METHODOLOGY AND TECHNIQUE OF SOCIAL RESEARCH

Course objectives

Learning goals Capabilities of designing and running a social research. Knowledge and understanding Capability of analyzing social phenomena through middle range theories. Applying knowledge and understanding Capability of choosing techniques for detection, processing, and analysis more suitable to studied phenomena, at the macro, meso, and micro level. Making judgements Capability of research planning, organizing, and self-assessing. Communication skills Capability of team working and appropriately interacting in a multidisciplinary statistical-sociological team. Learning skills Capability of autonomous search of statistical, web, and bibliographical sources, necessary for doing research.

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RAFFAELLA GALLO Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
1. The logic of social research: paradigms of social research; comparison between quantitative and qualitative research. 2. Quantitative techniques in social research: theory and hypotheses; concepts and variables; indicators and indices; causality and experimentation; survey research and questionnaire design; scaling techniques; sampling. 3. Introduction to qualitative techniques in social research and the use of documents. 4. Data analysis with applications in Excel. 5. New frontiers in social research.
Prerequisites
No prerequisites required.
Books
For attending and non-attending students Textbook: Piergiorgio Corbetta, Metodologia e tecniche della ricerca sociale, il Mulino, Bologna, u.e. Additional materials: Lecture notes provided by the professor.
Frequency
Teaching is delivered exclusively in person. Attendance is not compulsory.
Exam mode
The assessment consists of an oral examination, during which students will be asked questions on at least two major topics from the course programme. To pass the exam, a minimum grade of 18/30 is required. During the oral examination, students must demonstrate at least a sufficient knowledge of the selected topics and an adequate command of the specific disciplinary language.
Lesson mode
The course combines lectures with practical sessions (laboratory activities) and group work, aimed at strengthening students’ ability to apply the knowledge acquired.
  • Lesson code1023208
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseStatistics, Economics, and Social Sciences
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year3rd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDSPS/07
  • CFU6