Research area Social Work


Social work as a research area includes analysis of the causes of social problems that affect individuals, groups and local communities. It also provides an analysis of the background of issues in the interaction between individuals and their social environment and solutions to social problems, development of knowledge that can be translated into preventive measures and design of standards for practical activities in the social field.

Care of older people

At the Department of Social Work, questions about older adults, aging and long-term care are an integral part of the social work education, as well as one of the main research areas.

Go to Care of older people

Child welfare

Research on child and youth welfare focus on the living conditions of children, youth and families at risk.

Go to Child welfare

Domestic violence

Domestic violence and abuse is a comprehensive societal problem with a high relevance to social work practice. Knowledge about the problem is also formally required within Swedish social work programs.

Go to Domestic violence

Pedagogy for social work education

Even though all teachers on the Department for Social Work are involved in pedagogical development, there are some research projects specifically aimed at developing pedagogical models.

Go to Pedagogy for social work education

Persons with disabilities

Disability research deals with issues around societal barriers and structures that affect people with disabilities. The department's research is about increasing knowledge about disabling structures in society, with a focus on societal structures, social conditions, working life and active citizenship.

Go to Persons with disabilities

Poverty and social assistance

Research that addresses welfare problems and social assistance plays a central role in social work as a scientific discipline. The area is not only subject to more explicit attention, but is also present in research that mainly focuses on other social problems.

Go to Poverty and social assistance

Substance use

Substance use can lead to severe problems. The phenomenon is of key interest for social work.

Go to Substance use

Cookie settings

By allowing third-party services, you accept their cookies and the use of tracking technologies necessary for them to function properly.