Universität Wien
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040280 KU Research Practicum Economic Sociology (MA) (2025W)

The Social Dynamics of Deviance in Organizations and Markets

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 4 - Wirtschaftswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 50 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 02.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 8 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 09.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 8 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 16.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 8 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 23.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 8 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 30.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 8 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 06.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 8 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 13.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 8 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 20.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 8 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 27.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 8 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 04.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 8 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 11.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 8 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 18.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 8 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 08.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 8 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 15.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 8 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 22.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 8 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 29.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 8 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This practicum offers Master’s students hands-on experience in empirical research in economic sociology, focusing on the following macro area: The Social Dynamics of Deviance in Organizations and Markets
This Research Practicum in Economic Sociology will explore how market and organizational actors deviate from legal norms, ethical expectations, and formal regulations. The course concentrates on three interconnected areas:
1. Illegal Markets: What are illegal markets and how do they work? (e.g., black markets, illicit trade) – Concept of illegal markets – Concept of transnational crime – Theoretical approaches to illegal markets and transnational crimes – The drug market and drug trafficking – Human trafficking and smuggling – Environmental crimes and trafficking in natural resources
2. Organizational Deviance: What are the social mechanisms behind deviance within organizations, and when does it occur? (e.g., fraud, corruption, norm violations) – Conceptual framework and definitions – Main types and relevant case studies – Causes and consequences – Key measurement tools
3. Criminal Organizations: How are illegal organizations structured and how do they operate? – Conceptual, definitional, and theoretical framework – Main types and illustrative case studies – Mafia-style organized crime – Money laundering and illicit financial flows
Students will develop small-group research projects investigating one of these areas. The course uses two primary methodological approaches:
• Comparative Case Study Analysis
• Secondary Data Analysis

Assessment and permitted materials

Assessment is based on continuous evaluation. Students are expected to participate actively in class tasks, collaborate in group work, and deliver a final research presentation.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

To pass the course, students must:
• Attend classes regularly (students should attend at least 13 out of 15 classes).
• Actively participate in all assignments.
• Submit the final group presentation to Moodle at least 36 hours before the scheduled time
slot.
• Submit a final paper.
Grades will be calculated as follows:
• Class participation and assignments: 30%
• Final group presentation: 30%
• Final paper: 40%

Examination topics

Students must demonstrate:
• A clear research problem within one of the course’s three focus areas
• A well-structured research question
• Effective application of case study or secondary data analysis
• Understanding of the social dynamics involved in deviance within organizations and in the marketplace

Reading list

All materials will be provided via Moodle. Suggested readings (mandatory readings will be discussed in class according to each topic of interest to the students).
• Van Tubergen, F. (2020). Introduction to Sociology. Routledge. (Parts 1–4, 9, 10)
• Catino, M. (2023). Scapegoating: How Organizations Assign Blame. Cambridge University Press.
• Catino, M. (2019). Mafia Organizations. Cambridge University Press.
• Beckert, J., & Wehinger, F. (2013). In the shadow: Illegal markets and economic sociology. Socio-Economic Review, 11(1), 5–30.
• Beckert, J., & Dewey, M. (2017). The social organization of illegal markets. In The Architecture of Illegal Markets: Towards an Economic Sociology of Illegality in the Economy, 1–38.
• Coleman, J. W. (1987). Toward an integrated theory of white-collar crime. American Journal of Sociology, 93(2), 406–439.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 27.07.2026 09:26