Austrian Institute for Family Studies

The Austrian Institute for Family Studies (ÖIF) is a scientific, independent organisation for application-oriented, interdisciplinary study to examine the structure and dynamics of families, generations, genders and partnerships at the University of Vienna.
 
The Austrian Institute for Family Studies was founded as an independent, non-profit organisation in 1994 to carry out social research in an interdisciplinary way. This approach allows a broad yet differentiated analysis of family issues and constitutes a challenge in the Institute’s research orientation. In view of the fact that ‘family science’ has not yet established itself as an independent discipline, the ÖIF also endeavours to contribute to the development of this field by its transdisciplinary work.
 
The Institute’s main aim is to do top-quality family research. It analyses all issues relating to the relationships of generations and genders as well as in partnerships. The Institute engages in both basic and application-oriented research to study the wide variety and changes in familial relationships and structures from the perspective of children, women and men.
 
In view of the fact that the public tends to remain uninformed of research results on the family, another key area is to provide reliable data on families’ living situations in order to raise the awareness for family topics in the media, among politicians and practitioners.
 
The Institute’s staff represents a wide variety of disciplines, among them psychology, sociology, demography, history, economics, statistics, translation, social education and communication studies, thus ensuring multidisciplinarity in its everyday work. This holistic approach contributes to developing ‘family science’.

Contact
Austrian Institute for Family Studies (ÖIF)
A-1010 Vienna, Grillparzerstraße 7/9
Phone: +43-1-4277 489 01
Fax: +43-1-4277 9489
E-mail: team@oif.ac.at
Web: www.oif.ac.at
 
Research & Development
 
The Institute works on both the theoretical and empirical levels. The multidisciplinary team uses qualitative as well as quantitative research methods. Key areas are family and gender relationships, reconciliation of work and family life, psychosocial health, the socio-economic situation of families and analysing family policies.
 
To obtain socially and politically relevant findings, the Institute thoroughly studies and evaluates pertinent issues, develops models, does reliable projections, and collaborates with other research institutions. Besides expanding and systematising available basic knowledge on the family, the Institute acts as consultant, advises politicians and offers education and training courses.
 
Communication & Information
 
Acting as a broker of information is the ÖIF’s second key task, because the Institute sees it as a challenge to combine its research work with application. Continuously searching for, documenting, processing and disseminating information and providing reliable facts on family issues for researchers, politicians, journalists and practitioners are typical tasks of this Department’s daily work. The information service beziehungsweise, the electronic newsletter puzzle, the ÖIF’s website and publication series as well as providing customized answers to enquiries are the most important means of spreading information.