SOC-10012 - Module Specification
School of Social, Political and Global Studies
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2020/21

Researching British Society introduces you to the tradition of British Sociology from the post World War II period to the present day. Key topics, such as changes in family relationships, class structure, ethnic conflict, gender relations, and community integration are analysed through important texts which throw light on the issues under consideration, the historical shifts that have occurred, and the ways in which the discipline of sociology has understood them. The objective is to enable you to reflect on the ways that British society, like all societies, was and continues to be produced by particular social, political, economic and cultural constellations.
Why were these key studies done?
What was the social, economic and political background which framed them?
How did the social and economic conditions of the period alter?
What issues informed the politics of the time?
What influence did these key studies have on the world outside sociology?
The lectures will focus on:
Sociology in a changing world: Britain since the 1950's
Citizenship and the post-war state
The Affluent Worker in the Class Structure
Race, Community and Conflict
Gender and social structure: Housewife
Work, consumption and the new capitalism
Changing families, households and intimacies
Social inclusion, exclusion and social structure
The future of sociology
Formative Assessment and Tutorial Activities
Tutorials are used to develop students' skills and through a range of structured activities provide them with opportunities to assess their weaknesses and develop their strengths. The class activities will include elements such as: demonstration of successful literature search; production of a bibliography; group presentations of review and critiques of articles; short quizzes testing knowledge of readings.

To develop students understanding of how society is structured
To increase students appreciation of the post WW2 development of sociology as a discipline
To enable students to see how the changing social, political and economic environment shapes individual experiences and lifestyles and generates new sociological research questions
To encourage students to engage with texts and begin to develop university level reading skills

Intended Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate an appreciation of the significance of key sociological studies, including an ability to demonstrate a comprehension of their influence in the discipline of sociology: 1
Show competence in reading texts, incorporating the ability to demonstrate a comprehension of the connection between their time and place location and their sociological content: 1
Show an appreciation of how the production of sociological knowledge in particular substantive areas relies on researchers¿ engagement with methodological debates: 1

Study hours

10 hours lectures
10 hours seminars
60 hours preparatory work for lectures and seminars to include reading required for lectures (30 hours), additional preparatory reading for seminars (c15 hours), preparation of reports for seminars (c15 hours).
25 hours assessment preparation to include reading of books, articles and notes (c20 hours) and preparing group presentation (c5 hours)
45 hours assessment preparation to include reading (c30 hours), drafting essay (c13 hours), and completing essay (c2 hours)

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment