THEORY AND METHODS OF SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH

The class has the explicit goal of providing students with the main theoretical and empirical foundations of sociology. Therefore, it will be provided an overview of the classics of sociology as well as fundamental contemporary theories. Going in depth through the theoretical frame it will be asked the reading and comment of a classic of sociology (as explained below). In order to complete the construction of above theoretical frame the most important American and European theories on collective action will be studied, as to provide students with a critical and in-depth framework on collective phenomena. Moreover, the class aims at training students to the methods and techniques of sociological research, making use of the research approach of who continually throwing doubt on the validity and reliability of the object to explain social phenomena; a good knowledge of methods and tools for social research will therefore be essential to learn the construction of the research design, in both standard and non-standard approach.

The monographic section focuses on theoretical and empirical approaches on social movements: starting from the conceptualization of the object up exemplifying the various possible research routes.

The course will be divided into lectures and a series of seminar meetings on the main topics of the program. It will be also scheduled ongoing evaluations.

If teaching is given in a mixed or remote mode, the necessary changes may be introduced with respect to what was previously stated, in order to respect the program reported in the syllabus.

INSTITUTIONAL SECTION: 1) What is society?; Individual and collective social actors, and identity; Social structures: institution and organization. 2) The relationship between theory and research; Emile Durkheim; Georg Simmel; Karl Marx; Max Weber; The symbolic interactionism; The theories of social action. 3) Reading of a classic of sociology (see texts below). 4) Aspects and functions of sociological research; Developing research questions; Comparing quantitative and qualitative methods; The sampling; The interview; Questionnaire and survey. MONOGRAPHIC SECTION: 4) Defining social movements; Conceptualization dilemmas; The Italian empirical research.

Titles translated from the Italian editions, not edited in English language.

1) Crespi F., The sociological thought, il Mulino, 2002, Bologna, pp. 9-76; 89-110; 159-167; 195-229; 265-277.

2) To choose among the list published on Studium (see file Classics Sociology - reference texts 2020-21).

4) Daher L.M., Notes on sociological research methods (pamphlet on line), pp. 3-24, and Marradi A., Metodology of social sciences, il Mulino, 2007, Bologna, pp. 79-204.

4) Daher L.M., Doing research on social movements in Italy. Past, present and future, FrancoAngeli, 2012, Milano.