Sociology

MARIA GRAZIA GALANTINO

1. Knowledge and understanding. Students will develop knowledge of the essential concepts and topics of epistemological and methodological debate in social sciences, understanding the specificity of sociology and its traditions of empirical research
2. Applying knowledge and understanding. Students will be able to identify different theoretical and methodological streams and relate them to theories, approaches and research methods.
3. Making judgments. Students will develop the ability to critically assess and evaluate different research strategies and designs through readings, and critical analysis of sociological research.
Critical faculties should be developed through text reading and presenting well supported opinions
4. Communications skills. Students will develop analytic reading, writing, and speaking skills, including the ability to do oral presentations and participate in peer discussions.
5. Learning skills. Students will have the ability to autonomously search for relevant information, evaluate different sources and navigate through different research approaches, also in consideration of further studies on techniques for data collection and analysis.

1. Knowledge and understanding. Students will develop knowledge of the essential concepts and topics of epistemological and methodological debate in social sciences, understanding the specificity of sociology and its traditions of empirical research
2. Applying knowledge and understanding. Students will be able to identify different theoretical and methodological streams and relate them to theories, approaches and research methods.
3. Making judgments. Students will develop the ability to critically assess and evaluate different research strategies and designs through readings, and critical analysis of sociological research.
Critical faculties should be developed through text reading and presenting well supported opinions
4. Communications skills. Students will develop analytic reading, writing, and speaking skills, including the ability to do oral presentations and participate in peer discussions.
5. Learning skills. Students will have the ability to autonomously search for relevant information, evaluate different sources and navigate through different research approaches, also in consideration of further studies on techniques for data collection and analysis.

No requirements.

The course addresses epistemological approaches in social science contemporary debate e the relationship between theory and research. It covers the main paradigms that orient empirical knowledge of social reality, highlighting advantages and limits, differences and possible interactions. It illustrates research design in standard and non-standard approaches, discussing specificity and different levels of formalization and structure.
The knowledge of approaches, methods and language of social research will be acquired through the reconstruction of sociological researches, classical and contemporary, selected for their ability to offer useful didactic cues and to stimulate critical reflexivity.

Mandatory readings include:

1. Corbetta P., La ricerca sociale: metodologia e tecniche. Vol 1, I paradigmi di riferimento. Bologna, Il Mulino, 2003.

2. The following articles/book chapters:
- Cardano M. e Gariglio L. (2022) L’intervista discorsiva in ID. Metodi qualitativi. Roma, Carocci (cap. 4, pp. 97-121)
- Decataldo A. (2024) Il focus group in Fasanella A., Mauceri S. e Nobile S. Metodologia della ricerca sociale. (pp. 486-505) disponibile qui https://series.francoangeli.it/index.php/oa/catalog/view/1328/1455/7360
- Di Franco G., Introduzione alla sociologia empirica. Milano, Franco Angeli, 2020. (par. 3.2-3.6; 4-4.1, pp. 102-143)
- Piasere L. (2009), L’etnografia come esperienza in Cappelletto F., Vivere l’etnografia (pp. 65-95)

3. One of the followings books :

a. Becker Howard S. Outsiders. Saggi di sociologia della devianza. (ed or. 1943), tr. it., Meltemi, 2017 (oppure precedenti traduzioni/edizioni).
b. Durkheim, Émile. Il suicidio. Studio di sociologia. (ed. or. 1897), tr. it. BUR Biblioteca Univ. Rizzoli, 2014 (oppure altre edizioni/traduzioni).
c. Katz E. e Lazarsfeld, Paul F. L'influenza personale in comunicazione. (ed. or. 1955) Tr.It. Armando Editore, 2012
d. Putnam, Robert D. La tradizione civica nelle regioni italiane. (ed. or. 1993), tr. it. Milano, Mondadori, 1993 (oppure altre edizioni).
e. Whyte, William F. Street corner society. Uno slum italo-americano. (ed or. 1943) Tr. It. Bologna, Il Mulino, 2011.

The course includes different teaching instruments:
a) lectures about topics addressed in the course;
b) individual/small group activities, supervised by the professor, aimed at analysing objectives and methodology of one research selected by the students among those suggested for the course
c) individual/small group presentations of analysed research, involving peer discussion and feedback during classes.

The teaching methodology (inspired to flipped learning) aims to use class time for active didactic and collaborative learning. To the students is required, in addition to individual learning on textbooks, active participation in class expecially during small group activities and presentation/discussions.

The course includes ongoing and final assessments.
At the end of the first part of the course, students will have the opportunity to take 1) a written mid-term assessment.
At the end of the course there will be an oral interview on a text chosen from among those recommended.
The final grade will be determined by the average of the grades obtained in the two tests.

For students who do not participate in classroom activities, assessment will be based on an oral examination on all reference texts.