Key challenges for the sociology of education: theoretical, methodological, and empirical issues

Abstract

In this chapter, the modern sociology of education is defined as an interdisciplinary field investigating educational processes on different analytical levels as well as the interrelations between educational systems and the social order. Leading questions and research topics for an innovative research programme are discussed. Furthermore, different tasks of sociology of education are described briefly. Finally, key challenges for sociology of education in the future are presented in order to improve the empirical research on education in social contexts.