SP30371: The sociology of experts and evidence
[Page last updated: 03 June 2024]
| Academic Year: | 2024/25 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Social & Policy Sciences |
| Credits: | 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 120 |
| Level: | Honours (FHEQ level 6) |
| Period: |
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| Assessment Summary: | CW 100% |
| Assessment Detail: |
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
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| Requisites: | |
| Learning Outcomes: |
By the end of the unit students will be able to:
1) Critically evaluate the role of the expert and evi-dence in late modern societies
2) Drawing upon sociological theory, examine and explain the contemporary problem of trust in experts and evidence
3) Range across examples, case studies, and empirics to illustrate the meaning and operation of expertise
4) Assess the impact - short-term and long-term - of the changing role of experts and evidence on social institutions, politics, and policy
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| Synopsis: | Explore the recent decline in trust in experts and official sources of evidence.
You'll engage with key sociological debates about the function of trust, the bases of knowledge and authority, and the role of the expert in late modern societies, with a particular focus on criminal justice and health.
You'll also look at the various challenges to expertise and evidence, including populism, `alternative' sources of knowledge, and the rise of the lay-expert.
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| Aims: | By the end of the unit students will be able to:
1) Critically evaluate the role of the expert and evidence in late modern societies
2) Drawing upon sociological theory, examine and explain the contemporary problem of trust in experts and evidence
3) Range across examples, case studies, and empirics to illustrate the meaning and operation of expertise
4) Assess the impact - short-term and long-term - of the changing role of experts and evidence on social institutions, politics, and policy
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| Skills: | Critical thinking
The ability to apply theory and concepts to practical, real-world cases and examples
Essay-writing skills |
| Content: | The early twenty-first century is characterised by a sharp decline in trust in experts and official sources of evidence. This unit examines and theorises this important social development, sets it in historical perspective, and engages with key sociological debates about the function of trust, the bases of knowledge and authority, and the role of the expert in late modern societies. We look, too, at the various challenges to expertise and evidence - including populism, `alternative' sources of knowledge, and the rise of the lay-expert. Particular attention is given to criminal justice and health as two sites where experts and evidence are especially important - and now particularly subject to contestation. |
| Course availability: |
SP30371 is Optional on the following courses:Department of Social & Policy Sciences
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Notes:
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