University of Roehampton (RU)

Seminar notes on week 6 of the module Understanding Social Change. This is a Sociology degree module. Topics covered: Max Weber, verstehen, Weber identifies four different forms of social actions (tradition, affective, value-oriented & instrumental).

Seminar notes to week 5 of the module Understanding Social Change. This is a Sociology degree module. Topics covered: Georg Simmel, Quiz questions on Georg Simmel, Web of Association, What are social forms for Simmel? Simmel’s Web of Group Affiliation.

Seminar notes to week 4 of the module Understanding Social Change. This is a sociology degree module. Topics covered: Durkheim, Division of Labour, Why do you think that the division of labour was crucial to society for Durkheim? Quiz questions on Durkheim, Interdependence, the main differences between Durkheim’s types of solidarity in society.

Seminar notes to week 3 of the module Understanding Social Change. This is a sociology degree module. Topics covered: Du Bois, Booker T. Washington, The Souls of Black Folk, legacy of slavery according to Du Bois, Did Du Bois & Booker T. Washington have similar ideas about the future of black people?

Seminar notes to week 2 of the module Understanding Social Change. This is a Sociology degree module. Topics covered: What happened to bring about capitalism? What was Marx’s understanding about societal change? Why would a false consciousness not necessarily be a bad thing for Marx? If Capitalism is a stage onto Communism, why aren’t we there yet? What is private property? What did Marx admire about capitalism and the drive for profit? What is the relationship between Capitalists’ desire ...

Seminar notes to week 1 of the module Understanding Social Change. This is a Sociology degree module. Topics covered: Introduction to theory, The Enlightenment, Structure/Agency, Jogging in the park - is that structure or agency? Person in a suit queuing for the bus to work - is that structure or agency? ‘Conflict’ & ‘Consensus’ Models of Order, What is the Source of Social Order (who’s in charge)? How is Social Order (Modernity) characterised? How do we explain culture & shared values...

Lecture notes on week 1, 2 and 3 of the module Understanding Social Change. This is a Sociology degree module. Lecture 1 gives an introduction to sociological theory: What is theory? What is sociological theory? Key Terms, What is theory for? How is theory created? Modernity, The racialisation of capitalism. Lecture 2 notes contains a summary of Karl Marx, Capitalism, False Consciousness, Marxist class analysis. Lecture 3 notes contains a summary of Du Bois, Double Consciousness and Racism.

Notes on week 10 of the module Practicing Sociology. This is a Sociology degree module. Topics covered: Debating the Causes of Poverty, Debating, Why debate? Structuring your argument, How to debate well.

Notes on week 9 of the module Practicing Sociology. This is a Sociology module. Topics covered: this session is about the literature review assignment that students need to complete to pass the module. What is a literature review? What do you think are the key features of a literature review? What are literature reviews for? Sources, How should it be organised? Where literature reviews go wrong, Where do you start? What’s important? How to take notes.

Notes on week 8 of the module Practicing Sociology. This is a Sociology degree module. Topics covered: General attitude towards poverty in the UK, qualitative research, quantitative research, sampling: snowball sampling and random sampling, issues and challenges in using quantitative data.