Современная социологическая теория

Магистратура 2020/2021

Лучший по критерию «Полезность курса для расширения кругозора и разностороннего развития»

Статус: Курс обязательный (Сравнительные социальные исследования / Comparative Social Research)

Направление: 39.04.01. Социология

Кто читает: Департамент социологии

Где читается: Факультет социальных наук

Когда читается: 1-й курс, 1 модуль

Формат изучения: без онлайн-курса

Преподаватели: Фрёлих Кристиан

Прогр. обучения: Сравнительные социальные исследования

Язык: английский

Кредиты: 5

Контактные часы: 32

Full Syllabus Ask Question

Abstract

The ability to compare effectively involves the ability to be clearheaded about what is to be compared. Questions regarding the “unit of analysis/comparison” are therefore at the center of any comparative endeavor in sociology and the social sciences more generally. These questions are approached in this course primarily from a meta-theoretical vantage point. Accordingly, we will focus not so much on “what is compared” as on “what sort of thing is compared” and on “how to go about comparing it.” This course is designed to be a broad orientation to the different methodologies featured in the program in International Master in Comparative Social Research. The goal at hand is to strengthen whatever weaknesses the course attendees may have on the topic and to improve their ability to become, down the road, intelligent about methodology as well as proficient.

Learning Objectives

to study seminal texts in comparative social research

Expected Learning Outcomes

understand basic principles of comparative social research

Course Contents

Introduction
The first session will introduce the main concepts of comparative political sociology and lay out the course plan and requirements from student participation. We will collect and discuss different forms of comparative social research and our understanding of it.
Two Programs of Comparative Social Research
The session discusses the works of Emile Durkheim and Max Weber as foundational classics of comparative social research. We will compare their main principles and differences in research designs and questions.
History of Empirical Cross-national Comparative Research
This session will introduce the main debates and direction in contemporary cross-national comparative research and ask about their potential for sociological theory development.
Central Issues of Comparative Social Analysis I
This session discusses two classical studies in comparative research dealing with the welfare state and capitalism and confronts them with contemporary criticism.
Conceptionalizing Types of Comparison
The session introduces Charles Tilly´s distinction between different types of comparison in social science. We will criticize and apply the concepts to various research questions.
Variables and Cases in Comparative Research Designs
This session discusses the main differences between case-oriented and variable-oriented research designs and discusses various forms of case selection in empirical studies.
Central Issues of Comparative Social Analysis II
This session discusses a classical comparative study dealing with different forms of democracy, but also introduces into current debates in comparative sociology.

Assessment Elements

position paper 1
class presentation
position paper 2
position paper 3
position paper 4
position paper 1
class presentation
position paper 2
position paper 3
position paper 4

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (1 module)
0.2 * class presentation + 0.2 * position paper 1 + 0.2 * position paper 2 + 0.2 * position paper 3 + 0.2 * position paper 4

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Blyton, P. (2001). The General and the Particular in Cross-National Comparative Research. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 50(4), 590–595. https://doi.org/10.1111/1464-0597.00074
Font, J., della Porta, D., & Sintomer, Y. (2012). Presentation. Methodological challenges in participation research. Revista Internacional de Sociología, (Extra_2), 9. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsdoj&AN=edsdoj.800e74344fc48fa94f8da80b7c6579b
Lijphart, A. (2011). Democratic Quality in Stable Democracies. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.A9BD1B40
Smelser, N. J. (1994). Sociological theories. International Social Science Journal, 46(139), 1. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=sih&AN=9504100912
Soskice, D. (2005). Varieties of Capitalism and Cross-National Gender Differences. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.CAFCCDD2
Tilly, C. (DE-588)121677117, (DE-576)163318476, 1929-2008. (2007). Democracy / Charles Tilly. Cambridge [u.a.]: Cambridge Univ. Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.263615383
Wiseman, A. W., & Popov, N. (2015). Comparative Science : Interdisciplinary Approaches (Vol. First edition). Bingley, England: Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=993133

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Crawford, B., & Lijphart, A. (1997). Liberalization and Leninist Legacies: Comparative Perspectives on Democratic Transitions. United States, North America: eScholarship, University of California. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.DB007F5
Hall, T. D. (2017). Comparing Globalizations : Historical and World-Systems Approaches. Cham: Springer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1636710
Iversen, T., & Soskice, D. (2005). Electoral institutions, parties, and the politics of class: Why some democracies redistribute more than others. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.65DCFAFA
Kucera, D. (2007). Qualitative Indicators of Labour Standards : Comparative Methods and Applications. Dordrecht: Springer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=196760
Rainer Bauböck, Donatella Della Porta, Ignacio Lago, & Camil Ungureanu. (2012). What methodological “wars” methodological pluralism? Revista Española de Ciencia Política, (29), 11. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsdoj&AN=edsdoj.2385852644e540ab804dd172189cabdd
Stroschein, S. (2004). From Contention to Coexistence in Local Politics: Mixed Cities in Central Europe. Conference Papers —— American Political Science Association, 1–34. https://doi.org/apsa_proceeding_29943.PDF
Tilly, C. (1998). Democratization. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edssch&AN=edssch.oai%3aescholarship.org%2fark%3a%2f13030%2fqt98t901j5

Course Syllabus