Module SOCI2031: SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES II

Department: APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES (SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL POLICY)

SOCI2031: SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES II

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• Professional Studies II (SOCI2021), Practice Theories & Skills II (SOCI2041), Management & Fieldwork Studies II (SOCI2051), Fieldwork Practice II (SOCI2062).

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To enable students to: (i) develop a greater understanding of the factors which influence social policy decisions at national and local level (ii) debate different approaches to the delivery of services and to examine current policy issues in the key areas of social security, health, housing, education and the personal social services (iii) develop a greater understanding of the impact of social situations on individual functions.

Content

• SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES:
• This section examines the development of social policy in the 19th and 20th Centuries. Different approaches to the development of services eg. free market, anti-collectivist, Fabian collectivist, radical feminist and Black perspectives are analysed. It includes an examination of current policy issues in the key areas of social security, health, housing, education and personal social services. This section also introduces students to some aspects of European social policy issues.
• PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES:
• The history and methods of scientific enquiry - mainly in regard to social psychology - are explored within the context of conformity and leadership studies, attitude formation and change, group influence, stereotyping and prejudice and the way that individuals present themselves in everyday life.

Learning Outcomes

• SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES:
• critical understanding of the social policy
• knowledge of different approaches to the delivery of services and the ability to evaluate current policy issues in the key areas of social security, health, housing, education, and the personal social services.
• PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES:
• a critical understanding of the impact of social influence and social situations on individuals.

• SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES:
• a critical understanding of the factors which influence social policy decisions at national and local level.
• PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES:
• the ability to apply knowledge and understanding of social psychological perspectives to community and youth work practice with individuals and groups;
• the ability to explore the use of 'self' in various professional settings;
• a critical awareness of the complexity of human interaction and the ability to look beyond the obvious.

• SOCIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES:
• a range of communication skills: the ability to: evaluate and synthesise information obtained from a variety of sources; communicate relevant information in different ways;
• competence in the use of IT resources including the ability to: word-process; monitor and reflect on the use of IT skills;
• a capacity to improve own learning and performance, including: ability to manage time effectively; work to prescribed deadlines; engage in different ways of learning including both independent and directed forms of learning; gather necessary information from a range of bibliographic and electronic sources; monitor and critically reflect on the learning process.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES:
• Structured lectures will be used to introduce topics, however, there will be an emphasis on student-centred learning. Students will be encouraged, individually and in groups, to research topics of interest and share them within the larger group. Group discussions, seminars, case studies and exercises will be used throughout the module.
• PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES:
• Structured lectures will be used to introduce students to social psychology, however, there will be an emphasis on student-centred learning. For the group presentations, students will work in small groups to research areas of particular interest and to apply their knowledge of social psychology to specific issues relevant to community and youth work practice. Group discussions, seminars, case studies and exercises will be used throughout the module.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

1 seminar presentation; 1 case study presentation

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University