Unexplored
Realities is a research collective of qualitative social research scholars at
the Research Institute of Sociology at the University of St.Gallen.
We specialize in the study of contemporary societies and social
transformation. The key focus of our research is unexplored realities –
domains that receive little attention in mass media reporting and everyday life
narratives and are often neglected in the social sciences as well.
Our studies are based on the systematic first-hand exploration of lived
everyday reality. We prefer working with qualitative methods, i.e. by using
participant observation and by establishing direct contact with the persons in
our research field. We thus register also those realities that do not appear in
digital media or the mass media. As researchers, we work in a broad range of
diverse social, cultural and organizational contexts. Embedded in everyday
realities, we remain in touch with the current developments and issues.
We often closely intertwine research and teaching, and we are interested
in both: the academic discourse with our colleagues in the research community
as well as communicating our research beyond the boundaries of academia.
Our expertise includes: