Munthes gate 31, Oslo INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH The Institute for Social Research (ISF) is an tion see independent foundation whose primary objec- www.socialresearch.no tives are: The institute’s history and current position in social research bear witness to its long-standing ▪ To promote the study and understanding of desire to avoid drawing a sharp distinction bet- social structures and social change, ween basic and applied research. Both types ▪ to develop practical and theoretical method- of research are pursued in the same environ- ologies in the study of social conditions, ment. The Institute also collaborates with the ▪ and to encourage the development of profes- University of Oslo on research projects and post- sional skills. graduate education. In recent years much emphasis has been pla- Ever since its foundation in 1950, the institute ced on establishing contact with ministries and has been multidisciplinary in its orientation. The unions, with a view to communicating research institute pursues research not only in all bran- findings and identifying research needs. This ches of the social sciences. ISF is currently one type of contact is time-consuming, but it is enco- of the few social science environments outside uraging to experience a growing understanding the universities not limited to the study of a par- of what social research can contribute with, as ticular segment of society. For further informa- well as its limitations. Contact information Institute for Social Research, P.O. Box 3233 Elisenberg, N-0208 Oslo, Norway Visiting adress: Munthes gate 31 Telephone: (+47) 23 08 61 00 Fax: (+47) 23 08 61 01 [email protected] www.socialresearch.no Director’s introduction INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH – A MEETING POINT FOR BASIC RESEARCH AND APPLIED RESEARCH FOR 60 YEARS In 2010 Institute for social research celebrated it’s 60th anniversary – a dynamic institute with a proud history. The Institute, founded 9 February, 1950, grew out of the circle that had formed around Arne Næss, Erik Rinde and Stein Rokkan. The immediate aftermath of the Second World War found these scholars working to get social science accepted as a university discipline. They recognised a need for new ways of addressing and untangling contemporary social issues. One of the Institute’s overarching objec- tives has always been to provide a meeting point for basic research and applied research. The to- pics covered by the Institute projects represent social and political challenges. There is an intrin- sic duty here, to be alert to tendencies in society, both those addressed in the public debate and those that seldom catch the eye of the media or the ear of the politicians. In order for research to be sound, reliable, original and independent, it has to be grounded in academic quality. The demand for relevance is not a legitimate argument for compromising on scientific standards of basic research. Acting as a meeting point for basic research and applied research has always been an am- bitious and, indeed, demanding goal. Changes in the Institute’s regulatory and economic environ- ment serve to accentuate these challenges. Increased competition among research institutes for long-term research projects is a consequence of the university sector being urged to seek external research funding. If the institutes are left with the short-term research commissions, scholarship and the academic foundation will likely suffer. At the same time, the intensifying competition with the consulting industry is also likely to promote a more instrumental and user-controlled mode of research. These challenges notwithstanding, 2009 was a good year. We were granted several large- scale Research Council projects, providing an opportunity for long-term studies and competence building. At the same time, we have taken on and delivered components of more limited projects which benefit from and consolidate existing expertise at the Institute. Good project acquisition has once again allowed us to engage new personnel in the form of both research fellows and experienced researchers. The Institute works well with the university sector as well as with other research institutes. Collaboration with universities ensures good rela- tions with basic research establishments and a platform for teaching and presenting our research to students and researchers outside the Institute, whereas working with other research institutes both broadens and strengthens the Institute’s scientific interests and expertise. Ann-Helén Bay, Insitute Director 3 SCIENTIFIC STAFF AND BOARD SCIENTIFIC STAFF THE BOARD Staff input amounted to 52 person--years Appointed by the Norwegian in 2009, with 38 from the scientific staff. Research Council: Research is divided into three areas