RITZER, George a STEPNISKY, Jeffrey. (2019) Contemporary sociological theory and its classical roots: the basics. Fifth edition. Los Angeles: Sage. ISBN 978-1-5063-3941-2.
SOPÓCI, J. (2024). Sociologické teórie modernej spoločnosti. Bratislava: Stimul.
SZTOMPKA, P. (2025). A Critical Introduction to Contemporary Social Theory: Key Theories and Theorists of the 21st Century. New York: Roudledge.
100% continuous assessment (ongoing evaluation)
(study and analytical processing of selected texts from current sociological theories, preparation of presentations, discussion)
A prerequisite for successfully completing the continuous assessment is achieving at least 60 points.
Grading scale:
A: 100% – 92%
B: 91% – 84%
C: 83% – 76%
D: 75% – 68%
E: 67% – 60%
FX: 59% – 0%
A violation of academic ethics results in annulment of the points obtained in the relevant assessment item.
The lecturer accepts a maximum of 2 absences with documented proof.
BLOCK I. Introduction to the study of contemporary sociological theory
1.Types of sociological theory; sociological theory as shared background knowledge and as a research specialization
2.New trends in sociological theory in the 21st century; classical problems of sociological theory and new sociological topics of the 21st century
BLOCK II. Contemporary individualist approaches
3. Rational choice theory
4. Contemporary microsociology
5. Actor-network theory
BLOCK III. Contemporary holistic approaches
6. Network theory
7. Reflexive modernization and late modernity
8. Contemporary systems theory
BLOCK IV. Contemporary critical approaches
9. New critical theory I
10. New critical theory II
11. Public sociology
BLOCK V. Contemporary Czech and Slovak sociological theory
12. Contemporary Czech sociological theory
13. Contemporary Slovak sociological theory
100/0
After successfully completing the course, the student acquires or deepens their knowledge of current theoretical sociological concepts and trends in the development of sociological theory, which will help them in the broader conceptualization of their own master’s thesis topic. During the completion of continuous assignments, the student develops their competencies and skills in the analytical work with theoretical texts, which are necessary for creating theoretical and methodological foundations for sociological research of the selected phenomenon.
The course is divided into five blocks. The introductory block familiarizes students with how to navigate contemporary theoretical literature, how to distinguish between different ways of theorizing, and what new topics social development in the 21st century has brought into sociological theory. The following two blocks follow the traditional division of sociology into approaches used in social analysis: those starting from the individual, and those focusing on supra-individual structures when interpreting social phenomena. Alongside these two contrasting approaches, a separate group consists of approaches dominated by an interest in social critique and social change. The final block focuses on contemporary forms of sociological theory in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
CARTWRIGHT, N. – MONTUSCHI, E. (Eds.). Philosophy of Social Science: A New Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014.
FAY, B. Contemporary Philosophy of Social Science: A Multicultural Approach. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 1996.
HOLLIS, M. The Philosophy of Social Science : An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 2012.
KINCAID, H. (Ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Social Science. Oxford: Oxford Unviersity Press, 2012.
RISJORD, M. Philosophy of Social Science : A Contemporary Introduction. Routledge: London, 2022.
Literature will be provided in electronic form. Students will be acquainted with supplementary literature during the course.
Completion of take-home assignments (10 pts), seminar participation (5 pts), and an oral examination (15 pts). Grading scale: A: 100-92%; B: 91-84%; C: 83-76%; D: 75-68%; E: 67-60%; Fx: 59-0%. Violations of academic integrity may result in the annulment of points earned in the relevant rubric. Continuous/final assessment weight: 50/50. Admission to the final assessment is conditional on earning at least 60% of the points available from continuous assessment.
1. Introduction. Social-scientific research as a philosophical problem.
2. The nature of social reality. Social ontology.
3. The problem of "social construction."
4. Individualism versus holism.
5. Reasons, causes, and the explanation of action.
6. Explanation versus interpretation.
7. Laws versus norms.
8. Structure versus agency.
9. Causal reasoning and mechanisms.
10. Qualitative and quantitative research.
11. Philosophical issues of modeling.
12. Facts versus values.
13. The role of critique in the social sciences.
50/50
Students can navigate the fundamental problems of the philosophy of social science. They can define and appropriately apply the basic concepts of the discipline, as well as characterize, compare, and critically evaluate its major positions. Students are also able to identify assumptions originating in (or related to) these positions within existing social-scientific theories across various disciplines (sociology, economics, social anthropology, etc.). They can reason about problems of social-scientific research in terms drawn from the philosophy of social science.
• COLLINS, Alan. Contemporary Security Studies. 4th Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016.
• GARDENR, Dan. Risk: The Science and Politics of Fear. Virgin Books, 2009.
