191 - 200 of 219 results for: SOC

In this course, we seek to understand economic markets as cultural institutions. Far from natural or inevitable entities, markets are social constructions that rely upon¿and reproduce¿particular shared understandings about how the world is and should be. In this course, we consider the cognitive, expressive, and normative aspects of culture in order to analyze the existence of markets, the forms they take, and the justifications for the effects they have. We begin by exploring the cultural constitution of market goods and actors. How do some, but not other, objects come to be exchanged via the market, and why do companies and consumers look and act the way they do? We then dig deeper into the key cultural forms and processes that enable and constrain economic phenomena. In what ways do classification, quantification, narrative, metaphor, and so on give rise to the market as we experience it, and who has the power to shape the way these processes take hold? Next, we delve into two special cases: money, which some hold to be impervious to social considerations, and cultural objects, which some hold to be impervious to market logic. Both turn out to be much more complicated. In the final part of the course, we explore cultural aspects of organizations and economic policymaking. The course readings are largely empirical research, so we will also critically discuss how sociologists use data and methods to build evidence

For Ph.D. students in the social sciences and history. Research on contemporary society and politics in the People's Republic of China. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

Introduction to social network theory, methods, and research applications in sociology. Network concepts of interactionist (balance, cohesion, centrality) and structuralist (structural equivalence, roles, duality) traditions are defined and applied to topics in small groups, social movements, organizations, communities. Students apply these techniques to data on schools and classrooms.

Restricted to Sociology doctoral students. This course provides an introduction to some of the main themes arising in sociology¿s early theoretical literature. Since the founding of the discipline, sociologists have had an interest in understanding the forces underlying crisis, continuity, and change. These themes continue to shape contemporary empirical and theoretical work within the discipline.

Restricted to Sociology Doctoral students only and required for Ph.D. in Sociology. This seminar is designed to deepen students' understanding of the epistemological foundations of social science, the construction and analysis of theories, and the design of empirical research.

The goal of this course is to introduce students to a set of methods for studying the structural forces that shape patterns of educational and social inequality. The course begins with a focus on methods of measuring inequality along a number of dimensions. Next it addresses methods for studying unequal access to resources and opportunity. In the third section, the course introduces a general statistical model of the processes that shape inequality, and demonstrates how it can be used to study structural inequality.

Cross-listed with Law ( LAW 7071), Political Science ( POLISCI 334) and Sociology ( SOC 374). Associated with the Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society (PACS). Year-long workshop for doctoral students and advanced undergraduates writing senior theses on the nature of civil society or philanthropy. Focus is on pursuit of progressive research and writing contributing to the current scholarly knowledge of the nonprofit sector and philanthropy. Accomplished in a large part through peer review. Readings include recent scholarship in aforementioned fields. May be repeated for credit for a maximum of 3 units.

Advanced research workshop with a focus on new theory and research, recent publications, and current research by faculty and graduate student participants. Topics of relevant research include, but are not restricted to, morality, cooperation, solidarity, politics, status, and power. May be repeated for credit.

Instructor Consent Required. This is a quarter-long graduate level seminar and practicum in ethnographic fieldwork methods, providing students with hands-on training in the epistemology, theory, methods, and politics of ethnography. Through weekly readings, assignments, and exercises applied to a field site of their choosing, students will learn the dynamics of gaining access, building rapport, writing field notes, coding, crafting analytic memos, and writing up findings. Class sessions will be spent discussing readings, debriefing research experiences, and analyzing fellow students' field notes. Students should plan to spend at least five hours per week in their chosen field site. Enrollment priority will be given to graduate students.