An institution dedicated to fundamental research, OeIJ seeks to fulfil a distinct socio-political mandate: to analyze continually and in detail the life situation of children, teenagers and young adults as well as the societal, economic and institutional framework affecting those issues. The intent is to provide a sophisticated picture of young people today and to generate understanding for their diverse attitudes and forms of expression. The OeIJ wants to bridge the gap between research and application by bringing scientific findings to the attention of politicians, practitioners and the public.