Social services
Social services are a central component of the Austrian welfare state and make a significant contribution to social security, the promotion of participation, and the management of individual and societal issues. They encompass a wide range of support services—from care and assistance services to child, youth, and family support, as well as housing-related, health-related, and labor market-related offerings. Against the backdrop of societal changes such as demographic shifts, increasing social inequality, growing complexity in care, and rising demands for efficiency and transparency, social services face significant structural and organizational challenges.
The research conducted by the Center for Nonprofit Organizations and Social Impact in the area of social services is politically oriented and analyzes social services as part of complex supply and governance systems. The focus is on both institutional frameworks and the specific design, utilization, and impact of social offerings.
Key Research Areas
A significant focus is on analyzing the structures of services, needs, and user perspectives in social services. Several studies have examined the satisfaction, perceived quality of life, and usage experiences of clients of social services, particularly in areas such as supported living, mobile care and assistance services, and health- and social-related services provided by large organizations. These studies provide important insights into the quality of social services and points for their further development.
Another central focus is on the impact and impact measurement of social services. The NPO&SI Center has built extensive expertise in developing and applying impact-oriented analysis approaches, including Social Return on Investment (SROI) analyses as well as qualitative and quantitative impact models. Among other things, the societal and economic benefits of family and mother-child support facilities, mobile care and assistance services, debt counseling, and socially integrative and health-related projects have been examined. These studies systematically highlight the added value of social services for various stakeholder groups—from users to public authorities to society as a whole.
Furthermore, the research addresses questions of innovation, governance, and management of social services. This includes analyzing innovation processes in social organizations, cooperative relationships between providers, administration, and other stakeholders, as well as the impacts of social policy planning and governance instruments on service development and supply security. Social policy planning processes, such as those in the area of disability support, also constitute an important part of this research field.
Methodological Approach
Research in the area of social services is characterized by an interdisciplinary and methodologically plural approach. Qualitative interviews, standardized surveys, impact and benefit analyses, participatory research designs, and systemic and comparative analyses are employed. A distinctive feature is the close collaboration with provider organizations, public clients, and—where possible—users of social services to ensure that scientific analyses are practical and applicable.
Reference Projects:
The impacts and needs of Vienna's homeless assistance
Customer surveys of the Austrian Red Cross (ÖRK)