The SCOPAS research group [Shaping Concepts, Practice and Advances in Social Work] has focus on developing theoretical perspectives, concepts, models and practices, which can strengthen knowledge, reflection and development of social work, welfare and social change.

The research group’s cross-disciplinary approach including sociology, anthropology, psychology and social work aims to challenge existing categorizations of social work and social problems. Relating debates to reflections of the citizen as individual and human in society across local and global contexts is done through theoretical, empirical, methodic and practice research including the following themes: social problems, welfare state, social policy, knowledge, values, governance and power relations rationales, technologies and civic society.

SCOPAS’ development of theoretical perspectives, models and concepts is based on a range of methodological designs, e.g. qualitative methods relating to ethnographic studies, observations and action research as well as quantitative and mixed method design.