Learning objectives
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Define central concepts in sociological research regarding social capital;
• Describe and explain subquestions in sociology regarding social capital (related to both social inequality and social cohesion);
• Describe and explain theories and specific hypotheses to provide answers to these questions;
• Describe and explain means for operationalizing these hypotheses;
• Briefly summarize the main conclusions with regard to these hypotheses;
• Outline the historical development of the two central lines of research that focus on social capital, i.e., discuss how specific contributions build on earlier research in these areas;
• Describe and critically reflect on (differences between) particular hypotheses and their operationalizations;
• Formulate relevant original research questions, theoretical propositions and hypotheses, as well as means for their operationalization;
• In a group, write a coherent paper, in which relevant research questions, theoretical propositions and hypotheses are formulated, as well as their operationalizations.
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During this course, two very different lines of research in social science (as well as their interfaces) will be discussed. In recent decades, the concept of ‘social capital' has become an umbrella term for a variety of different aspects (e.g., resources of other people which one has access to, but also levels of participation in voluntary organizations or levels of social trust in others). In this course, this variety of topics will be reduced to two clear lines of research. We will discuss how hypotheses with regard to social capital are formulated within both lines of research. One research tradition deals with questions regarding social inequality, the other tradition with questions related to social cohesion. Different generations within both lines of research will be addressed and aspects which deserve further attention in future research will be discussed.
For exchange students and students who take this course as an elective: participation is only possible if sufficient places are available.
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