The dissertation presents the results of theoretical and empirical substantiation of application social exclusion identification criteria, developed in the European Union, in the context of Ukrainian society. Social exclusion is considered as a multidimensional process of reducing access to structural and economic resources, as well as the person's position, which determines resources' distribution, and lack of social and cultural participation of individuals or groups. At the societal level social exclusion manifests as a lack of access to the mechanisms and resources of social integration. At the individual level, social exclusion reflects limited access to resources, lack of civil rights ensuring, social isolation and a shortage of participation in meaningful activities that are common to most people in the society under study. In accordance with the approach of measuring social exclusion proposed by C. Vrooman and G. Jehoel-Gijsbers the typical dimensions of the concept were defined: material deprivation and social isolation. The mentioned above components of social exclusion were extracted in countries with the Social-democratic, Liberal, Mediterranean and Corporatist welfare models, in Eastern European and post-Soviet countries by using the factor analysis on the basis of the results of European social survey (ESS). Then mentioned components were defined in Hungary, Germany, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and Ukraine. The structures of extracted components demonstrate their similarity. Additive indexes of social exclusion for mentioned above countries were created based on the indicators that were used for identification of mentioned dimensions. The analysis of the validity and reliability of the constructed indexes is carried out. Two approaches to identify the social exclusion threshold values were considered: first, based on the values of the indicators in the country, and the second - in macro-region or throughout Europe. It was concluded then, how the threshold values of the social exclusion indexes, which were received according to each approach, can be used for recognition of vulnerable groups. The approach of measuring social exclusion proposed by G. Jehoel-Gijsbers and C. Vrooman was applied to IDPs in Ukraine. In order to measure social exclusion, a factor analysis was utilized. Empirical identification of social exclusion's three dimensions: material deprivation, access to civil rights and social isolation was carried out. Based on the empirically measured dimensions of the social exclusion concept, an integral index of social exclusion was extracted. The constructed tool has been verified by applying linear regression analysis according to the criterion of construct validity. For this purpose, predictors had been chosen, such as level of IDPs's income, subjective health status evaluation, education level, marital status and subjective assessment of community alienation in current place of residence. This permit to conclude that despite on difficult financial situation, social exclusion of IDPs is not limited solely by material deprivation and its structure is similar to the concept's expressions in other social groups in this same kind of situation but in the completely different circumstances.
