Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module introduces students to the world of everyday life and regards this important dimension of human experience as both a topic and a field of sociological inquiry. The module encourages students to make sociological sense of ‘ordinary’ situations, people, events, things and practices, and to question and investigate the ‘taken-for-grantedness’ of our everyday lives and encounters.
The module incorporates:
(a) an introduction to understanding how the mundane, micro-level activities and experiences of everyday life in everyday settings are implicated in processes of social change and transformation; in the construction and reconstruction of social order and structure; and in relationships of power, resistance and conflict;
(b) an introduction to methodological ways of exploring everyday life;
(c) an introduction to key tools of primary and secondary data collection;
(e) an introduction to the use of empirical data and research findings to investigate and evaluate conceptual understandings of everyday life.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module will introduce social scientific concepts relevant to the study of everyday life and link these to examples that can be observed in everyday life, for example, in media, lived experience, and material culture.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Students will be introduced to some key sociological concepts for understanding the mundane, micro-level activities and experiences of everyday life in everyday settings;
Students will develop a familiarity with a variety of methodological approaches appropriate to the exploration of everyday life in everyday settings;
Students will begin to develop a knowledge and understanding of empirical data and research findings to investigate and evaluate conceptual understandings of everyday life.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students will develop a range of subject-specific, cognitive and transferable skills which will include: An ability to critically read/reflect on a relevant of sociological literature;
An ability to critically reflect upon sociological knowledge through the reading of research findings and reflection on lived experience;
The development of students’ organisational and planning skills;
The development of students’ writing, speaking and team-working skills;
The development of students’ problem-solving, evaluation, and information-communication skills.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Live online workshops will benefit student assessment development, discussion of how to approach assessments/assessment.

PIP seminars provide a forum for reflecting on, evaluating and critically debating e.g. journal articles, news reports or a programme relevant to the particular topic. Students will be directed toward particular readings.

PIP lectures will introduce students to ideas and academic debate in relation to the topics that underpin the module.

Fieldtrip - the fieldtrip allows students to bring together and explore the module's themes.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Conceptual Review: The Conceptual Review will require students to undertake a review of a particular concept used within the module to 1,500 words.

Critical Case Study: This 2,000 word assessment will require students to pick their own case study drawing on ideas and examples developed across the module.

General Notes

N/A