Modules

Introduction to Economics I (SOCS0030) Autumn, Year 1.....................................................................3

Introduction to Sociology (SOCS0024) Autumn, Year 1.........................................................................3
Understanding Social Policy (SOCS0028) Autumn, Year 1.....................................................................3
Public Health in Context (SOCS0033) Autumn, Year 2...........................................................................3
Social Inequality and Mobility (SOCS0045) Autumn, Year 2..................................................................4
Qualitative Research Methods (SOCS0034), Autumn, Year 2................................................................4
Economics of Public Policy (SOCS0043) Autumn, Year 2.......................................................................4
Social Theory (SOCS0038), Autumn, Year 2...........................................................................................4
London Lab (SOCS0037), Autumn, Year 2..............................................................................................5
Game Theory for Social Sciences (SOCS0079) Autumn, Year 3..............................................................5
R drop-in sessions Autumn, Year 3........................................................................................................5
Economics of Developing Countries (SOCS0077) Autumn, Year 3.........................................................6
Citizenship, political exclusion and the racialised state (SOCS0097), Autumn, Year 3...........................6
Ageing and Society (SOCS0082), Autumn, Year 3..................................................................................6
Power, Conflict and Collective Action: The Sociology of Social Movements (SOCS0088), Autumn, Year
3.............................................................................................................................................................7
Introduction to Qualitative Methods (SOCS0052), Autumn, Masters....................................................7
Social Problems and Intervention (SOCS0093) Autumn, Masters..........................................................7
Systematic Review Design and Planning (SOCS0060) Autumn, Masters................................................8
Understanding the Policy Process (SOCS0058) Autumn, Masters.........................................................8
Introduction to Regression Analysis (SOCS0053) Autumn, Masters......................................................8
Introduction to Economics II (SOCS0031) Spring, Year 1.......................................................................9
Politics: From Power to Participation (SOCS0087) Spring, Year 1.......................................................9
Economics of Education (SOCS0042) Spring, Year 2..............................................................................9
Quantitative Research Methods (SOCS0035) Spring, Year 2..................................................................9
R drop-in sessions Spring, Year 3.........................................................................................................10
International Development (SOCS0085) Spring, Year 3....................................................................10
Social Networks (SOCS0081) Spring, Year 3.........................................................................................10
Love, Intimacy and Sexuality (SOCS0096) Spring, Year 3.....................................................................11
Food and Society (SOCS0098) Spring, Year 3.......................................................................................11
Comparative Social Policy (SOCS0094) Spring, Masters......................................................................11
Evidence for Policy and Practice (SOCS0057) Spring, Masters.............................................................11
Impact Evaluation Methods Spring, Masters.......................................................................................12
Using Stata Efficiently and Effectively (SOCS0055) Spring, Masters....................................................12
Introduction to Economics I (SOCS0030) Autumn, Year 1
Module leader: Dr Hedvig Horvath
Description
This module is a first year core course that prepares students for the second year, intermediate
core module, 'Economics of Public Policy'. It is both an introduction to the economic way of
thinking, as well as a basic microeconomic theory course. It demonstrates how market-level
phenomena is built up from individual decisions of economic agents, discusses when market
forces work and when they fail. All topics will be covered with a strong policy focus and no
advanced mathematics will be used. The module aims to familiarize students with basic
concepts and principles of economic thinking, and also to teach students a solid understanding
of a basic modelling toolkit to analyse how simple versions of public policies (e.g. taxes,
antitrust regulations or insurance policies) may affect economic outcomes. Students will also
get a flavour of how microeconomics is used in public policy debates.

Introduction to Sociology (SOCS0024) Autumn, Year 1

Module leader: Dr Morag Henderson
Description
This undergraduate module is designed to introduce students to sociological thought and
to encourage them to use their sociological imagination to see how aspects of their
everyday life are linked to ongoing process of social organisation and coordination. The
themes covered in this course will highlight the interplay between the individual and
society, how society is both stable and changing, the causes and consequences of social
inequality, and the social construction of human life. Understanding sociology will make
vivid to the student the social basis of everyday life, this course will also develop their
critical thinking by revealing the social structures and processes that shape diverse forms
of human life.

