Module SOCI2101: SOCIAL CONTROL

Department: APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES (SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL POLICY)

SOCI2101: SOCIAL CONTROL

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To build on the introduction to sociological thinking about structure and agency provided in the level 1 module, 'Conceptualising Society', and to examine two main civil institutions of social order (police and criminal justice) and to consider (in both structural and agentic terms) the general forms of societal context for them and response to them.

Content

• Part A: The concept of social control; transgression; exemplifying and challenging sterotypes; method and measurement in the sociology of crime; situating crime and criminality within a social, political and economy context.
• Part B: Different types of criminal and deviant transgression; sub-cultures and social movements.
• Part C: Responses to transgressive behaviour, theorising control and the logics of collective action; situating control; transgressive identity creation in new social contexts; globalisation and social control.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module, students will have a good understanding of: The Social nature of transgression against social norms.
• The construction and reproduction of the dominant social values pertaining to forms of social disorder.
• The 'normality' of crime and social disorder.
• The functions and dysfunctions of the modern police and criminal justice systems.
• Processes of legitimation and delegitimation of social protest.
• Sociological theorising about power.
• Relationships between identity and social order.
• The global contexts of the civil institutions of social order.
• In addition, the module will continue to enable students to develop cognitive skills and key skills.

• .

• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate, synthesise and present ideas and information.
• Demonstrate competency in the use of IT resources.
• Demonstrate a capacity to improve own learning and performance.

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

• Lectures will set out the basic history and/or empirical detail, and will locate this within wider social, economic and political contexts, and within alternative theoretical frameworks.
• To enable debate and evaluation of different approaches, seminars will explore key debates, case studies and contemporary controversies related to the lecture material.
• A formative essay will enable students to inquire more deeply into one of the early parts of the course, and the assessed essay will make possible a more sustained investigation of one of the latter parts.
• Feedback will be provided on both essays, enabling continuous development for the students on the course.
• The examination topics will not overlap with the essay subjects.
• Therefore examination preparation will provide a third context for further focused consideration of the course material.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

2000 word essay.

■ 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