{"id":69888,"date":"2026-11-09T13:26:19","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T11:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bas.bg\/?p=69888"},"modified":"2026-11-10T13:27:09","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T11:27:09","slug":"prof-emilia-chengelova-begins-her-second-term-as-director-of-the-institute-of-philosophy-and-sociology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bas.bg\/?p=69888&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Prof. Emilia Chengelova begins her second term as Director of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Prof. Emilia Chengelova, DSc, takes up her post today as Director of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology – BAS. Prof. Chengelova was re-elected by the Governing Council of BAS for a second term as Director of the Institute, following a competitive selection process, for the period 2026\u20132030.<\/p>\n

Her research work focuses on several main areas: 1) Developing concepts, theories and methodologies for empirical sociological research; exploring the ontological and epistemological characteristics of quantitative and qualitative methods; she is a leading author in methodological studies on the nature, functional characteristics and cognitive features of quantitative methods; develops and introduces into Bulgarian research practice an innovative interpretation of focus group discussions and in-depth interviews; introduces the concept of \u201ccognitive violence against the respondent\u201d and explains the reasons for refusals to participate in sociological research; 2) Since 2010, she has been a leading Bulgarian researcher in the field of theoretical reflections and empirical study of the \u201cshadow economy\u201d: she demonstrates that the \u201cshadow economy\u201d is a specific form of deviant behaviour which is fully recognised by individuals and practised in pursuit of direct economic gains; she has constructed and empirically demonstrated the existence of eight behavioural models within which individuals engage in shadow economic practices and has developed a multifactorial theory of the determinants of the \u201cshadow economy\u201d \u2013 a theory without parallel in European or Bulgarian research practice; in 2023, the team led by Prof. Chengelova constructed and calculated a unique Index of Public Tolerance towards the \u201cshadow economy\u201d (the SETI Index).<\/p>\n

The main objective of the Programme for the Management and Development of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology \u2013 BAS for the period 2026\u20132030 is to establish the Institute as a leading European and national academic centre in the field of social sciences and humanities in Bulgaria and South-Eastern Europe:<\/p>\n