• LUBELCOVÁ, Gabriela. Kriminalita ako spoločenský fenomén. Úvod do sociologicky orientovanej kriminológie. Bratislava: VEDA, 2009. ISBN 978-80-224-1051-9.
• ZINN, Jens O. Social Theories of Risk and Uncertainty: An Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2008.
Supplementary literature and an extended course syllabus will be presented at the beginning of the semester.
a) During the semester: assignments and presentations on selected topics (total of 40 points)
b) During the examination period: written exam (60 points)
A minimum of 20 points from the ongoing assessment is required in order to qualify for the final written exam.
Any violation of academic ethics will result in the annulment of points awarded for the relevant component of the assessment.
Grading scale: 100-92: A 91-84: B 83-76: C 75-68: D 67-60: E 59-0: FX
The instructor allows a maximum of 2 absences with valid documentation.
The exact dates and topics of the ongoing assessments will be announced, and the format specified, at the beginning of the semester.
Exam dates will be published in the AIS system no later than during the last week of the teaching period.
Slovak/English
1. Social theories of risk and uncertainty I. (risk, fear, and threats from a sociological perspective)
2. Social theories of risk and uncertainty II. (theories of risk, governmentality, systems theory)
3. Social theories of risk and uncertainty III. (socio-cultural approach to risk)
4. Security in its various forms (different forms of security, subjective and objective perspectives)
5. Development of security studies (perception of risk and security in various traditions – realism, liberalism, constructivism)
6. Critical views on security (security and threats as products of social and political activities)
7. Feminism in security studies (gender and its role in shaping security and decision-making)
8. Terrorism and terrorists (the threat of terrorism, counter-terrorism efforts and its various forms)
9. Borders and migration (risk and the discourse of otherness, militarization of borders)
10. Crime (conditional factors, fear of criminality)
11. Urban security (technological solutions to security, city design, inclusion and exclusion of the unwanted)
12. Health, risk, and pandemics (the COVID-19 pandemic, framing of threats, political, social, and economic impacts)
13. Digital space, security, and hybrid threats (cybersecurity, disinformation)
40/60.
The course focuses on theories of risk and uncertainty and their constructions by various actors. It critically evaluates security practices through a sociological lens. Students will explore questions such as what constitutes security itself and how various institutions, actors, and practices create and construct uncertainty. The course will examine security as a field of discourses and practices that are applied in different social contexts and across different time periods. By the end of the course, the student will be able to analyze how various measures are taken in the name of security, understand their societal and individual impacts, and critically assess how phenomena and issues are constructed as security threats.
BOTÍKOVÁ, Marta, ŠVECOVÁ, Soňa a Kornélia JAKUBÍKOVÁ. Tradície slovenskej rodiny. Bratislava: VEDA, 1997. ISBN 80-2240-461-6.
• BECK, Ulrich. Riziková společnost. Na cestě k jiné moderně. Praha: SLON, 2018. ISBN
978-80-7419-267-8.
• BECK, Ulrich a Elisabeth BECK-GERNSHEIM. The Normal Chaos of Love. Cambridge: Polity Press,1995. ISBN: 978-0-745-61382-6.
• de SINGLY, Francoise. Sociologie současné rodiny. Praha: Portál, 1999. ISBN 80-7178-249-1.
• DŽAMBAZOVIČ, Roman. Rodinné správanie v demografických dátach. Bratislava: Stimul,
2012. ISBN 987-80-8127-052-9.
• CHORVÁT, Ivan a Roman DŽAMBAZOVIČ (eds.). Rodina na Slovensku v teórii a vo
výskume. Bratislava: Stimul, 2015. ISBN 978-80-8127-151-9.
• KLEIN, David M. a James M. WHITE. Family Theories. An Introduction. London: Sage, 2008. ISBN 978-14-5227-018-0.
• MOYNIHAN, Daniel P., Timothy M. SMEEDING a Lee RAINWATER (eds.). The Future of the Family. New York: Russel Sage Foundation, 2004. ISBN 978-0-87154-628-9.
• MOŽNÝ, Ivo. Rodina a společnost. Praha: SLON, 2006. ISBN 80-86429-58-X.
• RABUŠIC, Ladislav. Kde ty všechny děti jsou? Porodnost v sociologické perspektivě. Praha: SLON, 2001. ISBN 80-86429-01-6.
• ŠPROCHA, Branislav a Juraj MAJO. Storočia populačného vývoja Slovenska I.: demografické procesy. Bratislava: INFOSTAT, UK, 2016. ISBN 978-80-89398-30-0.
• WEEKS, Jeffrey. Sexuality. New York: Routledge, 2023. ISBN: 978-1-032-10534-5.
