Sociology

Course summary

1. Education with theory and methods • Consensus, conflict, structural and social action theories • The role and functions of the education system • Differential educational achievement of social groups • Educational policies 2. Methods in context • Sources of data • The theoretical, practical and ethical considerations in research • The nature of science and the relationship between theory and methods • Debates about subjectivity, objectivity and value freedom. 3. Families and Households • The relationship between the family and society • Different familial relationships • Gender roles • Nature of childhood • Demographic trends 4. Beliefs in Society • Ideology, science and religion • Religious organisations • The relationship between different social groups and religious/ spiritual organisations • The significance of religion and religiosity in the contemporary world 5. Crime and deviance with theory and methods • Crime, deviance, social order and social control • The social distribution of crime and deviance by ethnicity, gender and social class • Globalisation and crime in contemporary society • Crime control and the role of the criminal justice system