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SOC325: Understanding Contemporary Societies
Early sociologists, such as Weber and Durkheim, argued that emergence of modern society differed from its predecessors because it was no longer structured around community or tradition. New forms of research and knowledge were necessary to understand contemporary social life. This unit revisits these ideas and examines the ways in which social research is undertaken, with a particular focus on studies of the way that tradition might still linger on in modernity. Linking discussions of theory and data with research and development of writing and reporting skills, the unit also examines the contribution that sociology can make to a range of contemporary social phenomena such as the internet and virtual reality; and the impact of social policy and economic change on the lives of individuals and their social relationships. Critical attention is also be paid to recent contributions of sociology to public life, such as the concepts of risk society, social capital, and network analysis. Reading the texts of contemporary social theorists and empirical studies form key aspects of the unit.
| Credit Points: | 3 |
| Contact Hours: | 3 |
| When Offered: | D2 - Day; Offered in the second half-year |
| Staff Contact(s): | Professor John Lechte |
| Prerequisites: |
30cp |
| Corequisites: | |
| NCCW(s): | SOC375 |
| Unit Designation(s): | |
| Assessed As: | Graded |
| Offered By: | Department of Sociology |
Timetable Information
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