Universität Wien

230120 VO Sociological Theories: Overview and current Developments (2022W)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 23 - Soziologie
Moodle

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Details

Language: German

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 05.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 16 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 5
  • Wednesday 12.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 16 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 5
  • Wednesday 19.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 16 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 5
  • Wednesday 09.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 16 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 5
  • Wednesday 16.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 16 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 5
  • Wednesday 23.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 16 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 5
  • Wednesday 30.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 16 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 5
  • Wednesday 07.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 16 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 5
  • Wednesday 14.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 16 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 5
  • Wednesday 11.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 16 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 5
  • Wednesday 18.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 16 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 5

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Objectives:
- Understanding the benefits and necessity of theory
- Getting to know important theoretical approaches
- Reflection on the relationship between theory and empirical work
- Links to current societal debates

Contents:
On the basis of historical and current theoretical contributions, influential styles of thought and concepts in sociology are introduced. The focus is on the question of why sociology actually needs theory(s) and what a theoretically informed sociology can achieve for its society.

Method:
Presentation of influential theories by means of lectures. The detailed lecture programme will be presented in the first lecture unit and will be accessible via the Moodle learning platform.

Assessment and permitted materials

Written exam (multiple choice)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

For a positive assessment, 50 percent of the total number of points is required.

Grade 1: 87.5 to 100 percent
Grade 2: 75 to 87.4 percent
Grade 3: 62.5 to 74.9 percent
Grade 4: 50 to 62.4 percent
Grade 5: below 50 per cent

Note from the SPL: A fraudulent performance (cheating) is shown as such on the collective certificate and counts as an examination pass.

Examination topics

The examination material includes all units of the lecture. To support learning, the slides and the list of original texts are made available on the Moodle learning platform.

Reading list

- Abend, Gabriel (2008): The Meaning of ‚Theory‘. In: Sociological Theory 26: 173-199.
- Boudon, Raymond (1991): What Middle-Range Theories Are. In: Contemporary Sociology 20: 519-522.
- Kuhn, Thomas (1976): Die Struktur wissenschaftlicher Revolutionen. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp (amerik. Orig. 1962).
- Merton, Robert (2007): On Sociological Theories of the Middle Range. In: Craig Calhoun (Hg.): Classical Sociological Theory, 448-459. Malden: Blackwell Publishers (Orig. 1949).
- Popper, Karl (1971): Logik der Forschung. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 4. verb. Auflage (Orig. 1934).

Detailierte Angaben zur Literatur, auf der die Vorlesung basiert, werden in der ersten Vorlesungseinheit vorgestellt und auf die Lernplattform Moodle gestellt.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Th 11.05.2023 11:28