Research

The research activities of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences are geared to understanding a wide array of questions, enabling the development of new insights into scientific dilemmas. These social science analyses often offer a fresh new perspective on relevant issues in society, making a scientific contribution to professional practice and to social and political debate.

Interdisciplinary approach

Professors have clearly-defined tasks that shape the contours of the disciplinary research themes. However, many topics also benefit from an interdisciplinary approach. Researchers therefore work in close collaboration with national and international colleagues. Moreover, they cooperate with (local) authorities, industry and non-profit organisations. In this way, these professionals become involved in the research process and the related teaching activities.

Research themes

The various research programmes are organised within the research institutes, which in turn are part of the five Departments of the Faculty. Key research themes include:

* Psychological disorders
* Psychology of the perception of justice and subconscious processes
* Cognition & the brain
* Grief & trauma
* Work & stress
* Personality development and behavioural problems

* Development & behaviour
* Pro-social and anti-social aggression in children
* Learning in interaction
* Youth in the changing cultural context

* Social politics & integration
* Migration, ethnic relations and multiculturalism
* Political conflicts, cultural traumas and social reconstruction in Latin
   American and other regions

* Policy and organisations
* Social networks, social capital and cooperation in socio-economic relations
* Families, households and gender issues
* Social inequality

* Statistics, methods and techniques of social scientific research

Publications

The Faculty maintains its scientific expertise at a high international standard. Publishing groundbreaking articles in prominent international scientific journals and cooperating with fellow researchers in the Netherlands and abroad are particularly effective ways to underline the Faculty’s excellent position.