Understanding Social Policy (SOCS0028) Autumn, Year

1
Module leader: Ms Meg Wiggins
Description
This module introduces students to social policy in terms of contemporary social problems and
the drivers of social change. It emphasises human rights, social justice and the development of
human potential taking into consideration a range of domains such as education, health, welfare,
climate change, and international development. You will consider how academic disciplines across
the social sciences contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of social policy.
You will also consider the role of governments, international bodies and NGOs in the policy-
making process in countries around the world. You will debate the role of theory, values,
empirical evidence and participative democracy in addressing social problems. In doing so you will
develop transferable skills in developing arguments, critiquing text, and written and oral
communication.

Public Health in Context (SOCS0033) Autumn, Year 2

Module leader: Dr Dylan Kneale
Description
This module will introduce students to public health, a discipline which seeks to prevent disease
and promote the health of populations through the organised efforts of society. Public health
addresses complex health and social problems that are influenced by social, cultural, political,
global, environmental, organisational and economic factors. You will explore dimensions of public
health, discovering its history, core functions, theories of change, and the range of essential
services that can be provided. You will debate the value of systems thinking on the design,
delivery and evaluation of public health services. In identifying the different methods of providing
public health services to individuals, families, communities and societies, you will critically reflect
on the implications of public health service delivery on health inequalities. These activities will
help you develop practical skills and understanding, utilising examples from around the world, of
health needs assessment, epidemiology, disaster management (pandemics!) and community
engagement.

Social Inequality and Mobility (SOCS0045) Autumn,

Year 2
Module leader: Professor Wing Chan
Description
This module introduces students to the key debates on social inequality and mobility in
contemporary societies, covering a wide range of topics, including social class and its impact on
life chances and life choices; income inequality, mobility and top income; education, meritocracy
and the heritability of intelligence (the Flynn effect); poverty and the underclass; discrimination
and segregation; inequality across the world, and the very long run dynamics of social inequality,
inequality and mobility in different forms of society.

Qualitative Research Methods (SOCS0034), Autumn,

Year 2
Module leader: Dr Katie Gaddini
Description
This second year module builds on methods teaching in year 1, and consolidates
students’ skills and knowledge of qualitative research. The module will provide students
with the ability to apply different approaches to data collection, generation and analysis.
Through the module the students will learn about interpretation and presentation of
qualitative data. They will learn to exercise reflexivity, develop an ability to interrogate the
research process and findings, and to critically appraise rigour in qualitative research.
Topics covered include interviewing, ethnography, visual methods, narrative research,
ethical challenges in research, and presentation of research insights. The module also
introduces students to different approaches to the analysis of qualitative data including
content, thematic, IPA, discourse and narrative approaches.

Economics of Public Policy (SOCS0043) Autumn, Year 2

Module leader: Dr Nikki Shure
Description
This module provides students with a broad, up-to-date introduction to the economic analysis of
public policy issues including some guest lecturers from the Institute for Fiscal Studies on current
public policy issues. The module will draw on microeconomic tools learnt in the first year
Economics modules and will expand these analytical tools, including empirical tools, to allow a
sound economic analysis of key public policy issues.
Social Theory (SOCS0038), Autumn, Year 2
Module leader: Dr Marcos Hernando
Description
This module will explore how sociologists have addressed complex questions about the social
world from the 19th century to now focusing on four main areas: inequalities, race, power and
solidarities. The aim is to reflect on the contribution of social theory to the understanding of the
contemporary social world and to the conducting of empirical research. This module will explore
how sociologists have addressed complex questions about the social world from the 19th century
to now focusing on four main areas: inequalities, race, power and solidarities. The aim is to reflect
on the contribution of social theory to the understanding of the contemporary social world and to
the conducting of empirical research.

London Lab (SOCS0037), Autumn, Year 2

Module leader: Professor Mette Berg and Dr Matteo Tiratelli
Description
This module takes London, a global, multicultural city as our lab for exploring social
science theories and methods. It engages with current social issues in the city, situating
them historically and within wider national and global contexts. The module considers
what a focus on a particular city, in this case London, can contribute to the social
sciences, and conversely considers how social science concepts and theories can
contribute to a richer understanding of cities and city life. The module is not a ‘London
studies’ module – although students will certainly learn more about the city they live and
study in – but an introduction to theories, approaches and methods used by social
scientists, using London as exemplar site. Indicative topics include: London as a global
city; exclusion and inequality; conviviality; neighbourhoods and diversity; gentrification;
youth cultures; London as a migrant city; political protest and riots; households and family
life.

