SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL RESEARCH
Stampa
Enrollment year
2019/2020
Academic year
2019/2020
Regulations
DM270
Academic discipline
SPS/07 (GENERAL SOCIOLOGY)
Department
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Course
COMMUNICATION, INNOVATION, MULTIMEDIA
Curriculum
PERCORSO COMUNE
Year of study
Period
1st semester (30/09/2019 - 16/12/2019)
ECTS
9
Lesson hours
54 lesson hours
Language
Italian
Activity type
WRITTEN TEST
Teacher
CERAVOLO FLAVIO ANTONIO (titolare) - 5 ECTS
VAIRA MASSIMILIANO - 4 ECTS
Prerequisites
Nothing
Learning outcomes
The course aims at providing students with an adequate level of theoretical, conceptual and methodological knowledge and analytical-interpretative skills to analyze and understand social phenomena, also in the interdisciplinary perspective characterizing CIM study course.
The first part of the course program (Sociological theories) aims at familiarizing students with Sociology main theories and concepts, while the second one (Methodology of the research) aims at the learning and practical use of some of the main sociological research methods and techniques. In the second part conceptual skills achieved in previous lessons will be discussed with a more practical approach to provide to the students specialist tools for social research.
At the end of the course students should have learnt knowledge and skills of theoretical, conceptual and methodological kind, allowing them to understand in a more problematic and complex way various social phenomena.
Course contents
Consistently with course’s goals, teaching program will present a series of theoretical and methodological perspectives. In the course’s first part, dealing with sociological theories, after having discussed some epistemological aspects of the discipline, the main aspects of the four classical sociologists’ (Marx, Durkheim, Simmel and Weber) theories will be presented. Subsequently, contemporary sociological theories will be considered presenting the structural-functionalism (Parsons and Merton), micro-sociologies (symbolic interactionism, phenomenology and ethnomethodology, dramaturgical approach) and structural constructivism (Berger and Luckmann, Giddens, Bourdieu) perspectives.
In the second part, dealing with methodological issues, after a reprise of the main themes in the history of epistemology of Social Sciences, lessons will discuss: a) principal methodological concepts needed to create a correct scientific research and to present it properly; b) the typical structure of social research and mechanism to project the research design; c) main issues concerning the quantitative research from sampling and writing a standardized questionnaire to data analysis (with elements of basic statistics for social sciences); d) structure of qualitative research and main techniques.
Teaching methods
Lessons will be delivered through the traditional in-front didactic by which teachers expose theories and concepts with the goal to allow a good level of learning by students. Yet, students are encouraged to actively participate to lesson by some occasions of reflection and discussion on specific topics and aspects.
The methodological part will be integrated with exercises and practical examples of research methods and techniques
Reccomended or required readings
For the first Part:
Massimiliano Vaira, Osservare il mondo sociale. Introduzione alle teorie sociologiche, Pordenone, Webster-Libreria Universitaria.
Notice: This book takes place of CLU Booklet for previous year also.
For the second part:
Cinzia Meraviglia, Metolodogia delle Scienze Sociali, Carocci Editore, Roma
It is available an exercise Booklet (CLU library near University)
Assessment methods
The exam, both for attending and not attending students, is written on the theories and methods partswith open, semi-open, closed questions and practical exercises on topics dealt during the lectures and in the didactic books. The exam aims at assessing learning level of studied contents, the specialized vocabulary and skills to apply practically research methods and techniques.
To pass the exam, students have to gain a positive evaluation both on theories and methodological parts of the exam. Exam grade is given by the weighted average of marks achieved in each part.
No intermediate exams are held. Exam has to be taken on both parts in the same exam session and cannot be taken on single parts separately in different sessions.
Further information
During the lessons will be organized collective session of exercise. Teachers invite not attending students to take contacts as soon as possible.
Sustainable development goals - Agenda 2030