Ian Rees Jones

I was appointed Professor of Sociological Research in 2012.  Previously I was Professor of Sociology and Head of School at Bangor University and Professor of Sociology of Health and Illness at St George’s, University of London.

My first degree was in History and Economics at Aberystwyth University and, following work in Hospital Management and Public Health, I undertook an MSc at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a PhD at Queen Mary, University of London.

I am a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales and Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences. I am a Trustee of the Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness.

I am interested in theoretical and empirical work on social change and processes of social change. My methodological interests follow from this and cover longitudinal research methods (broadly defined), comparative methods, case studies and multiple correspondence analysis. Specific areas of research focus include; Civil Society and Social Change, Inequalities in Health, Ageing and Later Life, Lifestyles and Social Relations, Class, Community and Social Change and Transparency and Trust in Health and Welfare.

I am undertaking a series of research projects that addresses processes of social change and their impact on individuals, institutions, communities and civil society. In addition I am undertaking research specifically addressing ageing, later life and the experience of dementia. This includes work looking at class and health inequalities in later life, generational relations, social engagement and participation and changes in consumption patterns as people age. Examples include research on wellbeing among older people and the networks and relations of people living with dementia; comparative research on social participation and engagement with civil society organisations; the role of social enterprises in welfare provision; and theoretical work on civil society and generational change.