Research

The Finnish Youth Research Society carries out research activities through the Finnish Youth Research Network that was established in 1999. The Finnish Youth Research Network produces multidisciplinary research data and participates in discussion in society, offering perspectives on practical work with young people in the fields of administration and politics. The organisational model of the Finnish Youth Research Society and the Finnish Youth Research Network as a scientific association is in many ways unique.

More information and examples of current research activities within the Finnish Youth Research Network is available on the Research Projects page.

Features of the Research Activities

The research activities of the Finnish Youth Research Network are based on multidisciplinary and ethical approaches and a combination of basic academic research and applied research that is relevant in terms of youth policy. This setup broadens the conventional understanding of the scopes of expertise and the roles of researchers. The Finnish Youth Research Network seeks to make versatile use of various research methods, such as combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, for example, and looking beyond conventional research questions and environments.

Round photo of the pile of books and the following texts: Features of the research acitivities: High-level scientific research, research relevant for youth policy, multidisciplinary, multimethod, ethically sustainable research.

Key Research Themes

The research covers topics that are familiar to and acknowledged by society as well as themes that are ignored or marginal. The goal is to produce a varied range of studies on social divisions that lay the framework for the lives of young people and on the everyday experiences and practices of young people and the adults who work with them.

Key themes of the research: youth work and services for young people, childhood, family and generational negotations, education and working life, social action and inclusion, equality and inequality, physical activity and sport, arts and culture, hobbies and leisure time and wellbeing, health and intoxicants.


Funding and cooperation

The Finnish Youth Research Network’s research is funded by ministries, international providers of research funding, the Academy of Finland, foundations, organisations and municipalities, etc. Cooperation is carried out with universities, universities of applied sciences, research institutes, organisations, scientific societies and many other partners.