Social inquiry for higher education in Russia: Sociological context

Abstract

The purpose of the work is to determine the characteristics of the social demand for higher education in Russia. The methodological basis of the research is built around the neo-institutional theory, namely D. North's theory of institutional evolution. A theoretical model of the social inquiry for higher education in Russia was developed; four factors with the greatest influence on the social demand were formulated: 1) social inertia; 2) market laws; 3) students' intentions; 4) fashion and trends. The research was conducted and the results of comprehension of features of the social demand for higher education in Russia were presented. The qualitative empirical research aimed at verification of the proposed model of the social inquiry along with the analysis and comparison of the importance of the formulated factors. The theoretical model of the social demand for higher education in Russia was developed; a comparison of concepts of the social inquiry was made.