Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Trends and Problems of Modern Society
Course Code
KSK_236
Branch of Science
Sociology and social work
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Information and Communication Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Andris Saulītis
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
To extend students’ knowledge of the trends in the contemporary society in general and in certain areas of the society: employment, family life, education, etc., using the research and statistical data about Latvia and other European and world countries to characterize the changes in trends.
Preliminary Knowledge
Not applicable.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.• Knowledge of contemporary society, its values, national development models and global changes taking place in modern societies and their impact on various areas of the society: family, employment, education. • Knowledge of statistical and research data and sources used for assessment of the society and comparative analysis. • Understanding of the trends in societal changes and the main challenges related to ageing society, social inclusion and social inequality.
Skills
1.• Describe and identify social processes and social problems occurring in Latvia and worldwide on the basis of statistical and social research data. • Critically analyse, explain and discuss in a reasoned way factor relationships (correlations) or causal relationships (causality) observed in the research.
Competences
1.Selection of data sources and methods suitable for assessment of modern society, for analysis of the impact of ongoing social processes and problems in various areas of social life and for interpretation of the obtained results both in Latvia and globally.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Individual work |
-
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-
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Work with literature.
Search and compilation of data while preparing the report and seminar assignments.
Presentation of reports and seminar assignments.
In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Examination |
-
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-
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Presentations of seminar assignments: 70%.
Report, its presentation: 30%.
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Definition of the society. Social mehanisms of a society. The role and methods of sociology in identifying and studying social problems
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Social influence and change. Evolution and biology, genes and culture. Wisdom of crowds and individual behaviour
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Identification of change in 21st century
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Inequality in the 21st century. Social inequality and stratification, changes of socio-political structure in Latvia during the 20th century
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
|
Post-socialism Eastern Europe
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
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Topics
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Technologies and society. Social networks, big data, algorithms, surveillance and tracking
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Digitalization and society
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Capitalism in the 21st century. Households and welfare. Employment and work
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Work in the 21st century
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Consumption in 21st century
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Report presentations and discussions
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Report presentations and discussions
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
24 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Stephens-Davidowitz, Seth. 2017. Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are. New York, NY: Dey Street Books.
2.
Dzenovska, D. 2018. School of Europeanness: Tolerance and Other Lessons in Political Liberalism in Latvia. Cornell University Press.
3.
Sumpter, David. 2018. Outnumbered: From Facebook and Google to Fake News and Filter-Bubbles – The Algorithms That Control Our Lives. 1st edition. Bloomsbury Sigma.
4.
Susskind, D. 2020. A World Without Work: Technology, Automation and How We Should Respond. Penguin UK.
5.
Wallace-Wells, David. 2019. The Uninhabitable Earth : Life After Warming. New York : Tim Duggan Books.
Additional Reading
1.
Lāce T. 2012. Sociālā atstumtība Latvijā: situācijas raksturojums un politikas analīze. Zinātne.
2.
Sabiedrības novecošana: sociālā aizsardzība, nevienlīdzība un darba tirgus riski. LU FSI.
3.
Therborn, G. 2011. The World. A Beginner’s Guide. Cambridge, Polity Press
4.
Daudzveidīgās un mainīgās Latvijas identitātes. 2014. LU Akadēmiskais apgāds.
5.
Latvija. Pārskats par tautas attīstību, pieejami no: http://www.szf.lu.lv