Undergraduate Course: Sociology 2b: Researching Social Life (SCIL08013)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | In this course we introduce the various ways that sociologists do the research that lies behind most sociological ideas. In other words, we look critically at the various ways sociological evidence can be produced. We do this in the context of in-depth study of some key areas of sociological interest such as health and illness, nationalism and national identities, and globalization. The course will deepen students' understanding of these topics while at the same time using them to exemplify how sociologists do research and the key concepts and debates that relate to this research process. As well as helping students to prepare for doing their own research at Honours level, the course will also help them evaluate evidence they encounter in non-academic sources such as politics and the media.
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| Course description |
Week 1: Introduction
The first two lectures introduce the course and key issues and debates in sociological research: the purpose and nature of sociological evidence, and how the quality of this evidence might be evaluated; how sociological research and evidence relates to sociological theory; the importance and nature of research questions; different types of research evidence and methods for producing this evidence; key issues in the design of sociological research; and the ethical practice of research.
Unit 1 (Weeks 2-4): Researching Health and Illness
This unit introduces Health and Illness as a topic of sociological interest and uses examples drawn from this area to extend students¿ understanding of key issues in research design, methods and ethics.
Unit 2 (Weeks 5-6): Researching Nationalism and National Identities
This unit introduces Nationalism and National Identities as a topic of sociological interest and uses examples drawn from this area to extend students¿ understanding of key issues in research design, methods and ethics.
Unit 3 (Weeks 7-10): Researching the Global
This unit examines sociological issues and research from a global perspective. As well as further consolidating knowledge of key issues in research design, methods and ethics, in order to prepare students for presenting the research proposal in their final assessment, this unit includes guidance on writing research proposals and examples of how to search effectively for literature, media content and statistical data to contextualise research on global issues.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2014/15, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
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Lecture Hours 22,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
163 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
50%: 2000 word essay critically discussing a particular body of research related to one or more of the sociological topics from the first two units of the course. This will also provide formative feedback to help students prepare for the final assessment.
50% : 2000 word research proposal based on a global issue or phenomenon. Students will be given guidance on how to write a proposal and how to inform their proposal through finding and researching relevant information from, e.g. academic research, the media, and statistical sources. They will have a choice of research topic to be investigated within a common set of resource parameters set by the teaching staff.
Students need to achieve an overall course grade of at least 50% in order to progress to Honours in Sociology. NOTE: in order to progress to Honours in Sociology students should have also normally passed Sociology 2A with an overall course grade of at least 50% AND passed BOTH Sociology 1A and 1B.
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course students will:
- Understand the purpose and value of sociological research in relation to both academic knowledge and public issues and policies
- Understand and be able to participate in key debates in sociological research about design, method and ethics
- Know the range of research approaches and methods that can be applied to an issue or problem, and their strengths and weaknesses
- Have learned how knowledge and debates about key sociological topics are informed by research taking a variety of forms
- Understand how the research process and evidence yielded through that process might be related to local, national and global contexts
- Be able to find and evaluate research evidence in relation to specific topics or problems
- Be able to discuss and design solutions to research problems
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Reading List
Blaikie, Norman (2009) Designing Social Research, Polity
Bryman, Alan (2012) Social Research Methods (4e), OUP
Gilbert, Nigel (ed.) (2008) Researching Social Life, Sage
Grix, Jonathan (2010) The Foundations of Research, Palgrave
Moses, Jonathon & Torbjorn Knutsen (2012) Ways of Knowing, Palgrave
Robson, Colin (2011) Real World Research, Wiley
Seale, Clive (ed.) (2012) Researching Society and Culture (3e), Sage
Bechhofer, Frank and David McCrone (eds.) (2009) National Identity, Nationalism and Constitutional Change
Billig, Michael (1995) Banal Nationalism, Sage
Edensor, Tim (2002) National Identity, Popular Culture and Everyday Life, Berg
Skey, Michael (2011) National Belonging and Everyday Life, Palgrave
Appadurai, Arjun (ed.) (2001) Globalization, Duke UP
Perrons, Diane (2004) Globalisation and Social Change, Routledge
Ray, Larry (2007) Globalization and Everyday Life, Routledge
Sassen, Saskia (2007) A Sociology of Globalization, Norton
Savage, Mike et al (2005) Globalization and Belonging, SAGE
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Ross Bond
Tel: (0131 6)50 3919
Email: R.J.Bond@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Elaine Khennouf
Tel: (0131 6)51 1480
Email: Elaine.Khennouf@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2014 The University of Edinburgh - 12 January 2015 4:46 am
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