Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory became a member of the national research consortium for European Social Survey in Serbia.
European Social Survey (ESS) is methodologically and theoretically the most comprehensive international comparative research, that has been implemented bi-annually since 2002, fulfilling the highest methodological standards of research in the domain of social sciences. It is one of the key data sources that enables measurement and understanding of the long-term structural changes, as well as changes of value and cultural patterns and practices of citizens in the European societies.
By joining the European Social Survey, the Serbian national research community stands to benefit from the improved quality of research in social sciences, and the implementation of advanced standards in national and cross-national social surveys. Also, project will have multiple benefits for the national research community: transfer of relevant theoretical and methodological knowledge and practices from the domain of social research to the local scientific community; profiling of domestic scientific staff for performing international longitudinal and comparative research; enhancing their visibility in international circles, as well as their inclusion in international academic networks.
Another important benefit of joining ESS is in the improved evidence informed policymaking. Decision makers in the European Union – in compliance with the development of the model of good governance, demand that public policies must be based on relevant data (evidence based) instead of short-term and everyday political pressures, in order to deal with the causes and not only the symptoms of the existing problems.
The consortium involves the Institute for Sociological Research of Faculty of Philosophy at University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy at University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Philosophy at University of Nis, Faculty of Political Sciences at University of Belgrade, Institute of Social Sciences and Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory at University of Belgrade. The accession of Serbia to ESS was enabled by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and supported by PERFORM.