Secretary General Anne Kari Lande Hasle ▪ Work and welfare [ARV] Consultant Laila Stange (deputy member) ▪ Equality, inclusion, international mogration [LIM] Appointed by the University of Oslo: ▪ Politics, democracy, civil society Professor Aanund Hylland (vice-chairman) Professor Helge Pharo (deputy member) There were in total 64 ongoing projects in these Professor Dag Album areas in 2009. Professor Signe Howell (deputy member) Appointed by the board at the Institute Scientific staff by discipline for Social Research: Professor Eivind Smith (chairman) Sociology 17 Senior advisor Marit Wårum (deputy member) Political science 8 Advisor Terje Hauger Economics 8 Political advisor Marianne Seip (deputy mem- ber) Social anthropology 4 Human geography 1 Appointed by the staff at the Institute Communications 1 for Social Research: Researcher Inés Hardoy Total 38 Researcher Karl Henrik Sivesind (deputy mem- ber) Researcher Aagoth Storvik Researchers by competence Researcher Jan-Paul Brekke (deputy member) Research professor 10 Senior researcher 17 Research fellow 9 Research assistant 3 Total 39 4 ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Library IT department The library primarily serves the Institute for The IT department handles all aspects of IT Social Research and Norwegian Social Research resources at ISF, NOVA and National Centre for (NOVA). It has a collection of nearly 50 000 Documentation on Disability. The most impor- books, research reports, statistical publicati- tant tasks are maintaining the operation of the ons, Norwegian parliamentary publications etc. local net, simple database and spreadsheet pro- Its bibliographical database is accessible via gramme development, and individual support the Internet. The library also subscribes to ap- on office programmes and statistics. proximately 290 Nordic and international jour- IT manager: Vegard Kleiven. nals and enjoys access to the most important bibliographical databases in the social sciences. Project and administration Head librarian: Jon Haakon Hustad. department The project and administration department Information keeps the Institute’s accounts and handles pro- The information department coordinates pu- ject administration. It is also responsible for mail blication activities, liaises with the press and services, reception and address databases. maintains the Institute’s web pages. It organi- Office manager: Grete Svensen. zes the practical side of lectures and seminars and performs editorial and secretarial services Cafeteria for selected journals and organizations. The Institute cafeteria serves the Institute for Head of information: Jørgen Moland. Social Research, NOVA and The National Centre for Documentation on Disability. Cafeteria manager: Wenche Skistad. Back row, from left: Jørgen Moland, Bjørn Berg, Rune Hoelseth, Grete Svensen, Bjørn Egil Espenakk, Jon Haakon Hustad. Middle row: Jorunn Aarseth, Kristian Landsgård, Vegard Kleiven, Lillian Lund. Front row: Luisa Klaveness, Ann- Helén Bay and Katrine Denstad 5 Research area WORK AND WELFARE [ARV] Research here seeks to improve our under- 2009 IN BRIEF standing of employee behaviour, firms’ adaptive The Work and Welfare Research Group (ARV) was arrangements, the workings of the labour mar- granted several large-scale Research Council ket and how paid work distributes advantages (NFR) projects in 2009. They include studies of and disadvantages. An inclusive working life public policy and different households’ connec- depends on economic incentives that encour- tions with the labour market. Another project will age people to work and on employers earning look at the interplay between the education sys- money from taking them on. To explain the high tem and the labour market. ARV is also heavily level of working age in Norway live primarily on involved in a comprehensive NFR project, “Trygd social security benefits we need to learn about i kontekst – Rettferdighet, Effektivitet, Fordeling social security arrangements, their implementa- (TREfF – Social Security in Context. Fairness, tion and effects. Efficiency and Redistribution)”, a multidiscipli- Understanding these matters is of general nary project aimed at studying different aspects interest and a means of understanding social of social inclusion and the benefit system in change. It is also of great significance as a ba- Norway. Several other research projects are fi- sis for decision making in politics, industry and nanced by policy makers, including the Ministry working life. Research-based knowledge is im- of Labour and Ministry of Children, Equality, and portant for enabling the formulation of objec- Social Inclusion. tives and for selecting the best instruments. One important topic in the ongoing work re- Research results are made more widely known lates to the determinants