Dissertation topics suggested by the teacher.
- nb: in order to ask your paper in Sociology it is absolutely necessary a) having already passed your exam in Sociology b) possibly with a good result (starting from 24 on 30/30).
NB
Meetings for new thesis proposals will resume from January 2026.
For that period, please send an email to francesca.guarino3@unibo.it, after carefully reading the information below.
Thinking about a thesis in Sociology? Read this first
Before requesting a thesis in Sociology and scheduling an initial meeting to define the work plan, it is mandatory that you:
a) have already passed the Sociology exam;
b) obtained a grade of 25/30 or higher;
c) have attended the course.
When you email to request the initial meeting, you will be asked to attach a Word file entitled “Provisional index”.
This document should contain a very preliminary outline of the topic you wish to develop, usually consisting of two or three general points.
This first exercise is essential already at the preliminary stage: it helps you move from a generic or abstract idea to a more concrete and focused one. The document must be sent before the meeting, so that I can reflect on it in advance and we can then discuss it together during the interview.
If the proposal is accepted, the supervisor guarantees initial and ongoing support for the definition of the project, supervision and revision of the work.
Emails with revised attachments will receive a response within one week of submission (for example: if you send Chapter 2 for revision, you will receive feedback no later than the following Monday evening).
Possible topics
Below is a list of themes and indicative research tracks for students interested in developing their undergraduate Sociology thesis.
Each topic is proposed in a general and indicative way and can be personalized after discussion with the supervisor.
The initial meeting is a mandatory requirement for the acceptance of the proposal and for defining the thesis project, including guidance on the structure of the academic essay: bibliography and citations, chapter organization, index, introduction and conclusions.
The structure of the work is crucial in order to build a solid short academic essay.
It is clarified that the student is responsible for proposing the initial idea and working to define the overall framework of the project, as well as for identifying and adequately engaging with the relevant literature.
Indicative research areas
• Social representations of key social themes such as social class, ethnicity, gender and religion through the analysis of widely consumed media products (TV series, documentaries, new narrative and social formats such as Twitch). The project should consider both the relevant literature and the evolution of communication processes (from traditional mass media to digital media).
• Remediation and media convergence (Bolter & Grusin; Jenkins) and narrative forms. I am particularly interested in theses on web-based narratives, especially TV series that exemplify innovative storytelling methods impacting post-contemporary imagination. Possible focuses include combined use of multiple media, non-linear temporal structures, active audience engagement (co-authorship), fandoms, communities and the economy of effects.
• A sociological reflection on the role and impact of online communities in bringing psychological and/or socio-health issues from invisibility and solitude into public and social recognition. Examples include fibromyalgia, social withdrawal (hikikomori), and disability. The project may also consider implications in terms of empowerment through the concepts of illness, disease and sickness.
• Sociological aspects of the psychologist’s profession in the post-contemporary era, with particular attention to the use of digital technologies (chat, Skype, webinars, Instagram, etc.) in the therapeutic relationship. This line of inquiry may also be extended to other professions, such as teaching, and to the effectiveness of in-person versus online practices.
• Social and sociological challenges for the post-contemporary psychologist, focusing on social transformations that generate individual problems (e.g. eating disorders in image-based societies, school dropout as an effect of labor market changes, chronic illness and the redefinition of the self).
• Transformation of social roles in contemporary society (e.g. parenthood, student, teacher, and other roles), with reference to sociological literature and empirical research. Projects may consider social imagination, media influence and processes of socialization.
• Transformation of emotional and intimate relationships in post-contemporary society, including love, friendship, online/offline relationships, couple stability, monogamy, divorce and separation rates. Alongside theoretical discussion, comparison with macro-social data and relevant literature is required.
• Consumption styles and media: from traditional buying and selling practices to digital consumption and self-promotion on platforms such as Instagram. Particular attention may be given to influencers through case studies. A sociological reflection on deviance (R.K. Merton, especially the figure of the innovator) is required, together with considerations on contemporary society. Proposals adopting a socio-anthropological perspective on technology are also welcome, with possible links to psychological analysis in the conclusions.
• Transformation of society and religion/spirituality over the last century. Possible topics include the personalization of spirituality, diffusion of practices such as yoga and meditation, links with uncertainty and anxiety, globalization and hybridization. Critical perspectives are required, including consideration of market dynamics and consumer approaches.
• Health from a sociological perspective, particularly focusing on the medicalization of everyday life and lifestyles. In the case of substance use, my specific interest concerns alcohol consumption, though medication use is also acceptable. In all cases, the perspective must be socio-cultural, not medical.
• Masculinity/femininity: analysis of gender transformations and new understandings of masculinity and femininity. Topics include gender awareness, conflict or productive relations between genders, nature/culture debates, distinctions between gender identity and sexual orientation. Alongside traditional literature, visual sources (e.g. graphic novels) may also be used.
Other topics are also possible if you have a clear and well-defined idea, provided that the approach is sociological.
To be clear: I do not accept theses on psychological or psychiatric disorders treated from a purely clinical or psychological perspective. A sociological framework is mandatory.
Final note
Beyond being a requirement, the thesis is one of your first real opportunities to work autonomously on a topic that genuinely interests you, within the formal constraints of an academic text.
Make the most of this opportunity.
