Sociological Methodology and Research

2026/2027

Учебный год

ENG

Обучение ведется на английском языке

3

Кредиты

Кто читает:

Департамент социологии

Статус:

Курс по выбору

Когда читается:

1-й курс, 4 модуль

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Sociological Methodology and Research is a one module course for the MA students from diverse academic backgrounds. The knowledge and skills obtained during the course can help students to better understand how to integrate sociological conceptual ideas for understanding society with research methodology to generate evidence-based knowledge. Throughout the course, students deal with questions relating to the nature of sociology, its methodology and various research methods sociologists use, major theoretical perspectives, examples of empirical studies and critical evaluation of them.

Learning Objectives

• Throughout the course, students deal with questions relating to the nature of sociology; the methodology and methods which sociologists use; and the major sociological perspectives. The classical foundations of sociological theory, beginning with the works of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim, are discussed and followed by those sociologists of the 20th century who had some effect on how we think about and do sociology.  The course is designed to • broaden and deepen students' engagement with theory and empirical research in sociology • develop skills of reading, understanding, and critically discussing different sociological theories • integrate theorizing with empirical research for exploration of the ways different theories, methods and evidence can shape our understanding of events and phenomena • develop analytical essay writing skills.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Able to define and apply sociological concepts and theories to analyse social phenomena of contemporary society
• to develop students’ understanding of what it is to think like a sociologist with specific focus on the issues of theoretical conceptualisation and research methodology
• to make students familiar with sociological concepts and theories and to challenge commonsense perceptions and understandings on contemporary social issues

Course Contents

• Introduction The sociologic approach to human behaviour
• Three epistemological approaches in sociology
• Ontological debates
• Materialist and conflict approach to social process (Marx)
• ‘Sociologism’ as a way of thinking (Durkheim)
• Social action and ‘Verstehen’ approach in sociology (Weber)
• Social construction of reality
• Sociology of G.Simmel - content and forms of social interaction

Assessment Elements

• Class participation
• Mid-term exam
• Exam

Interim Assessment

• 2026/2027 4th module
  0.21 * Class participation + 0.29 * Mid-term exam + 0.5 * Exam

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• A companion to Marx's Capital, Harvey, D., 2010
• A companion to Marx's Capital. Volume 2, Harvey, D., 2013
• A dictionary of sociology, , 2009
• A history of classical sociology, , 1989
• A short history of sociology, Johnson, H. M., 2007
• 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
• Classical sociological theory, Ritzer, G., 2004
• 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
• Dillon, M. Introduction to Sociological Theory: Theorists, Concepts, and Their Applicability to the Twenty-First Century. (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009) first edition. http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hselibrary-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1566387
• Harvey, D. (2014). Seventeen Contradictions and the End of Capitalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=752620
• Sociology, Giddens, A., 2015
• Sociology, Giddens, A., 2017
• The limits to capital, Harvey, D., 2006
• The social construction of reality : a treatise in the sociology of knowledge, Berger, P. L., 1991

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Bauman, Z. and May, T. Thinking Sociologically, John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2001. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hselibrary-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1811104
• Giddens, A., & Sutton, P. W. (2014). Essential Concepts in Sociology. Cambridge: Polity. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1101348

Authors

• Kuzina Olga Evgenevna