What's the problem? Debating responses to Contemporary Social Challenges

Module overview

The analysis of social problems is a key area of sociological and criminological investigation. However, not all problems experienced by individuals are recognised as social problems by society and not all publicly recognised social problems are also discussed by policy-makers. Why do some issues come to be regarded as social problems ? Is this always because there is clear evidence the issues are socially harmful? What else affects this process? And why are only some of these issues taken up by policy makers? Are the public policy responses to the identified problems always appropriate? This course seeks to address these questions by exploring both theoretical and empirical perspectives. Empirically, it will focus on poverty, migration and youth crime (?). How have these issues been understood as problems and in what ways has this understanding affected the public policy response?

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Communicate ideas and arguments orally and in the context of formal presentations
Identify the different ways in which the key issues discussed in the module have been identified, defined and explained as social problems
Work with others in the investigation of problems, and in the presentation of arguments and evidence
Work independently and manage your time in order to complete the required reading and assignments for your modules
Communicate ideas and arguments in a variety of written formats
Identify and explore complex social problems and assess public policy solutions
Identify and critically evaluate the main theoretical approaches used to analyse social problems and demonstrate how these may be applied in the analysis of the issues discussed in the module
Evaluate the appropriateness of recent policy responses to at least one of the identified problems, drawing upon relevant theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

The lecture will include 15 lectures - two per week – and nine tutorials four of which will be student-led. The lectures are designed to impart knowledge and encourage students to undertake directed reading and research. The tutorials will explore in more detail the debates considered in the lectures, testing student engagement with the tasks set. The student-led tutorials include a range of activities to develop students’ foundational knowledge and academic skills, particularly independent learning and group work.

Study time
Type	Hours
Guided independent study	4
Tutorial	5
Lecture	15
Independent Study	126
Total study time	150

Assessment

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Assessed written tasks	30%
Essay	70%

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Essay	70%
Assessed written tasks	30%

Module overview

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Syllabus

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

Assessment

Summative

Repeat