TEORIA E METODI DELLA RICERCA SOCIOLOGICA

The main objective of the course is to provide students with the fundamental theoretical and empirical foundations of sociology. It therefore aims to offer an overview of the classics of sociology and some of the main contemporary sociological theories, as well as to educate students on the main methods and techniques of sociological research. The following learning outcomes are expected to be achieved:

1) Knowledge and understanding: demonstrate knowledge and understanding that extend and/or strengthen those already acquired in the first cycle, with the aim of developing and/or applying original ideas within a process of speculative and/or applied research.

2)Applying knowledge and understanding: be able to employ one’s knowledge, understanding and skills in solving problems in unfamiliar and/or unusual contexts, including in interdisciplinary contexts.

3) Making judgements: be able to integrate knowledge in order to manage complexity and to formulate judgements even on the basis of limited or incomplete information, including reflection on social, scientific or ethical responsibilities connected with the application of one’s knowledge and judgements.

4) Communication skills: acquire the ability to communicate one’s conclusions clearly and unambiguously, as well as the knowledge and rationale underlying them, to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

5) Learning skills: develop learning skills that enable a self-directed or autonomous course of study.

The course will consist of lectures and a series of seminar meetings (not compulsory) on the main topics covered in the programme.

No prerequisites are requested.

Attendance is not compulsory.

INSTITUTIONAL SECTION:

1) The relationship between theory and research; Émile Durkheim; Karl Marx; Max Weber; Georg Simmel; Talcott Parsons; Symbolic interactionism; Interpreters of contemporary society I (Pierre Bourdieu, Raymond Boudon, Anthony Giddens);

2) Methodological aspects and functions of sociological research; Identification and formulation of the problem; Quantitative techniques and qualitative techniques compared; Sampling; The interview; The questionnaire in sample surveys; Standard and non-standard approaches to science; The data matrix and its rows: population and sample; The columns of the matrix: from properties to variables; Classification, counting, measurement and scaling; Indicators, validity and index construction; The relationship between variables.

MONOGRAPHIC SECTION:

3) Defining the social movement; Conceptualisation dilemmas; Empirical research in Italy: The post-1968 period, from the 1980s to the present day, The “movement of movements”; Conclusions: what future?

4) Reading of a classic work of sociology of one’s choice (see the indications regarding the reference texts).

1) Coser L.A., Masters of sociological thought. Ideas in historical and social contexts. New York: Hartcourt 1971.

2) Bryman A., Social research methods, Oxford: Oxford University Press 2012.

3) Staggenborg S., Social movements, New York: Oxford University Press 2016.

4)  Simmel G, Fashion, The American Journal of Sociology, Volume LXII, 6, 1957.

The examination consists of a mid-course test (halfway through the course), a written test (at the end of the course) and an oral examination (during the examination session chosen by the student).

Mid-course test: it covers the volume Crespi F., Cerulo M., Il pensiero sociologico, il Mulino, 2022, Bologna, pp. 13–73; 87–105; 193–209; 231–239. The test consists of three open-ended questions (maximum one page/5,000 characters) and lasts two hours. The test is assessed out of thirty.

Written test – it covers the course notes Daher L.M., Appunti di metodologia della ricerca sociologica, 2015, pp. 3–24, Marradi A., Metodologia delle scienze sociali, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2007, pp. 79–204 (15 questions) and Daher L.M., Fare ricerca sui movimenti sociali. Passato, presente e futuro, FrancoAngeli, 2012, Milano (15 questions). The test consists of 30 multiple-choice questions and lasts 1 hour. The test is assessed out of thirty.

Both the mid-course test and the written test will be carried out through the Exams platform (https://exam.net/it/), in person, in the lecture room.

Validity of the written tests. The marks obtained in the two written tests are valid for one academic year.

Oral examination: it covers a classic work of sociology chosen from among those indicated in the reference texts. The oral examination is assessed out of thirty.

Determination of the final mark. The final mark is determined by the arithmetic mean of the three marks obtained: the mark of the first written test, the mark of the second written test and the mark of the oral examination.

The overall assessment will take into account knowledge and mastery of the contents, the ability to understand and make connections between the different topics, and the ability to use sociological concepts and categories appropriately. For the oral examination, the ability to argue, clarity of presentation and appropriate use of disciplinary language will also be taken into consideration.

CRITERIA FOR THE AWARD OF THE FINAL MARK

• Examination not passed: insufficient knowledge of the fundamental contents of the course and difficulty in using the main sociological concepts.

• 18–21: minimal and sufficiently adequate knowledge of the contents; basic ability to understand and make connections between topics; sufficiently clear presentation.

• 22–25: fair knowledge of the contents; adequate ability to understand, analyse and make connections between the main topics; reasonably clear presentation and overall appropriate use of disciplinary language.

• 26–28: good knowledge and understanding of the contents; good ability to analyse, make connections and apply sociological concepts; clear presentation and appropriate use of disciplinary language.

• 29–30 with honours: in-depth and complete knowledge of the contents; high ability to critically analyse, make connections and independently rework the topics; full mastery of sociological concepts and rigorous and appropriate presentation.

Assessment of learning may also be carried out online, should circumstances so require.

In order to guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with current legislation, interested students may request an individual meeting in order to arrange any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, according to the learning objectives and specific needs. Students may also contact the CInAP contact lecturer (Centre for Active and Participatory Integration — Services for Disabilities and/or Specific Learning Disorders) of their Department (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).

Examples of questions

- According to Blumer, the notion of interpretative interaction tends to:

a. make people equal;

b. make people different;

c. create the image of the group.

- Simon distinguishes the concept of rationality into:

a. simple and complex;

b. substantive and procedural;

c. economic and social.

- What does Durkheim mean by “social morphology”?

a. A series of elements connected to the space in which society was structured;

b. A series of elements connected to the individual persons who make up society;

c. A series of elements connected to time.

- The interview aims to:

a. Investigate emotions;

b. Assess abilities;

c. Detect situations, behaviours, attitudes and opinions.

- What did school represent for Marx in bourgeois society?

a. The expression of the ideologies of the ruling classes and it had no other function than to reproduce the established order;

b. The place par excellence in which it was possible to achieve a critical reworking of traditional culture;

c. The place in which meanings are reproduced.