Additional literature and an extended syllabus of the course will be presented at the beginning and during the semester.
a) during the semester (20 points): papers on selected issues in the field of sociology of family
b) in the examination period (80 points): written test. The student will be admitted to the test only with a minimum of 10 points from continuous evaluation. Violation of academic ethics will be punished, and the student will lose all the received points in the relevant assessment.
Grading scale:
0-59: FX, 60-67: E, 68-75: D, 76-83: C, 84-91: B, 92-100: A
The teacher will accept a maximum of two absences with documentation.
The exact date for continuous evaluation and the topic of the paper will be announced at the beginning of the semester. The dates for the final test will be announced through AIS no later than in the last week of the instruction period.
Slovak
1. Basic Theoretical and Methodological Foundations of Family Research
2.Types of Family and Marriage
3.The Family as a Morphostatic Institution and Criticism of This Concept
4 The Family and Main Approaches to Its Study – Sociological Interpretations of Family and Marriage
5.Traditional Family from the Perspective of Historical Demography
6.Traditional Rural Family and Bourgeois Family
7.(Post)Modern / Contemporary Families (Identification of Changes and Defining Characteristics)
8.Love and Intimacy (Transformations and Contemporary Trends)
9.Family and Demographic Behaviour of the Population of the Slovak Republic Today 1. (Current State, Development, and Trends)
10.Family and Demographic Behaviour of the Population of the Slovak Republic Today 2. (Causes and Consequences)
11.New Forms of Partnership or Intimate Lifestyle 1.
12.New Forms of Partnership or Intimate Lifestyle 2.
13. Selected Topics of Partnership and Family Life in Slovakia
Scale of assessment (preliminary/final): 20/80
The course focuses on selected topics and problem areas of sociology of the family and the so-called sociology of private life. The aim of the course is to expand the knowledge of students about the issues of family and partnership. With the help of an interdisciplinary approach using knowledge not only of sociology but also of history, historical demography, demography, ethnology and social anthropology, students know the development and changes in family and partner behavior and can identify their causes with a primary focus on Slovak realities. At the end of the course, students are able to use selected sociological terms and concepts and have adopted a sociological approach to their grasp and cognition. They use the acquired knowledge and skills in theoretical and empirical research of these phenomena and social facts.
GERBERY, Daniel a Roman HOFREITER (eds.). Spoločnosť a ekonomika: sociologické perspektívy. Bratislava: STIMUL, 2015. ISBN 978-808127-130-4.
HAYES, Adam. Irrational Together. The Social Forces That Invisibly Shape Our Economic Behavior. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2025. ISBN: 978-0-226-83929-5.
SMELSLER, Neil and Richard SWEDBERG (eds). The Handbook of Economic Sociology. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0-691-12126-0.
ZAFIROVSKI, Milan (ed.). Modern Guide to Economic Sociology. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 978-1-78990-130-6.
Supplementary literature and the extended course syllabus will be presented at the beginning of and throughout the semester.”
a) During the semester: submission of papers on selected issues (40 points).
b) In the examination period: written test (60 points).
The student will be entitled to participation in the test under the condition that s/he will receive at least 20 points during the semester. A violation of academic ethics will be punished and the student will lose all received points in the relevant assessment.
Grading scale: 0-59: FX, 60-67: E, 68-75: D, 76-83: C, 84-91: B, 92-100: A.
The teacher will accept a maximum of two absences, supported by appropriate documents. The exact date for continuous assessment during the semester and the topics of the paper will be announced at the beginning of the semester. The dates for the final test will be announced through AIS no later than in the last week of the teaching period.
Slovak / English
1.Development of Economic Sociology – Key Figures and Concepts I
2.Development of Economic Sociology – Key Figures and Concepts II
3.Rationality in Economics and Sociology
4.Market and Social Order
5.Culture, Morality, and the Economy
6.Institutions and the Economy
7.Trust and the Economy
8.How Is (Economic) Value Created?
9.Money as a Sociological Phenomenon
10.The World of Work from a Sociological Perspective I
11.The World of Work from a Sociological Perspective II
12.Current Issues in the Functioning of the Economy I – Application of Theoretical Concepts to Selected Contemporary Problems
13.Current Issues in the Functioning of the Economy II – Application of Theoretical Concepts to Selected Contemporary Problems
40/60
Students will acquire skills in the field of sociological analysis of economic phenomena. They will become familiar with theoretical and methodological concepts of classical and current economic sociology. They will understand and apply concepts of economic action, market, uncertainty. Students will also become familiar with institutional approaches in economics and economic sociology and cultural approaches to economic phenomena. The course will focus on discussions on actual economic problems in sociological perspective.
