Monash University Arts Graduate Handbook, 1997

SYM4035/5035

Theoretical and methodological issues in applied social research

Gary Bouma

12 points
* 2 hours per week
* First semester
* Clayton

Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject should be familiar with a range of types of explanations currently employed by practising sociologists, including both classical and more recent forms; through a variety of essays, position papers and seminar discussion, students should be able to distinguish sociological from other forms of explanation and have both a sense of identification with sociology as a profession and a sense of themselves as practitioners of sociology. The students' powers of critical reasoning and abilities to express themselves in cogent argument supported by evidence should also have been honed.

Synopsis The purpose of this subject is to develop the student's ability to develop and to assess explanations in sociological analysis. This ability is seen as central to the sociological enterprise regardless of how it is conceived. Issues addressed include the definition of the subject matter of sociology, subjectivity and objectivity in sociology and what constitutes an explanation, and the types of explanation that exist. Finally the issue of what distinguishes sociological explanation will be raised. The seminar proceeds by way of the careful examination of the logic in use in specifically sociological work. Examples will be selected in such a way as to cover the widest range of types of explanation and styles of sociological enterprise.

Assessment Weekly position papers (300 words each): 30%
* Major essay (6000 words): 70%

Prescribed texts

Durkheim E The rules of sociological methodology Free Press, 1964

Weber M Social and economic organisation Free Press, 1964

Recommended texts

Bernstein R J Beyond objectivism and relativism Basil Blackwell, 1983

Rosenberg A Philosophy of social science OUP, 1988

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