Bachelor 2021/2022

Sociological Theory

Category 'Best Course for Career Development'

Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'

Category 'Best Course for New Knowledge and Skills'

Type: Compulsory course (Sociology and Social Informatics)

Area of studies: Sociology

Delivered by: Department of Sociology

Where: Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences

When: 2 year, 1, 2 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Daniil A. Alexandrov, Natalya V. Pecherskaya, Ksenia Tenisheva

Language: English

ECTS credits: 6

Contact hours: 56

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course introduces students to two main aspects of sociological theory: theory as a special way of thinking, and social theory as a tool for solving certain sociological problems. Classes focus on two fundamental issues: How is the society possible (what is the nature of social)? How is the knowledge about the social possible? The logic of the course and its structure are defined by the variety of answers for the questions about the conditions of formation, maintaining and reconfiguration/ destruction of the samples of social organization, and about the possible ways to analyze these processes suggested by sociology. We start from the very basic elements of explanation of social action and then proceed to understanding the nature of causal explanations in social science.

Learning Objectives

• understand the complexity of social systems and gain ability of critical thinking on social issues in light of the key concepts underlying major sociological theories

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Ability to use sociological theory for development of sociological research design, be able to differentiate social actions and social behavior, explain social actions through social mechanisms, understand the link between micro-actions and macro-outcomes, generate simple middle-range theories, develop academic skills in reading, writing, and presentation.

Course Contents

• Introduction. Social Facts.
• Nature of social explanation. Theories of the middle range
• Process of instantiation. Concepts and nomological networks
• Thought experiments in social science. The nature of relationships
• Causal relations. Defining causality
• Developing causal diagrams from scratch
• Role of emotions in (rational) choice
• Nature and role of beliefs
• Preferences (desires)
• Opportunity structure
• Social norms

Assessment Elements

• Activities in class
• Hometasks
• Tests
• Final exam 2nd year
• Midterm exam

Interim Assessment

• 2021/2022 1st module
  0.3 * Tests + 0.3 * Midterm exam + 0.3 * Hometasks + 0.1 * Activities in class
• 2021/2022 2nd module
  0.2 * Final exam 2nd year + 0.1 * Activities in class + 0.3 * Tests + 0.1 * 2021/2022 1st module + 0.3 * Hometasks

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Manzo, G. (2014). Analytical Sociology : Actions and Networks. Hoboken: Wiley. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=714658

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Abrutyn, S. (2016). Handbook of Contemporary Sociological Theory. Switzerland: Springer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1251393
• Segre, S. (2014). Contemporary Sociological Thinkers and Theories. Farnham, Surrey: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=797017
• Sloman, S. A. (2005). Causal Models : How People Think About the World and Its Alternatives. Oxford: Oxford University Press, USA. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=552942