59239 - Sociology of The Territory

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students: - have a framework of the main concepts and interpretative paradigms of territorial sociology; - are able to apply these concepts and paradigms for understanding the emerging issues of the discipline; - are able to distinguish the steps of sociological territorial research; - can distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research tools, knowing the advantages and disadvantages; - know the characteristics of the main sources of information, both quantitative and qualitative.

Course contents

As regards the first part of the course, we will show the research steps that characterize territorial sociological studies. After that, we will focus on information sources for social research (direct vs indirect, quantitative vs qualitative). A particular attention will be paid to some qualitative research tools: participant observation, direct observation, the biographical approach and life histories.

As regards the second part, we will introduce some territorial studies from the Chicago School, as well as some recent studies that continue that approach from an ecological and/or ethnographic perspective. We will also introdcue the study done by Mario Small in Villa Victoria, a Boston neighborhood. It is particularly significant both for its methodological structure and  the multiple references to Chicago School approach.

Readings/Bibliography

For the part one:

E.Battaglini, Sviluppo territoriale. Dal disegno della ricerca alla valutazione dei risultati, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2014.

For the part two:

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

Further teaching material will be available during the course.

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars.

Assessment methods

Rules for exams during the course

Midterm 

Geography: 29th of October 2018, 9am (30 minutes). Mode: 4 closed questions + 2 short open questions = Total 15 points. It is necessary to get 9 or more points to be sufficient. The note is valid until February 2019.

Sociology of the Territory: 31st of October 2018, 3pm (45 minutes). Mode: 3 open questions = Total 15 points (5 per question). It is necessary to get 9 or more points to be sufficient. The note is valid until February 2019. The midterm contents are the Elena Battaglini's book "Lo sviluppo territoriale" and the teaching material available online.

Final exam

Geography 3rd of December 2018, 9am (30 minutes) (date and time to be confirmed after the midterm). Method: 4 closed questions + 1 long open question = Total 18 points. It is necessary to get 9 or more points to be sufficient. The note is valid until February 2019.

Sociology 28th of November 2018, 3 pm. Methods: 3 open questions = Total 15 points (5 per question). It is necessary to get 9 or more points to be sufficient. The note is valid until February 2019. The final exam contents are the Mario Small's book "Villa Victoria" and the teaching material available online.


Project works for Sociology of the Territory

During the course of Sociology of the Territory, project works are planned. Works can focus on a text or recommended readings, or another topic relevant to the sociology of the territory, both theoretical and empirical. Groups must be composed of 3-5 students. Anyone wishing to make project works is required to agree on the topic with the teacher by 12th of October 2018. Students will present their work at class, in one of the lessons between November 13 and November 22 (15 minutes for each presentation). The presentation will be evaluated (from 0 to 2 points); these points will be added to the sum of the votes obtained in the written exams of Sociology of Territory. The vote is valid both for those who take exams during the course and for those who take exams after the end of the course by February 2019.

Rules for exams after the end of the course

Students who do not intend to make exams during the course, and who do not pass one or more exams, are requested to get their exam after the end of the course and to have both Geography and Sociology of the Territory on the same date. The exam after the endo of the course consists of two parts:

Geography (about 45 minutes): 10 closed and short open questions (20 points) + 1 long open question (13 points) =  Total 33 points). It is necessary to get 18 or more points to be sufficient.

Sociology of Territory (about 60 minutes): 4 open questions (7.5 points per question) = Total 30 points). It is necessary to get 18 or more points to be sufficient.

The final note is given by the average between the ones  obtained in the two parts. If the average is with a decimal, the final note will be obtained by rounding up (Example: 27.5 becomes 28).

Only for the exams by February 2019 included: students who have passed at least one of the exams during the course, can "save" that note and get just the remaining part in the exams after the course.

Oral integration of the written exam

Students have the right to request the integration of the written exam with an oral part: however, this integration can be either improve or get worse the note.

Assessment criteria

A language appropriate to course contents and the skill to learn and link together the main course concepts will result in excellent grades. A proper language, a mnemonic content knowledge and a good skill to link the concepts will result in good grades. Inappropriate language, some training gaps but a minimum of knowledge on the course topics will result in passing grades. Lack of guidance on the course issues, inappropriate language and training gaps will result in negative grades.

Teaching tools

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

Office hours

See the website of Gabriele Manella