08829 - Social Research Methodology

Academic Year 2020/2021

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Science Of Lifelong Educational Processes (cod. 8780)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able: to know the methodological issues related to sociological research in formal and informal training environments; - to know the main research designs and both quantitative and qualitative methods of research; - to know tools and methods to realize empirical research on training policies, the market and work organizations; - to make a connection between multiple variables to perform complex analysis of adult education and training phenomena; - to design a case study to deepen the knowledge of social phenomena related to the training dynamics and reflect autonomously upon them; - to structure a social research project presentation and report on progress the results of an empirical research; - to communicate clearly and correctly the results of an social research using different communication channels and registers

Course contents

1. The paradigms of social research

2. Quantitative and qualitative research

3. The empirical translation of the theory

4. Survey method

5. Official statistics

6. Participant observation

7. Qualitative interview

8. Monovariate analysis

9. Bivariate analysis

Readings/Bibliography

Corbetta P., Metodologia e tecniche della ricerca sociale, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014 (second edition):

chap 1, chap. 2, chap. 3, chap. 5, chap. 6, chap. 8, chap. 10, chap. 11 chap. 13 (all except sections 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 9.1, 9.2, 11.1), chap. 14 (all except sections 3, 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.2, 7.3)

Teaching methods

Lessons will be delivered in a mixed way (in presence and remotely). During the course some lessons will be dedicated to practical exercises and data analysis exercises.


Assessment methods

Written examination consisting of questions and exercises.


Teaching tools

Videoprojector, PC, IOL platform. 

Office hours

See the website of Pasquale Colloca