Game Theory for Social Sciences (SOCS0079) Autumn,

Year 3
Module leader: Dr Ozan Aksoy
Description
In the social sciences, we try to understand the behaviour of individuals in collective settings. In
such settings, the best course of action for the individual often depends on the actions of others.
For example, the decision to dress formally or informally for a dinner party depends on how we
think others will be dressing. Game theory is the formal analysis of decision making in such
interdependent situations in which an individual’s best course of action depends on the actions of
others. This module presents a non-technical introduction to non-cooperative game theory.

R drop-in sessions Autumn, Year 3

SRI recognizes the importance and benefits of coding to undergraduate students. It also
appreciates the challenges of engaging students in this area and in providing a supporting
environment in which students can develop coding skills. We would like to trial an approach to
provide coding support for students in the BSc of Social Science with Data Science. This entails a 2-
hour weekly/biweekly session (60 hours in total between October and May) during term time in
which anyone engaged in coding (in particular R), or not currently doing any coding but thinking
about a problem that could be addressed via programming, could bring their laptop to work on a
particular problem or to discuss it with others. The PGTA would facilitate the sessions, help
students with their questions but will also encourage participants to engage with one another.

Economics of Developing Countries (SOCS0077)

Autumn, Year 3
Module leader: Dr Nikki Shure
Description
In this course, we cover the fundamental topics of economics of developing countries. This
includes the literature on growth, income inequality and poverty, health and fertility, education,
market failures and trade. The purpose of the course is twofold. First, to understand the interplay
between politics and institutions on growth rates, income inequality and poverty in a developing
country context. Second, to understand and apply formal, but relatively simple, economic models.
We will discuss papers that use quantitative methods to derive empirical results, and have guest
lectures from practitioners in the field of international development, thereby increasing your
understanding of an economist’s “tool kit”.

Citizenship, political exclusion and the racialised state

(SOCS0097), Autumn, Year 3
Module leader: Dr Victoria Redclift
This course will introduce some of the key theoretical, historical and contemporary debates
around the relationship between citizenship and racialized exclusion. It will set the background by
exploring the origins and development of racism, from the Enlightenment to Trans-Atlantic
Slavery, the British Empire and beyond, before examining theoretical debates on the relationship
between the state, the nation and its citizens. What does it mean to be a citizen? Is it always the
same in law and fact? How and why are people stripped of their citizenship? And in what ways are
these in/exclusions produced in space and place. In doing so, it will focus on the way that
racialized discourses have come to be operationalised in a range of social processes and
institutions, examining how the state is implicated in racial definition and racial management, and
the role that ‘race thinking’ has played in the production of inequalities and exclusions. The course
will also consider the articulation and intersection of citizenship with other forms of social
differentiation such as gender and class. Students will examine racial formations of citizenship in
relation to historical and contemporary examples from across the globe.

Ageing and Society (SOCS0082), Autumn, Year 3

Module leader: Dr Dylan Kneale
Populations globally are ageing rapidly. Consistently lower birth rates and higher levels of life
expectancy are transforming population structures, and the proportion of older people has
surpassed that of younger people in many countries.

Advances in life expectancy are a testament to human achievement, and growing numbers of
older people are a cause for celebration. However, continued squeezing of dependency ratios,
with fewer people of working age available to support younger and older people, presents a
challenge to decision-makers in (re)developing social policies that transform traditional notions of
ageing and older age across a range of policy areas. This module will critically explore the
challenges of population ageing from a number of standpoints, and will encourage students to
consider the extent to which policy-makers are also responding to the opportunities that
increasing numbers of older people in society can bring.

