Unit rationale, description and aim
Understanding the power and impact of social networks is key for a range of professions working in the global community in the twenty-first century. Interactions with other individuals generate enduring relationships and commitments through which links and connections are established. This unit provides an overview of key concepts and major issues concerning social networks as interactive relationships and the resources that emerges from them, widely described as social capital. Using comparative approaches students will explore different analysis and cutting-edge research findings concerning social networks and social capital, and associated debates. Students will be provided with opportunities to investigate issues that arise from the study of social capital, including community, trust, and a range of interactively generated social resources. The unit aims to offer a critical perspective for understanding cultural, historical and institutional approaches to social networks and social capital in the context of real-world experiences.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unitLearning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Identify different sociological approaches and per...
Learning Outcome 01
Demonstrate skills in sociological analysis and cr...
Learning Outcome 02
Communicate clearly and comprehensively through wr...
Learning Outcome 03
Construct specific sociological arguments using re...
Learning Outcome 04
Apply relevant sociological theories, concepts, an...
Learning Outcome 05
Content
Topics will include:
- key concepts of social capital and social networks
- social capital: resources from and in social networks
- different approaches to understanding and debating social capital and networks
- power in and from networks
- network ties
- social obligation and resources
- variation in social network practices generative of different types of social capital that operate in different societies, reflecting differences in socially valued resources.
- different types of social networks including family and kinship networks, friendship networks, on-line networks
- the ‘small world’ phenomenon and similar demonstrations of pervasive network pathways
- themes arising out of consideration of the network constitution of societies in general
- specific nature of social capital as a resource available to groups and individuals as well as its (un)equal distribution and the mechanisms associated with its operations
Assessment strategy and rationale
Assessment tasks for the unit are designed to encourage and contribute to student learning and at the same time to ascertain the success of the learning process. Assessments are designed to meet unit learning outcomes and encourage development of graduate outcomes. A variety of tasks are undertaken by students enrolled in the unit in order to develop skills appropriate to a second-year study in sociology. Oral presentations allow students to critically discuss their analysis of social phenomenon by applying and possibly developing theories and concepts, knowledge of which is acquired in the unit. The research project and the summative task provide students with opportunities to demonstrate critical thinking skills and apply intellectually sensitive theoretical arguments in empirical analysis and research on various cultural and social contexts.
Overview of assessments
Oral presentation Requires students to demonstra...
Oral presentation
Requires students to demonstrate their critical thinking skills and understanding of key concepts related to social capital.
20%
Research project Requires students to inves...
Research project
Requires students to investigate and critically consider different cultural social practices and social capital. Topics on Canvas.
35%
Summative task Requires students to apply theore...
Summative task
Requires students to apply theoretical arguments and evidence-based analysis.
45%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
The unit’s learning and teaching strategy is based on the delivery of lectures and student participation in tutorials. Lectures provide students with expert knowledge of unit material organized in terms of theoretical approaches, case material and problem solving. Lectures provide students with opportunities to learn relevant theoretical approaches and case material in order to enhance their reflections on the topic and subject matter and independently seek additional readings and other sources. Tutorials provide students with opportunities for active participation in learning through discussion and debate, preparing and delivering oral presentations and raising questions directed to further exploration of topics. Student participation in tutorials is expected.
This is a 10-credit point unit and has been designed to ensure that the time needed to complete the required volume of learning to the requisite standard is approximately 150 hours in total across the semester. To achieve a passing standard in this unit, students will find it helpful to engage in the full range of learning activities and assessments utilised in this unit. The learning and teaching and assessment strategies include a range of approaches to support your learning such as reading, reflection, discussion, webinars, podcasts, video etc.