Research into the family is based on analyses of demographic changes, most notably marriage and birth rates, and their influence on changing families. The focus is on demographic behaviour and its contexts, above all the shaping of families and their stability, alternative forms of familial cohabitation and the influence of socio-economic conditions. Particular attention is paid to problems of childlessness, incomplete and multiple-offspring families and the families of foreign nationals. From these perspectives, families are analysed as a subject of family and social policy, concentrating on the benefit and tax systems, Labour Code measures and services for both functional and dysfunctional families.
Another important area of research is families’ standard of living and material conditions, in particular their income and housing situation. Long-term attention is paid to scrutiny of the work/life balance, especially in various types of families and demographic and social groups. For example, the research looks at the division of labour in the family, fathers on parental leave and family-oriented services. In the light of the current population ageing, research also focuses on the living conditions of seniors, intergenerational solidarity and services for seniors.
Attention is also paid to questions of how family policy is formed and conceived.