BA_Soc_2 Sociology 2

University of Finance and Administration
Summer 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jitka Cirklová, M.A., Ph.D.
Subdepartment of Social Sciences – Department of Social Sciences – Departments – University of Finance and Administration
Contact Person: Dita Egertová
Prerequisites
BA_Soc_1 Sociology 1
The requirement for the completion of this course is completion of the course BA_Soc_B1.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
Students who successfully complete the course will understand the logic and the process of social research: its relations to theory and reality (epistemological and ontological aspects), main goals and phases of social research, relevant ethical and political issues, the role and structure of research project, and main principles of data analysis. Within this design we will focus on research project and individual stages of its implementation, namely on developing research question(s), choosing appropriate type of research (quantitative, qualitative), formulating hypotheses, decomposing complex theories or questions in operational ones (operationalizing) and converting concepts into measurable variables (indices), deciding about appropriate sampling method and the optimal sample size, creating and pretesting instruments for data collection, planning and supervising data collection (fieldwork) and preparation of data files for analyses. We will also deal with elementary methods of data analysis, principles of statistical inference and interpretation of results. As for qualitative research, we will focus particularly on biographical methods, focus groups and the use of qualitative research to build so called grounded theory.
Learning outcomes
Basic theoretical knowledge, orientation in problems and context of monitored topics. At the same time, the practical skills and skills of applying the acquired knowledge in a real environment of professional activities. The learning outcomes are the support and development of the profile of the educated practitioner.
Syllabus
  • 1.Research in general, main goals and stages of scientific research; specific features of social research, main differences between research in natural sciences, social sciences and humanities; market research as a specific category of social research (specific features of market research);
  • 2.Fundamental concepts used in social research, theory and facts (reality), types of theories by the level of generality (“grand” theories, “middle-range” theories. “operational” theories), or by the process of their formation (deductive vs. inductive approach to generating theories), ontological and epistemological issues in social research (positivism, empiricism, realism, interpretivism, objectivism, contructivism), research strategy (quantitative vs. qualitative research, mix methods research); ethical and political concerns in social research;
  • 3.Criteria used in social research (reliability, replication, validity, types of validity), main types of research design (experimental, quasi-experimental, cross-sectional, longitudinal, case study, comparative), types of cases in social research;
  • 4.Planning the research and preparing research project: research interest(s) and their possible sources, literature review, previous research review, formulating research questions, criteria for evaluating research questions, preparing research proposal (research project), main parts of research project.
  • 5.a) The nature of quantitative research: concepts, indicators, measurement, causality, generalization;
  • b) Sampling: types of probability and non/probability sampling, how to determine sample size, types of errors;
  • 6.Asking questions: types of questions, general and specific rules, vignette questions, using existing questions, etc.;
  • 7.Questionnaire as a “scenario”, methods of questionnaire administration: a)structured interview: face to face interview, paper & pencil, computer assisted telephone interview (CATI), and computer assisted personal interview (CAPI); b) self-completion questionnaires, mail (postal) questionnaire, on-line questionnaire administration (CAWI);
  • 8.Other methods of data gathering: structured observations, content analysis, secondary analysis;
  • 9.Principles of quantitative data analysis – data file and its structure, types of variables, missing data, available statistical software;
  • 10.Main types of analyses and typical results: basic univariate and bivariate analyses, multivariate analyses, correlation and causation, statistical significance and inference;
  • 11.Basics of using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for data analysis, demonstrations of main analytical methods;
  • 12.The nature of qualitative research, sampling and interviewing; biographies and focus groups - the most frequent method of qualitative research.
Literature
    required literature
  • Bryman, Alan (2008) Social research methods. Oxford
  • https://www.sociologyexperiment.com/entry-for-students/ 2020 chapter Research Methodology
  • CIRKLOVÁ, Jitka. Art to come: histories of contemporary art by Terry SmithDurham: Duke University Press, 2019ISBN: 978-1-4780-0305-2 (paperback). VISUAL STUDIES, 2020, roč. 2020, s. 1-2. doi:10.1080/1472586X.2020.1788242.
  • CIRKLOVÁ, Jitka. Reaffirming Identity Through Images. The commodification of llusions in the Contemporary Presentation of Self. methaodos.revista de ciencias sociales, Spain: UNIV REY JUAN CARLOS, 2020, roč. 8, č. 1, s. 103-107. ISSN 2340-8413. doi:10.17
    recommended literature
  • Adams, Karen & Brace, Ian (ed.) (2006) An introduction to market & social research. London: Kogan Page.
  • Treiman, Donald (2009) Quantitative data analysis. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  • Merrill, Barbara (2009) Using biographical methods in social research. Sage.
  • Coulon, Alain (1995) Ethnomeghodology. Sage.
  • Seale, Clive (ed.) (2004) Social research methods: a reader. Routledge.
  • IBM SPSS. SPSS Statistics 19 Command Syntax Reference. SPSS 1989, 2010.
  • IBM SPSS. SPSS Statistics Base 19. SPSS 1989, 2010.
Teaching methods
Lectures and seminars. Each topic will be covered by lecturer’s presentation followed by a short discussion. Seminars will be used mostly to show and discuss practical examples from real research projects and to present and discuss students’ assignments. Compulsory seminar participation is 75%. Lectures are not compulsory, but students who miss more than 50 % of lectures will have to take a supplementary test at the end of the semester to get a credit for the course.
Assessment methods
The course is completed by the assigning the credit (based on the midterm test and seminar assignments to be uploaded to the Homework Vault of the IS) and the final exam (written final test).
• Students must attend all required scheduled exams that make up a final grade at the appointed time and place.
• The instructor may accommodate for illness or other serious reasons. Make-up midterm or final test can be arranged on written request sent to the instructor.
• Any student who misses a scheduled exam without approval will be given a grade of “0” for the given test/exam.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 12 hodin KS/semestr.
The course is also listed under the following terms Summer 2020, Summer 2021, Summer 2022, Summer 2023, Summer 2024.
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