Sociology

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.

No requirements.

The exams will be on three mandatory readings: 1. Corbetta P., La ricerca sociale: metodologia e tecniche. Vol 1, I paradigmi di riferimento. Bologna, Il Mulino, 2003. 2. Di Franco G., Introduzione alla sociologia empirica. Metodo e tecniche della ricerca sociale. Milano, Franco Angeli, 2020. (capp da 1 a 4) 3. One of the followings : 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. Inglehart, Ronald. La società postmoderna. Mutamento ideologia e valori in 43 paesi,tr. it. 1998, Editori Riuniti (capp. I-V e Appendici). d. Katz E. e Lazarsfeld, Paul F. L'influenza personale in comunicazione. (ed. or. 1955) Tr.It. Armando Editore, 2012 e. Putnam, Robert D. La tradizione civica nelle regioni italiane. (ed. or. 1993), tr. it. Milano, Mondadori, 1993 (oppure altre edizioni). f. Whyte, William F. Street corner society. Uno slum italo-americano. (ed or. 1943) Tr. It. Bologna, Il Mulino, 2011 (Parte prima e Appendice OPPURE Parte seconda e Appendice).

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.

At the end of the course, students are supposed to do: 1) one written test; 2) one written essya that synthesize and systematizes individual/group activities carried out during the year, to be discussed in a oral colloquium. Final marks will be the average between the two. Students non participating in class will be evaluated trough an oral exam.

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 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.

No specific requirements.

Textbooks: 1. Corbetta P., La ricerca sociale: metodologia e tecniche. Vol 1, I paradigmi di riferimento Bologna, Il Mulino, 2003. (mandatory) 2. 2. Di Franco G., Introduzione alla sociologia empirica. Metodo e tecniche della ricerca sociale. Milano, Franco Angeli, 2020. (capp da 1 a 4) 3. One book selected among the following ones: 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. Goffman E, La vita quotidiana come rappresentazione (ed. or. 1959), tr. It. Bologna, Il Mulino, 1997. e. Merton R.K., Social theory and social structure (ed. or. 1949); tr.it. Teoria e struttura sociale. Vol. 1: Teoria sociologica, Bologna, Il Mulino 2000. f. Adorno T.et al, The authoritarian personality, (ed. or. 1950); tr.it. La personalità autoritaria, 4 voll, Milano, Comunità 1997.

The course includes different teaching instruments: a) lectures about topics addressed in the course; b) individual/small group activities, lead by the professor, to analyze objectives and methodology of a research selected by the students among those suggested for the course; c) individual/small group activities aimed at the presentation during classes of researches (or parts of), peer discussion and feedback. 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 specially during small group activities and presentation/discussions. Attending students will be able to carry out didactic exercises to monitor preparation levels.

Attendance not mandatory but strongly recommended

At the end of the course, students are supposed to do: 1) one written essay discussing topics addressed in the course; 2) one oral presentation that synthesize and systematizes individual/group activities carried out during the year. Final marks will be the average between the two. Students non participating in class will be evaluated through an oral colloquium based on textbooks. The oral is expected only after the teacher required to resolve doubts about the script compilation.

The course includes different teaching instruments: a) lectures about topics addressed in the course; b) individual/small group activities, lead by the professor, to analyze objectives and methodology of a research selected by the students among those suggested for the course; c) individual/small group activities aimed at the presentation during classes of researches (or parts of), peer discussion and feedback. 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 specially during small group activities and presentation/discussions. Attending students will be able to carry out didactic exercises to monitor preparation levels.