Power, Conflict and Collective Action: The Sociology of

Social Movements (SOCS0088), Autumn, Year 3
Module leader: Dr Aris Komporozos-Athanasiou
Why do social movements emerge? How has the civil society mobilised and organised to contest
power and pursue social justice? What is the role of collective action in shaping and changing
politics and society? The module will offer students an introduction to key theoretical debates in
the sociology of social movements, considering issues such as citizen rights, political protest,
emotion and embodied movements, art activism, populist/nationalist movements, violence,
social justice and social change. The sessions will draw on a set of diverse historical and
contemporary empirical illustrations from both the Global North and Global South, to critically
evaluate the theories’ relevance for the study of different types of movements

Introduction to Qualitative Methods (SOCS0052),

Autumn, Masters
Module leader: Dr Meena Khatwa
Description
This module introduces students to different approaches to qualitative research design,
data collection/generation and analysis. Students will develop skills in computer aided
qualitative analysis using NVIVO and undertake a small piece of qualitative analysis
themselves. On completion of the module students should be able to demonstrate their
ability to: Understand how methods and theory are linked in qualitative research;
demonstrate an understanding of qualitative data interpretation, presentation and ethical
awareness; apply different approaches to qualitative interviews and data
collection/generation; exercise reflexivity and ability to interrogate the qualitative research
process and findings; analyse qualitative data using the software NVIVO; and critically
appraise and demonstrate rigour in qualitative research. It is a core module that is
required to study Advanced Qualitative Methods in Term 2. However, please note that
exemptions from this module may be considered for students coming with particularly
strong skills in this area (please discuss directly with the programme leader and inform the
programme administrator).

Social Problems and Intervention (SOCS0093) Autumn,

Masters
Module leader: Dr Jenny Woodman
Description
This module considers how social problems emerge and are defined as such, and the role and
appropriateness of social interventions as a response. In doing so, it maintains an international
perspective.
Course sessions will address issues such as:

 What makes a problem social

 Whether to intervene and the ethical and ideological implications involved
 Factors to consider when deciding how to intervene
 The impact of social institutions and organisations explored through the lens of actual
practice

Systematic Review Design and Planning (SOCS0060)

Autumn, Masters
Module leader: Dr Kelly Dickson
Description
Systematic reviews use robust methods to identify and examine existing research reports on a
given topic and to produce accessible, reliable and useful syntheses or maps of research, often for
policy or practice audiences. Students will learn the principles underlying all systematic reviews,
and the ways that they vary – from different types of research question through to methods for
synthesising both quantitative and qualitative findings. Students will apply tools that aid review
production and apply methods to formulate review questions, identify research, classify and
appraise studies, and plan syntheses of findings. They will apply their learning so as to critically
appraise existing review reports

Understanding the Policy Process (SOCS0058) Autumn,

Masters
Module leader: Ms Janice Tripney
Description
This course aims to develop understanding of the policy process and skills in policy analysis.
Students will be introduced to a selection of important policy theories and their use for studying
the making of social policy. Although much of the material refers to the UK policy context, the
focus of the course is international and students attend with an interest in a range of social policy
sectors and disciplines. After taking this course students should: Have a critical insight into the
policy process and how and why change may occur, including the influence of social research at
different stages; Know about a selection of important policy theories and recognise their main
strengths and weaknesses; Be aware of key issues and challenges related to the study of the
policy process; Be able to apply these insights to a case study that demonstrates understanding of
how and why specific policies were developed.

Introduction to Regression Analysis (SOCS0053)

Autumn, Masters
Module leader: Dr Kirstine Hansen
This module is an introduction to regression analysis. It will be a pre-requisite for all advanced
quantitative modules in Term 2. However, please note that exemptions from this module may be
considered for students coming with particularly strong skills in this area (please discuss directly
with the programme leader and inform the programme administrator).

The module starts with an introduction to Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression and the
assumption behind them and moves through topics on OLS violations, transforming variables,
non-linear effects, dummy variables and interactions and finished with a range of limited
dependent variable models.

Each lecture will be mirrored by a practical workshop seminar where students will put the
analytical techniques introduced in the lectures to use. Students will analyse a large datasets using
a statistical computer package (STATA) and will be encouraged to develop good practice in
presenting and interpreting the statistics they produce. By the end of the course students will be
able to carry out an independent piece of research using regression techniques and will present
this work in class. Students should also be able to analyse critically the use of statistics in social
research and to feel comfortable with using different regression techniques to answer questions
about social phenomena.

