Applied Research on Inequalities: Race, Gender, Migration and Ethnicity

Postgraduate course 2018/2019

Type: Elective course

Area of studies: Sociology

Delivered by: Department of Sociology

When: 2 year, 1 semester

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: Veronika Kostenko

Language: English

ECTS credits: 4

Contact hours: 28

Full Syllabus

Abstract

This course is designed as a hands-on course where PhD students are supposed to learn how to study inequalities of various sources in comparative perspective. We’ll work on operationalization of the terms finding proper indicators for measuring some vague and controversial concepts such as race, ethnicity, religiosity etc. This course is designed to teach how to use the best statistical and methodological practices for inequality research which is often done in qualitative fashion, whereas quantitative sociologists and political scientists are often underestimating many of these issues. The focus of this course is predominantly empirical; however, some readings are also needed. The basic competence in statistics (such as sampling principles, scaling, and basic regression models) is the only prerequisite for the course, R is preferable software. The workload of the course includes mandatory participation and preparation for in-class discussions, use of open datasets for analyzing the effects of inequalities in cross-country perspective, and an individual project in essay form that could be developed into a journal article.

Learning Objectives

This course is designed to teach how to use the best statistical and methodological practices for inequality research which is often done in qualitative fashion, whereas quantitative sociologists and political scientists are often underestimating many of these issues.

Expected Learning Outcomes

To operationalize theoretical concepts of race, ethnicity, religiosity, etc, and associate them with certain predictors in the data.
Being able to access the results of modeling and interpret them sociologically.
To conduct multivariate data analysis fitting race, migration, religion and gender in statistical models.

Course Contents

Тема 2
Inevitability of gender and making sense of it in cross-country comparative research.
Тема 1.
Introduction. Studying small and vulnerable groups using large datasets: limitations of analysis and ways of overcoming. How do we discuss the issues of inequality and how it results in operationalization of terms.
Тема 3
Race vs ethnicity. European and American ways of thinking about the problem.
Тема 4
Mid-term presentation of models and statistical results for the individual project.
Тема 6
Social class and income inequality
Тема 5
Religiosity, religion, and migration
Тема 7
Intersectionality. Health and class, gender issues in migrant communities, race and imprisonment rate, and other overlaps.

Assessment Elements

Presentations
In-class Participation
Essay

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (1 semester)
0.5 * Essay + 0.25 * In-class Participation + 0.25 * Presentations

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Arrighi, B. A., Pollitt, K., Nonn, T., Rogers, M. F., Reay, D., Mill, J. S., … Estrich, S. (2007). Understanding Inequality : The Intersection of Race/Ethnicity, Class, and Gender (Vol. 2nd ed). Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=632280

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Dillon, M. (2014). Introduction to Sociological Theory : Theorists, Concepts, and Their Applicability to the Twenty-First Century (Vol. Second edition). Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=667235
Maruyama, G., & Ryan, C. S. (2014). Research Methods in Social Relations (Vol. 8th ed). Malden, Mass: Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=798826
Wellington, J. J., & Szczerbiński, M. (2007). Research Methods for the Social Sciences. London: Continuum. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=368537

Course Syllabus