Topics

The details for the course, Studies in Social Problems (SOCY2058), apply to all of the following topics. Specific descriptions for Syllabus and Proposed Assessment that apply to each topic are detailed below.

Doing Criminology

Syllabus

The purpose of this course is to gain an insight into how criminologists undertake research on policy related crime and punishment issues in Australia, and to develop an understanding of key methodological techniques and principles that criminologists use to study crime.

The course will focus on working through 4 cases studies that address different crime related issues in Australian society and examine how those studies were conducted.  The course will begin by learning the logic of research methodology and key concepts and principles that underpin social science inquiry. The four case studies will be:

1. Measuring and monitoring drug related crime in Australia
2. Developing an ACT property crime strategy
3. Evaluating the Queensland Drug Court
4. Evaluating CCTV in sexual assault cases

This course is weighted towards quantitative research methods which are an extremely powerful way to explore substantive research questions in criminology.  Skills in quantitative research and data analysis are highly sought after by employers in both public and private sectors.

Indicative Assessment

Critical evaluation 1 (1200 words) 20% [LO 1 - 6]

Critical Evaluation 2 (1200 words) 20% [LO 1 - 6]

Final Exam 50% [LO 1, 3, 4]

The Sociology of Popular Music

Syllabus

For most people in Australian society, there would rarely be a day when they do not encounter popular music in some form, whether through voluntarily choosing music to listen to on an iPod or car stereo, going to gigs, or being exposed to it in shops, movies, television shows and commercials. This course aims to provide a theoretical basis for understanding this music sociologically. The course will cover the beginnings of popular music in order to provide a historical background for the music of today and the theories that have been used to ‘explain' it. It will then use case studies of forms of popular music such as punk, rap, heavy metal and ‘pop' to explore the connections between music and society. Music's relationship with youth cultures, moral panics, tastes and social hierarchies will be examined in order to develop an understanding of how and why particular musical forms arise at particular points in time, and why they receive the responses they do. Music's emotional and embodied affects in our everyday lives will also be explored.

Indicative Assessment

May vary, usually one 3000 word essay or report (min. 30%), a final examination or another essay (min. 30%), and tutorial participation will be required. Details will be discussed with students.

The information published on the Study at ANU 2012 website applies to the 2012 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2011 website.