Introduction to Economics II (SOCS0031) Spring, Year 1

Module leader: Mr Bilal Nasim
Description
The goal of this course is twofold. First, to familiarize students with basic concepts and principles
of how economic thinking builds market-level phenomena from individual decisions of economic
agents, and how market-level phenomena lead to economy-wide consequences. Second, the
course aims to teach students a solid understanding of a basic micro- and macroeconomic toolkit
to address how markets work or fail, and how public policies may affect economic outcomes. By
the end of the term, students will have the skills to analyse simple versions of, for instance,
antitrust regulations, or the effects of government spending. Introducing students to how
economists analyse (“model”) real-world situations is a key part of the course, just as much as to
get a flavour of how micro- and macroeconomics is used in public policy debates.

Politics: From Power to Participation (SOCS0087)

Spring, Year 1
Module leader: Dr Karen Schucan Bird
Description
This module takes you on an introductory tour of the discipline of politics, from power to
participation. It presents the varied and contested nature of the political realm, beginning with a
broad understanding of politics as an everyday process and moving towards a narrow focus on the
institutions of democratic politics. Along the way, students will encounter a range of key political
concepts including nation, state, global governance, representation, and anti-politics. Every week,
the module considers a real-world issue, ranging from the climate crisis and international
migration to the Covid19 pandemic. You will be encouraged to make connections between the
discipline of politics, global affairs, and your everyday life. The module includes a series of active
reading/ writing activities to provide you with the opportunity to develop and sharpen your
critical thinking skills. Join us for this interesting and intellectual journey.

Economics of Education (SOCS0042) Spring, Year 2

Module leader: Mr Bilal Nasim
Description
Students will become familiar with key concepts, facts, and trends regarding higher education,
including: university revenue sources and the drivers of expenditures, efforts to improve socio-
economic gaps in participation and attainment, the many roles of financial aid, higher education
and the labour market, and the debate about higher education accountability.

Quantitative Research Methods (SOCS0035) Spring,

Year 2
Module leader: Dr David Frost
Description
The module aims to give students a solid understanding of the principles and practice of
quantitative research methods. The emphasis is on the application of statistical models to large-
scale datasets and the interpretation of the results. It builds on the first-year modules
Introduction to Social Science Research and Discovering Qualitative and Quantitative Methods.
During the first six weeks, the module introduces the principles and practice of data handling, a
review of probability and statistics, comparison of two groups with t- and non-parametric tests,
comparison of multiple groups with ANOVA/ANCOVA, and measures of association. The last four
weeks treat the regression framework which is a generalization of the methods discussed in the
first six weeks. Within the regression framework, the analysis of binary outcomes is also discussed
(i.e., logistic regression). Through weekly tutorials, students gain hands-on experience with the
data analysis software (SPSS) and of applying quantitative methods to real-world datasets.

R drop-in sessions Spring, Year 3

SRI recognizes the importance and benefits of coding to undergraduate students. It also
appreciates the challenges of engaging students in this area and in providing a supporting
environment in which students can develop coding skills. We would like to trial an approach to
provide coding support for students in the BSc of Social Science with Data Science. This entails a 2-
hour weekly/biweekly session (60 hours in total between October and May) during term time in
which anyone engaged in coding (in particular R), or not currently doing any coding but thinking
about a problem that could be addressed via programming, could bring their laptop to work on a
particular problem or to discuss it with others. The PGTA would facilitate the sessions, help
students with their questions but will also encourage participants to engage with one another.

International Development (SOCS0085) Spring, Year 3

Module leader: Dr Mukdarut Bangpan
Description
This module will introduce students to the historical and institutional context and key ideas
shaping theory, policy, and practice in international development. It will introduce students to
contemporary debates and real-world issues in international development including globalisation,
economic development, education, health, social protection, violence and conflict, drawing on
work in economics, anthropology, social policy, and development studies. Students will explore
the diversity, challenges, and critiques of international development in different regional contexts
and settings, fostering an inclusive research and learning community through small group
discussions, group work, and presentations, using selected case studies and examples.
Social Networks (SOCS0081) Spring, Year 3
Module leader: Dr Ozan Aksoy
Description
Social networks constitute a form of social structure that is present in almost all social situations
and interactions. Social networks influence the actions of their individual members and affect
many aspects of people’s life. The module presents an introduction to social networks and treats
the fundamental tools and concepts of the analysis of social networks. These include the methods
to collect and handle social network data, types of networks, structures and components of
networks, various measures and metrics that describe a network and its components (centrality,
degree, clustering, etc.). Next to these tools, the module presents applications of social network
analysis to the study of important social phenomena such as social capital, crime, politics, the
spread of diseases and ideas, the labour market, homophily, social media, and networks between
organisations and countries. Through weekly problem sets, students gain hands-on experience of
analysing social network data with the R statistical software. No prior knowledge of R is assumed.

