Foundations and Frontiers of Analytical Sociology, 5.0 credits

Entry requirements

Admitted to third-cycle education or equivalent. PhD students at IEI have priority for the course.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, participants shall be able to:

• demonstrate in-depth knowledge of central theories, concepts, and methodological approaches in analytical sociology,
• account for and critically discuss how mechanism-based explanations are applied in contemporary sociological research,
• analyze sociological research problems on the basis of both lectures and scientific articles in the field, and
• independently formulate and develop research questions in analytical sociology in relation to the themes of the course and their own dissertation work

Contents

The course aims to provide an in-depth and nuanced understanding of analytical sociology as a scientific field. Through lectures and seminars, central issues in the field are addressed. These include mechanism-based explanations, social interactions, network processes, norms, diffusion, collective action, as well as other research areas within contemporary analytical sociology.

The lectures are supplemented by readings of scientific articles that illuminate and deepen the themes. The course also addresses philosophy of science issues relevant to analytical sociology. Particular emphasis is placed on the relationship between theory, explanation, and empirical analysis.

A central component of the course is seminars in which participants actively discuss, compare, and critically examine the central questions of the course in relation to lectures, literature, and their own research interests.

Educational methods

Teaching is conducted in the form of:

• Lectures,
• reading scientific articles, and
• mandatory seminars.

Participants are expected to prepare for the seminars by reading the assigned literature and, where applicable, submitting short written reflection notes in accordance with instructions in the study guide.

The language of instruction is English.

Examination

The course is examined through:

• active participation in seminars,
• short written assignments or reflection notes linked to lectures and literature, and
• a final individual assignment

The final written assignment shall demonstrate the participant’s ability to independently analyze a sociological research question in relation to the theories, concepts, and explanatory models presented in the course.

Further instructions regarding the design and scope of the examination are provided in the study guide for the course.

Grading

Course literature

To be announced at the start of the course.

General information

The course considers equal opportunities and aims to utilize the resources that students with diverse backgrounds, life situations, and competencies contribute to the education.

The reading list and schedule are determined separately.

The course coordinator must conduct a course evaluation after each course session.

The results of the course evaluation must be communicated to the participants of the current and upcoming course sessions, as well as to the Research Education Council at IEI.