Postgraduate Seminar by Vlada Mikhaleva and Georgy Sharov

Dear colleagues, We invite you to participate in the postgraduate seminar of second-year postgraduate students of the International Laboratory for Social Integration Research, Vlada Mikhaleva and Georgy Sharov. The seminar is held as part of the seminar program of the International Laboratory for Social Integration Research.

Vlada Mikhaleva, topic: “Folk Metaethical Objectivism: Theoretical and Methodological Foundations of Measurement” — 6:00 PM (18:00)

Abstract of Vlada Mikhaleva’s presentation:

The problem of people's judgments about the nature of morality dates back to research on folk metaethical claims. These are understood as the beliefs of "non-specialists" regarding whether moral judgments, in general, can possess the property of correctness or incorrectness, truth or falsity. Most often, researchers attempt to measure people’s tendency toward metaethical objectivism (or realism). Objectivism assumes that "the domain of morality is based on universal and fundamental facts that exist (to a significant extent) independently of people’s beliefs, preferences, attitudes, norms, or conventions" (Wright, Grandjean & McWhite, 2013). Despite the relatively entrenched approach to measuring folk metaethical beliefs, there are methodological concerns regarding its reliability and validity (Moss, 2017). This, in particular, casts doubt on previously obtained results. Moreover, in recent years, studies have emerged (Pölzler, 2017; Colebrook, 2021) indicating that an individual’s position on the objectivity of morality is context-dependent — that is, it varies depending on the context in which the person is situated. This further underscores the necessity of revising, refining, and possibly reconstructing existing measurement tools. The seminar is dedicated to discussing a project from a Candidate’s thesis, within which a methodology for measuring the tendency toward everyday metaethical objectivism is being developed. During the seminar, the theoretical and methodological foundations of the research will be presented.

Scientific supervisor:

Andrey V. Bykov — Candidate of Sociological Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Social Institutions Analysis, HSE University Faculty of Social Sciences, Leading Researcher at the International Laboratory for Social Integration Research, HSE University

Discussant:

Maxim Yuryevich Gurin — Lecturer at the Department of Methods for Collecting and Analyzing Sociological Information, HSE University Faculty of Social Sciences, PhD student and Research Fellow at the International Laboratory for Social Integration Research, HSE University

Georgy Sharov, topic: “Exploring the Attractiveness of Peripheral Districts in Moscow: Field Stage Review” — 7:00 PM (19:00)

Abstract of Georgy Sharov’s presentation:

The seminar will discuss an overview of the fieldwork conducted to study the attractiveness of Moscow's peripheral districts. Moscow's cultural and social life is characterized by a high degree of centralization. Peripheral districts are considered "bedroom" areas and lack symbolic capital, making them unattractive places to live. The seminar will offer a conceptualization of attractiveness within a theoretical framework based on Pierre Bourdieu's sociology of space and his understanding of capital. It will also present methods for analyzing interviews conducted during the fieldwork phase.

Scientific supervisor:

Elena R. Iarskaia-Smirnova — Doctor of Sociological Sciences, PhD, Professor, Head of the International Laboratory for Social Integration Research at the HSE University

Discussant:

Sofia Makarevich

For reporting purposes to our university, we need to compile a list of event participants. Therefore, we kindly ask you to fill out this form (https://forms.yandex.ru/u/693303104936392ef87671f2) in either Russian or English, whichever is convenient for you. Thank you!