Love, Intimacy and Sexuality (SOCS0096) Spring, Year

3
Module leader: Dr Katherine Twamley
Description
This module explores the debates and social research evidence around personal relationships in
contemporary society. The module will mainly draw on sociological and anthropological
scholarship. Students will learn about the interplay between intimate life and social organisation,
to understand better how wider social forces shape the most personal of experiences. Drawing on
scholarship from across the globe, the module will explore how intimacy and love differ across the
cultural, socio-economic and political contexts in which individuals live. The module will explore
different kinds of ‘intimate relationships’, whether romantic, family or friendship based. Sexuality
will be explored as a practice of intimacy. Students will also explore the range of methodological
approaches and ethical dilemmas involved in researching personal life and sexual practice.

Food and Society (SOCS0098) Spring, Year 3

Module leader: Dr Rebecca O’Connell
Description
Food is fundamental to survival and a powerful lens with which to view social realities. Social
groups are reproduced by activities such as eating together whilst food practices are constrained
by inequitable access to material resources and subject to intense moral scrutiny.
This module provides a broad introduction to the study of food and eating in the social sciences,
particularly sociology and anthropology, and why they are now high on many countries’ policy
agendas. Taking an historical and international approach, students will explore innovative social
scientific contributions to the study of global challenges including dietary health, food poverty and
sustainability.

Comparative Social Policy (SOCS0094) Spring, Masters

Module leader: Dr Hayley Jones
Description
This course introduces students to the study of social policy in comparative perspective. It begins
by laying out a range of methods and theoretical approaches used for comparative policy analysis,
encouraging a critical appreciation of the advantages and challenges of comparisons in policy
analyses. It then shifts to consider various key actors and institutions that shape social policy in
diverse contexts, before concluding with a closer examination of several policy areas of
international and global significance, including poverty, conflict, and migration. This course takes
an explicitly international approach to the study of comparative social policy, drawing on
conceptual approaches and illustrative policy examples that cut across traditional boundaries
between the Global North and South.

Evidence for Policy and Practice (SOCS0057) Spring,

Masters
Module leader: Dr Carol Rivas
Description
This module aims to provide students with a broad overview of how the range of methods,
designs and approaches used in social research may contribute to policy. It also aims to encourage
a critical appreciation of the opportunities, benefits and challenges of using research evidence to
inform and influence social policy and professional practice. Illustrative examples drawn from
different policy contexts are used throughout the module to support the theoretical material.
Although much of the material refers to the UK policy context, the focus of the module is
international and students attend with an interest in a range of social policy sectors and
disciplines.

Impact Evaluation Methods Spring, Masters

Module leader: Professor Lorraine Dearden
Description
This interdisciplinary module introduces students to Impact Evaluation Methods and their use in
the social sciences. The module will emphasise the application of quasi-experimental evaluation
methods in the 'real world', and its potential impact upon government policy. Students will learn
about key elements of quasi-experimental methods, and be able to critically evaluate their
strengths and weaknesses.

The module has a high practical element, with students regularly analysing data. Topics to be
covered include propensity score matching, regression discontinuity designs, difference-in-
difference, instrumental variables and cost-benefit analyses. Upon completing the module,
students will be able to design an effective quasi-experimental impact evaluation, and understand
how the results can influence public policy.

Using Stata Efficiently and Effectively (SOCS0055)

Spring, Masters
Module leader: Professor John Jerrim
Description
This module teaches students advanced programming in Stata. It will begin by providing a revision
of data analysis documentation using the Stata do-file editor. The course will then move on to
show students how they can access Stata results post-estimation, and move the results to other
formats, such as Excel or.csv files. It will illustrate how loops, local and global macros can be used
in Stata to perform repetitive tasks efficiently and effectively. The module will then cover the Stata
program command, providing students with a basic introduction to Stata .ado file writing. The
final weeks will illustrate how Stata can be used to produce replicable graphs in Excel.