CSOn4003 Advanced Methods of Interpretation in Cultural Sociology

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 12 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Csaba Szaló, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Dr. Werner Binder (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Csaba Szaló, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Supplier department: Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 16:00–17:40 P24a
Prerequisites
! SOC575 Methods of Interpretation
Good knowledge of English
Interest in qualitative social research
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 10/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 9 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
Upon successful completion of the course students should have a broad knowledge in methodology and methods of interpretation used in cultural sociology and related fields. Students should be able to deliver sociological interpretations of images and texts, including interviews and media discourses.
Learning outcomes
The lecture gives the students an overview over theories, methods and techniques of interpretation important for qualitative social research and cultural sociology. The first half deals with the fundamentals of interpretation, whereas the second half is devoted to different areas of research and specific methodological instruments. The lecture concludes with a written test, which consists of a question-and-answer part as well as an interpretation exercise as practical part.
Syllabus
  • I What is Interpretation?
  • II On Methodology
  • III Understanding: Phenomenological Hermeneutics
  • IV Critical Hermeneutics
  • V Interpretive Communities
  • Structuralism and Poststructuralism
  • Reading Week
  • VII Structural Hermeneutics I
  • VIII Structural Hermeneutics II
  • IX Interpretation of Artifacts and Practices
  • X Interpretation of Pictures
  • XI Texts, Narratives and Interviews
  • XII Discourse Analysis
  • Final Test
Literature
  • TAVORY, Iddo and Stefan TIMMERMANS. Abductive analysis : theorizing qualitative research. Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2014, 172 stran. ISBN 9780226180311. info
  • FLICK, Uwe. An introduction to qualitative research. 5th ed. Los Angeles: Sage, 2014, xxvii, 587. ISBN 9781446267790. info
  • The SAGE handbook of qualitative data analysis. Edited by Uwe Flick. Los Angeles: Sage, 2014, xxiii, 634. ISBN 9781446208984. info
  • Iconic power : materiality and meaning in social life. Edited by Jeffrey C. Alexander - Dominik Bartmanski - Bernhard Giesen. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011, 262 s. ISBN 9780230340053. info
  • REED, Isaac. Interpretation and social knowledge : on the use of theory in the human sciences. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2011, 194 s. ISBN 9780226706740. info
  • SMITH, Philip and Alexander RILEY. Cultural theory : an introduction. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell, 2009, 307 p. ISBN 9781405169073. URL info
  • ALEXANDER, Jeffrey C. The meanings of social life : a cultural sociology. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003, 296 p. ISBN 9780195306408. info
  • EMMISON, Michael and Philip SMITH. Researching the visual : images, objects, contexts and interactions in social and cultural inquiry. 1st pub. London: SAGE Publications, 2000, xiii, 242. ISBN 0761958460. info
Teaching methods
Lecture
Assessment methods
Written exam (100%): 90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D, 50-59 = E, 0-49 = F Additional points may be given for participation during lecture (for example for comments and questions)
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
Requirements for Passing the Course:

Regular attendance and written test based on the content of the lecture and the obligatory readings.

The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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