ID:
508735
Duration (hours):
44
CFU:
6
SSD:
SOCIOLOGIA GENERALE
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Primo Semestre (22/09/2025 - 19/12/2025)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The course provides a critical overview of the main theoretical and methodological tools used in conducting quantitative empirical research within the social sciences. Particular focus will be given to key research paradigms, research design, and data collection techniques, with an emphasis on the development of standardised questionnaires. By the end of the course, students will have gained a strong understanding of the fundamentals of the quantitative approach to social research. They will have the skills to design and implement a research project, develop sampling plans, and create standardised questionnaires. Moreover, they will be able to evaluate research conducted by others to make informed decisions. Finally, they will be capable of clearly communicating and rigorously justifying their methodological choices and research findings.
Course Prerequisites
None
Teaching Methods
The course lessons will be organised through a blend of lectures and practical exercises. Students will be actively involved in self-assessment activities, case study discussions, designing data collection tools (such as questionnaire items), and simulating various phases of the research process. Active participation will be considered an essential part of the learning experience.
Assessment Methods
The exam, which lasts two hours, consists of a quiz with twenty multiple-choice or true/false questions and two open-ended questions. Both parts will be graded on a 30-point scale, and the final grade will be calculated as the average of the two scores.
Texts
Corbetta, P. (2015). La ricerca sociale: metodologia e tecniche. Bologna: il Mulino (volumes and chapters will be indicated at the beginning of the course) Meraviglia, C. (2022). Metodologia delle scienze sociali. Rome: Carocci (chapters will be indicated at the beginning of the course)
Contents
The course is divided into three parts, each designed to provide a gradual and comprehensive understanding of the theoretical and practical foundations of quantitative research in the social sciences. In the first part, the concept of science and the emergence of the scientific method will be discussed, with particular reference to its application in the study of social phenomena. The main epistemological and methodological approaches that characterise research in the social sciences will also be examined, with the aim of developing a critical awareness of different research traditions. The second part will focus on the conceptual foundations of scientific discourse, covering topics such as the relationship between theory and empirical research, the formulation of hypotheses, and the definition of variables and units of analysis. This section will explore the tools necessary for designing a research project, with particular attention to the logical and operational development of a quantitative study. In the third part, the focus will be on constructing quantitative data. It will examine the main data collection tools, particularly the design of standardised questionnaires. Topics will include question formulation, questionnaire structure, response coding, and data analysis preparation.
Course Language
Italian
More information
Students enrolled in the Inclusive Learning Modalities program (“Modalità didattiche inclusive) are requested to contact the Professor and the Degree Course Coordinator in order to assess specific needs and define targeted support actions.
Degrees
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BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Master’s Degree
2 years
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