Social Research and Sociology of Professions

The course aims to provide students with the theoretical and methodological knowledge which is necessary to analyze - in a sociological perspective - professional contexts and professions, defined as a social phenomenon, as well as the principle of regulation of the work characteristic of contemporary societies. The logics of action of professional groups will be illustrated, focusing on the dynamics of the labor market, the political and social arenas and the organizations, both in the public and private sectors, using the conceptual apparatus of the sociology of professions. There will be the opportunity to make use of the main methodological tools useful to analyze these social phenomena and to study professional contexts and professions and it will be possible to manage the three main phases of an empirical research: the study design, the work on field and the analysis of collected material.

At the end of the course the student will develop the skills that allow him/her to collect information and data necessary to identify the role of professional action logics in social, economic and political phenomena, in order to independently develop his/her own interpretation of the behaviors observed. The student will be able to define the goals and to autonomously elaborate the research questions and the choice of the techniquesadopted to analyze the different social phenomena. The student will also develop adequate communication skills, with particular regard to the specific language relating to the theoretical and methodological aspects of the sociology of the professions; he/she will be able to properly discuss and argue his/her personal opinion and theses on situations connected to these studies and on topics that are proposed by the literature or that are empirically observable. The student will know how to analyze, interpret and autonomously deepen - with the proper approach of this discipline - the social, economic and political phenomena in which the regulation and the collective action exercised by the professional groups are relevant.