95723 - SOCIOLOGIA DEL TERRITORIO

Learning outcomes

Al termine del corso, lo studente: - possiede un inquadramento dei principali concetti e paradigmi interpretativi della sociologia del territorio; - sa applicare tali concetti e paradigmi per la comprensione delle tematiche emergenti dalla disciplina; - è in grado di distinguere le diverse fasi della ricerca sociologica sul territorio; - sa distinguere tra strumenti di tipo qualitativo e quantitativo in tale ricerca, conoscendone vantaggi e svantaggi; - conosce le caratteristiche delle principali fonti di informazione utilizzabili, sia quantitative che qualitative.

Course contents

In the Module 1 of the course (Prof. Manella) a general framework of the discipline will be given, with attention to some frequent concepts (space, place, ecological analysis, mobility, borders) and topics (local development, territorial organization and policy, territorial culture). Information sources will also be considered, with attention to reliability criteria. We will also pay attention to some research territorial research tools, both qualitative and quantitative.

In the Module 2 of the course (Prof. Cappello), the Mario Small's study in Villa Victoria, a Boston neighborhood, will be presented. This study has been considered a seminal one for its methodology (bont in the ethnograpchi and in the ecological aspects), the critical interpretation of the Chicago School approach, and the theoretical and empirical outputs. Some lectures will also be eventually dedicated to the presentation of teamworks.

Readings/Bibliography

For the Module 1 of the course (Prof. Manella):

G. Osti, Sociologia del territorio, il Mulino, Bologna, 2010.

For the Module 2 of the course (Prof. Cappello):

M.L. Small, Villa Victoria. Povertà e capitale sociale in un quartiere di Boston, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2011.

Further teaching material will be uploaded on the Virtuale platform during the course.

Teaching methods

Lectures, seminars, and teamworks to be presented at class.

Assessment methods

RULES FOR THE EXAMINATION DURING THE COURSE

Students who attend the lessons can do a written exam at the end of the course (during the last lesson).

The exam is based on the topics presented at class. Therefore, any aspects of the textbooks not considered at class will not be asked and, vice versa, examples or other contents presented at class and not in the textbooks may be requested. The end-of-course exam will consist on 4 open questions (max 5-10 points per question) with 60 minutes.

If people pass this exam (18/30), the final note will be registered in one of the first exam dates available after the end of the course.

NB: If the sum of the points in the questions gives a decimal number, the final grade is rounded up (Example: a sum of 27.5 becomes 28).

Teamworks

Students have the option to make team works during the course, with an oral presentation and Powerpoint slides at class. The works may focus on one of the recommended texts or readings, or on another relevant topic of the sociology of the territory, theoretical and/or empirical.

Groups will consist of 4-5 students and are requested to agree the topic of their presentation with the teacher by March 10, 2023, by submitting an abstract (min 1,500 max 2,500 characters including spaces) via e-mail with the title, the aim, research tools and three bibliographic references. Students will present their work in one of the lessons at the end of April or the beginning of May (20 minutes for each presentation: all the group members are requested to be at class, and each one is requested to present a part of the work). The presentation will receive an evaluation from 0 to 2 points which will be added to the final grade obtained at the end-of-course exam or at the oral talk in one of the ordinary sessions (see the following paragraph).

RULES FOR THE EXAM AFTER THE END OF THE COURSE

Students who do not want to take the end-of-course exam are requested to have their oral exam in one of the ordinary sessions. The exam usually consists on 3-4 open questions in 10-15 minutes. For those who have attended the lessons, please see the clarifications in the section "Rules for the exam during the course", both for the topics and for any rounding of the final grade.

Oral integration of the written exam

Students have the right to request the integration of the end of course exam with an oral talk in the ordinary sessions, however this can be both an improvement and a pejorative for the final grade. In some exceptional cases, it is possible to agree other forms with the teacher.

Evaluation criteria

An appropriate language for the specificity of the discipline and the skill to deepen and connect the main topics of the course will result in excellent evaluations. A correct language, a mnemonic knowledge of the contents and a good skill to link the topics will result in good evaluations. Inappropriate language, some training gaps but the achievement of a minimum amount of knowledge on the issues will result in a sufficient evaluation. Lack of orientation in the topics, inappropriate language and training gaps will result in a poor evaluation.

Teaching tools

Use of Powerpoint slides, use of videos, presentation of websites.

Office hours

See the website of Gabriele Manella

See the website of Giorgio Cappello