Module 30-M-Soz-M7c Social Structure Analysis and Social Inequality c

Students of this module expand their knowledge of social structure, life course and inequality research in the profile programme. They are able to independently carry out advanced analyses such as longitudinal and multi-level analyses with existing data and present the results of their own analyses in a written and oral form in line with the standards of the subject. Students are able to represent and present their work and research results in the field of social structure and social inequality to third parties, in particular students at other competence levels. They can lead groups of students responsibly in the context of complex tasks and specifically promote the development of others.

This module focuses on the manifestations, causes and consequences of social differentiation and inequality in social change. In terms of social structure, the focus is on the question of how mere differences between members of society - such as gender, age, ethnicity, social background - become social inequalities in terms of life chances and risks. This also involves the theoretical and empirical examination of postulated major trends in recent social development, for example with regard to the validity of meritocratic principles, disintegration, polarisation and pluralisation trends, the transformation of the working society or the repression of the nation-state frame of reference in favour of transnational references and regional affiliation.

Methodologically, the module focuses on longitudinal and life course research. Longitudinal analysis in particular is methodologically capable of empirically and adequately investigating the effects of structural and institutional developments on the development, life paths and behaviour of individual and collective actors and the social change induced as a result. The basic idea of the life course approach is that stability and change in social orders can best be captured by examining how cultural, institutional and structural framework conditions demand and promote certain characteristics and behaviours, and what consequences individual decisions and behaviour have in the face of cultural, institutional and structural framework conditions.

In more theoretically orientated seminars (a), students learn an in-depth critical-reflective approach, especially to

• recent behavioural science approaches,
• general theories of social structure, social change and social inequality and socio-structural organisational research;
• international comparative research;
• special theories of different areas of social structure analysis.

In empirical seminars (b) linked to practical applications, a theory-led examination of subject-related questions takes place.

In the decidedly research-oriented seminars of module (c), advanced analyses such as longitudinal and multi-level analyses are carried out with existing data.
Students are recommended to choose courses in such a way that they have acquired knowledge in all three thematic areas (a, b, c) by the end of the profile-forming degree programme.

The module programme is always completed with a written assignment. This always takes the form of a term paper.

The study of module 30-M-Soz-M7a should already be completed and the study of module 30-M-Soz-M7b started.

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