To introduce students to some of the major theories and perspectives on how social life can be studied and understood   To encourage reflection on the ways in which sociologists seek to approach studies of phenomena, with particular reference to the major philosophical underpinnings of social science relative to knowledge production. To give students an appreciation of the ways in which sociologists use theories as a way to support empirical inquiry. To encourage students towards a critical approach to knowledge production and to the distinctive contribution sociology makes therein.

(LO1) An ability to evaluate the contribution of a range of influential thinkers and perspectives on the organisation of social action and social structure.

(LO2) Familiarity with major traditions within the philosophy of social science, and the position of key thinkers therein.

(LO3) A capacity to problematise taken-for-granted accounts of knowledge (relative to both ‘everyday’ and ‘scientific’ understandings).

(LO4) An appreciation of the relationship between theory and method in the context of some of the major classic and contemporary sociological accounts

(S1) Critical thinking and problem solving - Creative thinking

(S2) Critical thinking and problem solving - Synthesis

(S3) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

The syllabus is informed by a desire to develop a flexible approach to teaching and learning the major epistemological and ontological debates that have characterised sociology’s claims to knowledge of the social world. Embedding these discussions in classic and contemporary sociological studies of themes/social phenomena is designed to allow the interdependence of theory, method and the wider politics of knowledge production to be drawn out ‘in situ’. Organised around an appreciation of the contributions that theoretically-informed, empirically-grounded sociological studies can make to our understanding of social worlds, the module is designed to present sociological theories and research in an engaging, dynamic format that encourages students to apply frameworks and perspectives to social issues. The teaching programme is organised around engagement with the major conceptual frameworks that have characteristic of sociological research relative to a number of k ey themes (Culture and Economy; Gender and Power; Identity and Risk; Knowledge of the Social). These themes are used to organise the sociological contributions to our understanding of major features of modern social landscapes, and allow for a ‘way into’ discussion of key thinkers (Adorno, Benjamin and Critical Theory; Simmel; Bourdieu; Wacquant; Skeggs/ Spivak; Berlant; Butler; Haraway/Beck; Bauman; Giddens; Foucault/Derrida; Deleuze; Lynch; Latour) and their respective approaches to the production of ‘social scientific’ knowledge.

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
Description: Hybrid - asynchronous pre-recorded lectures
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided
Notes: The lectures will be relatively formal, didactic and tutor led. Lectures are designed to provide you with a firm grounding and to provide you with a compass to explore further independently.

Teaching Method 2 - Seminar
Description: Face to face synchronous seminars, safety permitting
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: The seminars will be informal and student led. In the seminars the topics of the lecture will be discussed and debated by the group and students are expected to come to seminars having prepared thoroughly. All students should read the appropriate lecture notes, articles and chapters to prepare for the seminar and to engage in the seminar tasks that your tutor will facilitate.