Strategies for Social and Cultural Analysis

Catalog description

This course examines the practice and theory of research methods that are commonly used in social and cultural analysis. Through an experiential approach to a variety of methods, we will consider not only how research is conducted, but also how particular methods generate knowledge about social life. Rather than seeking a singular method through which we can fully ‘know’ the social world, we will concentrate on the unique perspectives that different methodologies contribute. In order to gain a comparative perspective on a variety of methods, the course is organized as an exploration of some features of the modern landscape of work. The readings span the era of industrialization and the transition to post-industrial employment.