Course aims:

Training the competencies to identify and critically apply the paradigms of sociological explanation to the study of social facts and reality.
Training the competencies to identify and critically apply the paradigms of sociological explanation to the study of social facts and reality.
Training the competencies to identify and critically apply the paradigms of sociological explanation to the study of social facts and reality.

Course Entry Requirements:

None

Course contents:

The paradigmatic status of Sociology The paradigm and the concepts that are characterising it Types of paradigms Paradigms referring to humans’ placement inside the society Paradigms referring to the anatomy of the society Paradigms referring to social structure Paradigms referring to the evolution of the society

Teaching methods:

Lecture, conversation, exemplification

Learning outcomes:

Knowledge of the main paradigms of the sociological explanation. Ability to apply different sociological paradigms to social research design.

Learning outcomes verification and assessment criteria:

Written paper – applicative essay – 80%; continuous assessment – 20%.

Recommended reading:

Haralambos, M. & Holborn, M., Sociology. Theme and perspectives, HarperCollins Publishers, London, 2000, 9-17.
Luciano L'Abate, Paradigms in Theory constructions, Springer, New York, 2012, 147-168.
Anthony Giddens, Sociology, Polity Press, Cambridge, 2006, 100-125.