Research Committees

Established in 2025. 

The ISA RC53 Prize honours the best PhD Dissertation in the general field of the Sociology of Childhood. 

Rules

1. The Prize will be awarded every four years at the ISA World Congress of Sociology, as part of the RC53 Sociology Congress activities. 
2. The thesis must have been examined in the years between the preceding ISA World Congress of Sociology and six months prior the next ISA World Congress of Sociology (the submission date). However, the Doctorate need not have been officially conferred during this period. 
3. The nominee’s dissertation must be completed in satisfaction with the PhD requirements of the institution where the nominee’s doctoral work was completed. 
4. Either the PhD scholar and/or their primary adviser/supervisor must be a member in good standing of the ISA Research Committee 53. 
5. Monograph-based theses and theses by publication will be accepted for consideration.

Submission Process

1. The submission date for the Prize will be informed by the Board, to provide sufficient time for the Panel to undertake their assessment. 
2. Nominations must be received from the student’s adviser/supervisor or the scholar most familiar with the student’s research. 
3. Submissions for the Prize should be made in PDF format to isa-rc53@isa-sociology.org by the due date. 
4. Submissions should consist of the following two (2) elements:
   • Element 1: A rationale document that outlines the merits of the thesis, in no more than 2500 words. This should: 
   1. State the subject of the thesis. 
   2. Present its main findings and arguments. 
   3. Outline its main conclusions. 
   4. Address the criteria specified under ‘Criteria for the Awarding of the Prize’ (see Section 3). 
   5. Specify the student’s unique contribution, if the student is part of a team or engaged in collaboration for their dissertation. 
   6. This document should be submitted in one of the three official languages of the ISA (English, French or Spanish) by the student’s adviser/supervisor or the scholar most familiar with the student’s research.
   • Element 2: A copy of the thesis in its language of submission. 

Criteria for the Awarding of the Prize 

1. The following criteria will be used to determine the winner of the Prize. These criteria must be addressed in the rationale document submitted for the Prize (see 2.2). The Dissertation:
   • Makes an original and relevant contribution to the general field of the Sociology of Childhood. 
   • Provides an innovative theoretical, methodological, empirical, policy-related or other contribution to the Sociology of Childhood. 
   • Is of a high standard of scholarship:
     • Where relevant, the theoretical reasoning is precise and rigorous. 
     • Where relevant, the empirical work is robust, accurate and the research design is transparent. 
   • Addresses an important topic for the study of children and/or childhood(s). 
   • Pays explicit attention to the limitations and critical implications of their research. 
   • Meets accepted standards of ethical practice and research integrity. 
2. In addition to the Dissertation criteria, the Panel will consider the nominee’s ongoing engagement and contribution to the field of Childhood Studies. Where relevant, this should also be addressed in the rationale document.

The Panel 

1. The RC53 Board will appoint a committee comprised of two senior scholars and one mid-career scholar in the field to serve as the panel of adjudicators. This panel will assess submissions using the criteria outlined in Section 3 to make a decision regarding the assignation of the Prize. 
2. The panel may at its discretion recruit additional members onto the panel. Reasons for the selection of additional panel members include, but are not limited to:
   • That the Dissertation includes specialist concepts or techniques requiring the expertise of additional panel members. 
   • That the Dissertation is in a language which the members of the panel lack appropriate competence. 
3. Members of the panel cannot include individuals who have supervised, co-supervised or have an academic or personal relationship with one of the applicants for the Prize. 
4. Both the composition of the panel and the selection criteria will be made publicly available to ensure transparency. 
5. If it is deemed that no thesis reaches an acceptable standard, the panel may decline to award the prize in any given award period.

Prize Announcement 

1. The winner of the prize will be announced at the ISA World Congress of Sociology. The successful nominee will receive the award at a prize-giving session to be held as part of RC53 Activities at the Congress. 
2. If it is not possible for the successful nominee to attend in-person they can nominate for someone to attend on their behalf or attend virtually. 
3. The successful candidate will be awarded:
   • €500. 
   • A certificate of recognition. 
   • A fast-track monograph with Emerald Publishing. 
   • Dissemination of their work through the ISA RC53 social media channels and newsletter. 
   • The awardee will receive support to attend the ISA World Congress of Sociology, where the Prize will be conferred. This support may include subsidized travel, accommodation or conference registration fees. The total amount of financial support provided by RC53 will be determined according to the Research Committee’s available resources at the time of the award. 

For more information, please email isa-rc53@isa-sociology.org.