| Unit name | Segregation and Inequality in International Perspective |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOL10038 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Paskov |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Participants enrolled in the QRM pathways are required to take Convincing stories? Numbers as evidence in the social sciences (UNIV10002) |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The aim of the unit is to consider the extent of inequality and segregation in different societies giving particular consideration to what is meant by segregation and inequality, how these concepts may be formalised and measured, how the measurement affects our impression of the severity of social divisions and the ways in which measurement shapes policy discourse on inequality and segregation. The unit provides a student-friendly introduction to a key issue in social science: how do we take an idea, turn it into something measurable, and what are the consequences of doing so?
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
The unit provides an introduction to social research methods, specifically the issue of measurement, through the exploration of societal divisions and the perpetuation of inequalities. It aims at developing critical thinking skills in the use of data and numbers and empirical skills which are important in the field of social policy.
An overview of content
Each week you will be exposed to a different dimension of inequality and segregation. In the lectures you will learn about the theoretical underpinnings of the concepts while in the seminars you will put into practice this learning by applying it to some concrete exercises with the use of data and software.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will be encouraged to reassert your knowledge on issues related to inequality and segregation. By exploring the concepts theoretically and formulating definitions you will develop better understanding of the theory linked to the different dimensions of inequality. The seminars will help you narrow down these definitions into measures of inequality suitable for quantitative data analysis. The process will encourage you to develop critical thinking of data and analysis which will be crucial when evaluating policy reports and media or conducting your own empirical research.
Learning Outcomes
The unit will be delivered through a combination of weekly lectures, weekly computer labs, study groups and self-directed exercises. Formative exercises will be undertaken during the computer labs to prepare for the summative assessment. Feedback on formative assessments will be provided during the lab. Feedback will also be provided on the summative assessment at the end of the unit.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Exercises undertaken during 2-hour seminars will help you prepare the summative assessment.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Data analysis report (3000 words maximum, 100%)
This assessment will cover all of the unit ILOs.
When assessment does not go to plan
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, you may be offered an opportunity for reassessment. This will comprise a task of the same format as the original assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOL10038).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
