Understanding Social Inequalities
| Module title | Understanding Social Inequalities |
|---|---|
| Module code | SOC2021 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Chris Playford (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
|---|
Module description
The study of social inequalities is a central focus of sociological enquiry. Experiences in childhood, educational attainment, continuation in post-compulsory education, entry to the labour market, and occupational transition all vary by social class, ethnicity and gender. This module provides you with an overview of the empirical evidence in the field of social inequalities with the objective of developing your skills in understanding and critiquing applied research. This module is recommended for students who seek to understand better how applied quantitative sociological research contributes to current debates around social stratification and social mobility. The pre-requisites for this module are POL1008/SOC1004, POL/SOC1041, and SOC2077.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module provides a bridge between quantitative methods techniques, sociological theories and applied social research. You will develop your abilities to read, understand and evaluate applied social research in the field of social inequalities. This will reinforce the skills you have learnt as part of your quantitative methods training and develop your critical understanding of published research. Furthermore, you will develop a deeper understanding of the challenges of researching social inequalities and the claims made by politicians, government agencies and third-sector research. You will also develop your skills at synthesizing quantitative research and assessing sociological theories using empirical research.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. List, describe and demonstrate a detailed understanding of the key concepts associated with social inequalities
- 2. Identify appropriate empirical evidence that can be used to test claims about social inequalities made by theorists, politicians and commentators
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Identify and critically discuss the major sociological concepts and deploy them in appropriate circumstances.
- 4. Use statistical evidence to empirically evaluate the (relative) validity of sociological theories and hypotheses
- 5. Use logic and reasoning to evaluate arguments
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Communicate effectively in speech and writing
- 7. Appropriately use ICT
- 8. Research & critically evaluate information and apply techniques and theories in appropriate contexts
- 9. Design and run group presentations and demonstrate reliability and commitment to the ongoing process of class discussion
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content and order of syllabus coverage may vary, it is envisaged that it will include the following topics:
- Social Inequalities: Definitions and Concepts
- Dimensions of inequality: social class, gender, and ethnicity
- Inequalities in childhood experiences: early-year differences
- Educational inequalities I: attainment in compulsory schooling
- Educational inequalities II: routes into and out of post-compulsory education
- Transitions from education to employment
- Occupational transition over the lifecourse and labour market experiences
- The evidence for social mobility
- Demographic inequalities: fertility and age-related inequalities
- Geographical inequalities
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 125 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 15 | 10 x 1.5 hour sessions of lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 10 | 10 x 1 hour seminar sessions |
| Guided Independent Study | 60 | Reading |
| Guided independent study | 20 | Writing weekly reading summaries |
| Guided independent study | 20 | Essay preparation |
| Guided Independent Study | 23 | Essay Writing |
| Guided Independent study | 2 | Presentation preparation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual seminar presentations | 5 minutes | 1-9 | Verbal Feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | 0 | 10 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 50 | 2,000 words | 1-9 | ELE |
| Weekly reading summaries | 40 | 10 x 200 words each (Total of 2,000 words) | 1-9 | ELE |
| Individual seminar presentations | 10 | 5 minutes | 1-9 | Verbal feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay 2,000 words | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
| Weekly reading summaries | 10 x 200 words each (Total of 2,000 words) | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
| Individual seminar presentations | Seminar presentations slides and written commentary for 5 minute presentation. | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
Re-assessment notes
Where you have been referred/deferred as a result of failing or not completing the weekly reading summary to enable you to pass that component of the module’s summative assessment, you will need to submit a reading summary covering that week’s topic in the reassessment period. Where you have been referred/deferred as a result of failing or not completing the seminar presentation, you will need to submit the presentation slides and written commentary in the reassessment period.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
Crompton, R. (2008). Class and Stratification. Cambridge: Polity.
Grusky, D.B. and Weisshaar, K. (2014) Social Stratification: Class, Race, and Gender in Sociological Perspective. Boulder: Westview Press.
Jackson, M. (Ed.) (2013). Determined to succeed? Performance versus choice in educational attainment. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Payne, G. (2013) Social Divisions (3rd Edition). Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan.
Payne, G. (2017) The New Social Mobility. Bristol: Policy Press.
Platt, L. (2011). Understanding Inequalities: Stratification and Difference. Cambridge: Polity Press.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | POL1008/SOC1004, POL/SOC1041, and SOC2077 |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 23/01/2018 |
