Sociology of Social Problems 2100-SPP-L-D1SSPR
No.: 1
Title: Introduction
Key topics: claim, claimsmakers, troubling condition, natural history
Literature: Chapter 1. The Social Problems Process [in] Best J. (2021). Social problems (Fourth). W.W. Norton & Company.
Additional literature: ???
No.: 2
Title: Claims
Key topics: ground, warrant, conclusion, naming
Literature: Chapter 2. Claims [in] Best J. (2021). Social problems (Fourth). W.W. Norton & Company.
Additional literature: McCright, A. M., & Dunlap, R. E. (2000). Challenging global warming as a social problem: An analysis of the Conservative Movement’s Counter-Claims. Social Problems, 47(4), 499–522. https://doi.org/10.2307/3097132
AI usage -- Level 4: AI Task Completion, Human Evaluation
AI is used to complete certain elements of the task, with students providing discussion or commentary on the AI-generated content. This level requires critical engagement with Al generated content and evaluating its output.
You will use Al to complete specified tasks in your assessment. Any Al created content must be cited.
No.: 3
Title: Claimsmakers: activists and experts
Key topics: social movements, countermovments, framing, types of frames, resources, constituents
Literature: Chapter 3. Activists as Claimsmakers [in] Best J. (2021). Social problems (Fourth). W.W. Norton & Company and Chapter 4. Experts as Claimsmakers [in] Best J. (2021). Social problems (Fourth). W.W. Norton & Company.
Additional literature: Smelser, N. J. , Killian, . Lewis M. and Turner, . Ralph H. (2023). Social movement. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/social-movement
No.: 4
Title: Test-1/The Social Media
Key topics: bias, primary claim, secondary claim, arena, audience segmentation, package
Literature: Chapter 5. The Media and Claims [in] Best J. (2021). Social problems (Fourth). W.W. Norton & Company.
Additional literature: Alina Pavlova & Pauwke Berkers (2022) “Mental Health” as Defined by Twitter: Frames, Emotions, Stigma, Health Communication, 37:5, 637-647, DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2020.1862396
No. 5: Social Problems in the Digital Age – Algorithms
No. 6: Social Problems in the Digital Age – Cybersecurity
No.: 7
Title: Discussion on final essays
No.: 8
Title: Social Problems Work
Key topics: social problems workers
Literature: Chapter 9. and 10. Social Problems Work [in] Best J. (2021). Social problems (Fourth). W.W. Norton & Company.
Additional literature: Brodkin, E.Z. (2012), Reflections on Street-Level Bureaucracy: Past, Present, and Future. Public Admin Rev, 72: 940-949. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2012.02657.x
No.: 9
Title: Policy Outcomes
Key topics: social condition, social issue, evaluation research
Literature: Chapter 11. Policy Outcomes [in] Best J. (2021). Social problems (Fourth). W.W. Norton & Company.
Additional literature: J Scott Carter and others, Veiled Threats: Color-Blind Frames and Group Threat in Affirmative Action Discourse, Social Problems, Volume 66, Issue 4, November 2019, Pages 503–518, https://doi.org/10.1093/socpro/spy020
No.: 10
Title: Test-2
No.: 11
Title: Presentation of students' projects (I)
Submission of final essays
No.: 12
Title: Presentation of students' projects (II)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
The student knows and understands at an advanced level the ways in which social and political institutions operate in specific areas of social and public policy, with particular emphasis on: education, public health, social assistance, housing, labor market, social security, family policy, migration and integration policy (K_W05)
The student knows and understands at an advanced level selected theories conceptualizing the relationship between the elements of the political process, characteristic of political science and administration - especially for the sub-discipline of social policy and public policy (K_W06)
The student knows and understands the normative and ethical conditions of scientific and practical activity in the field of social policy and public policy (K_W08)
The student is able to precisely identify the economic, social, economic and cultural determinants of specific social phenomena and apply approaches and theories in the interpretation of detailed relationships between phenomena (K_U03)
The student is able to prepare and present a written and oral presentation presenting a selected social problem, including a complex and unusual one, as well as propose solutions and justify them (K_U06)
The student is ready to plan and organize his work in the structures of larger teams - especially research teams carrying out complex research and implementation tasks - operating in an international and intercultural context, and to critically assess and take responsibility for the effects of this work, including for the social environment (K_K02)
The student is ready to critically evaluate the available information, including recognizing disinformation, propaganda and hate speech in the public debate (K_K03)
Assessment criteria
Students are required to pass two tests. The final grade will be based on the mark from the final essay. In addition, students are expected to make a presentation in the classroom. Students may have two absences. Each subsequent absence must be justified before the teacher. The total number of absences allowed is four.
Practical placement
Do not apply.
Bibliography
The literature is provided in the detail description of the class.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: