SOW-SOB2031
Social capital: from ambiguity towards 2 research lines
Course infoSchedule
Course moduleSOW-SOB2031
Credits (ECTS)6
CategoryBA (Bachelor)
Language of instructionEnglish
Offered byRadboud University; Faculty of Social Sciences; Sociology;
Lecturer(s)
Coordinator
dr. M.J. Savelkoul
Other course modules lecturer
Contactperson for the course
dr. M.J. Savelkoul
Other course modules lecturer
Examiner
dr. M.J. Savelkoul
Other course modules lecturer
Academic year2018
Period
PER4  (15/04/2019 to 12/07/2019)
Starting block
PER4
Course mode
full-time
Remarks-
Registration using OSIRISYes
Course open to students from other facultiesYes
Pre-registrationNo
Waiting listNo
Placement procedure-
Aims
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.
 
Content
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.
 
Assumed previous knowledge
Non-sociology students should have passed Hoofdvragen van de sociologie (SOW-SOB1001).

Required materials
Literature
Selection of research articles and book chapters. To be announced later.

Instructional modes
Lectures and seminars.

Remark
Attendance at the presentation session is mandatory

Tests
Examination
Test weight80
Test typeExam
OpportunitiesBlock PER4, Block PER4

Paper
Test weight20
Test typePaper
OpportunitiesBlock PER4, Block PER4

Presentation
Test weight0
Test typePresentation
OpportunitiesBlock PER4