conditions such as technology, architecture, organizations, service design and social work tasks.
The research group’s activities
Our activities consist of several different practice-based research projects such as empirical studies, which can contribute to the development of professional practice.
How to contact us
Please contact Christian Sørhaug, Associate Professor at: chs@hiof.no