The SPARC research group — Social and Political Attitudes: Resilience and Change — explores two major themes: the study of identities and social differences, particularly intergroup inequalities and negative attitudes and behaviour towards low status groups; and determinants of political attitudes and behaviour, including the comparative study of their economic and institutional determinants, the Europeanization of politics, media and campaign personalization, and attitudes towards regimes and institutions. This research group gathers political scientists, sociologists, and social psychologists expert in the use of quantitative and experimental methods, applied to the study of the determinants of political behaviour and political support, identities and social differences, and the nature and consequences of social values.

This group focuses its research on three types of phenomena:

• The determinants of political support and behaviour, including support for regimes and institutions and the explanation of political participation and electoral behaviour.
• Identities and social differences, including the formation of collective identities, social exclusion, and reactions to diversity.
• The nature and consequences of social values, including the abstract ends individuals value in their lives, how they are reflected in their behaviour and what determines them.

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