Department of Social Research

Social Policy, Social Work, Sociology and Economic Sociology form the Department of Social Research. Areas of expertise profiling the departments teaching and research include social divisions and well-being, policy and politics, and cultural phenomena.  

Head of Department

Heikki
Ervasti
Professor, Social Policy
+358 29 450 2158
+358 40 511 7146

Vice Head of Department

Kim Holmberg profile picture
Kim
Holmberg
Senior Research Fellow, Economic Sociology
+358 29 450 4924
+358 50 443 7635

Professors

Antti Tanskanen profile picture
Antti
Tanskanen
Professor, Department of Social Research
+358 29 450 4468
+358 40 589 3980
Hanna Tiirinki profile picture
Hanna
Tiirinki
Dosentti, TtT
Professor of Practice, Department of Social Research
+358 29 450 2328
+358 50 593 3864

Teaching staff

Heidi
Elmgren
University Teacher, Department of Social Research
Leena
Haanpää
KTT
University Lecturer, Social Work
Social Work
Docent, Economic Sociology
Children's worlds -research project
+358 29 450 2902
+358 50 312 1794
Michael
Laakasuo
University Lecturer, Department of Social Research
+358 29 450 2332
+358 50 448 3621

Researchers

Hanna Mattila profile picture
Hanna
Mattila
Dr.Sc. (tech.)
Research Director, Department of Social Research
Director of Turku Urban Research Programme, Research Director (urban studies)
+358 29 450 3857
+358 50 512 4538
Jarkko
Rasinkangas
University Lecturer, Social Work
+358 29 450 4578
+358 50 328 3288
Sampo Ruoppila profile picture
Sampo
Ruoppila
PhD, Research Director of Urban Studies, Director of Turku Urban Research Programme
Docent, Department of Social Research

Department Coordinator

Marja Andersson profile picture
Marja
Andersson
MSc
HR Specialist, Faculty of Social Sciences
+358 29 450 4756
+358 50 463 6781

Social Policy

Social Work

Sociology

Economic Sociology

Turku Center for Welfare Research

Cultural interaction research network KULTVA

Research Unit for the Sociology of Education, RUSE
Koulutussosiologian tutkimuskeskus sulautunut osaksi sosiaalitieteiden laitosta

In the years 1990–2021, in the University of Turku had Research Unit for the Sociology of Education (RUSE), whose operations merged at the beginning of 2022 with the Department of Social Research and its subjects.

>> Check out the research done at RUSE