BOHLE, Dorota and GRESKOVITS, Béla. Capitalist Diversity on Europe’s Periphery. Cornell University Press, 2012. ISBN 978-0-8014-6566-6.
CASTLES, Francis, G. et al (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of the Welfare State. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. ISBN 978-0-19-957939-6.
HANCKÉ, Bob (ed.). Debating Varieties of Capitalism: A Reader. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-19-956966-3. IVERSEN, Torben. Capitalism, Democracy and Welfare. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. ISBN 978-0-521-61307-1. WEINGEST, Barry R. and Donald A. Wittman (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Political Economy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN 978-0-19-927222-8.
Supplementary reading materials and the extended course syllabus will be provided at the beginning of the semester and made available throughout the duration of the semester.
a) During the semester: submission of papers on selected issues (30 points).
b) In the examination period: written test (70 points).
The student will be entitled to participation in the test under the condition that s/he will receive at least 15 points during the semester. A violation of academic ethics will be punished and the student will lose all received points in the relevant assessment.
Grading scale: 0-59: FX, 60-67: E, 68-75: D, 76-83: C, 84-91: B, 92-100: A.
The teacher will accept a maximum of two absences, supported by appropriate documents. The exact date for continuous assessment during the semester and the topics of the paper will be announced at the beginning of the semester. The dates for the final test will be announced through AIS no later than in the last week of the teaching period.
Slovak / English
1. Introduction to comparative political economy
2. Faces of capitalism in developed countries
3. Forms of collective solidarity: types of welfare states
4. Social inequalities: current issues and challenges
5. Data sources for comparative analyses
6. Politics of income redistribution and their consequences
7. Labour markets and their regulations
8. Unymployment as a social and political problem
9. „Good jobs“ vz. „bad jobs“
10. Wages as an objet of political decision-making
11. Forms of unionization and their development
12. Actual trends in global economy and their reflections in public policies
30/70
Students will gain knowledge of fundamental concepts and theoretical and methodological approaches needed for conducting comparative analysis in the various thematic fields, including welfare states regimes, labour markets, wage development, working conditions, Students will become familiar with current socio-economic trends and will understand and able to use various sources of comparative data.
FIELD, A.: Discovering statistics using SPSS. London: Sage, 2015. ISBN: 978-93-515-00827.
MAREŠ, P., RABUŠIC, L., SOUKUP, P.: Analýza sociálněvědních dat (nejen) v SPSS. Brno: Muni Press, 2019. ISBN: 978-80-210-9248-8
SOUKUP, P. Pokročila analýza dat v SPSS a AMOS. Brno: Muni Press, 2022. ISBN: 978-80-210-9936-4.
Supplementary reading materials and the extended course syllabus shall be made available at the commencement of the semester and maintained throughout the semester
a) During the teaching period (continuous assessment): assignments (40 points in total) focused on solving selected analytical situations.
b) During the examination period: written test (60 points).
A minimum of 20 points from continuous assessment is required to be eligible to sit the examination. Any violation of academic integrity will result in the annulment of the points obtained in the relevant assessment component.
A maximum of two absences with documented justification will be accepted by the instructor.
Exact deadlines and topics for continuous assessment will be announced, and the form of their completion will be specified at the beginning of the semester.
Examination dates will be published via AIS no later than the final week of the teaching period.
Weighting of continuous assessment / final assessment: 40/60.
Slovak / English
1. From theory to measurement and data analysis
2.Multiple regression analysis - looking back to assumptions, principles, methods, checking assumptions, diagnostics, interpretations
3. Binary logistic regression - basic concepts, assumptions, implementations and interpretations
4.Binary logistic regression analysis – practice in implementation, diagnostics, and interpretation of results
5. Multinomial regression analysis – basic concepts, assumptions, and implementation
6. Multinomial regression analysis and interpretation of results – practice in implementation, diagnostics, and interpretation of results
7.Interactions in regression analysis
8.Cluster analysis – basic concepts, assumptions, implementation, and interpretation of results
9.Cluster analysis – practice in implementation and interpretation of results
10.Multiple correspondence analysis – basic concepts, assumptions, implementation, and interpretation of results
11.Multiple correspondence analysis – practice in implementation and interpretation of results
12.Latent class analysis – basic concepts, assumptions, implementation, and interpretation of results
13. Latent class analysis – practice in implementation and interpretation of results
40/60
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to make appropriate decisions in various analytical situations and select suitable methods while understanding their strengths and limitations. They will also be able to implement advanced statistical methods and data analysis procedures using selected statistical software.
Students will acquire skills in the application of different types of regression analysis (logistic and multinomial regression), as well as cluster, correspondence, and factor analysis. Practical exercises based on real-world data will further strengthen students’ interpretative skills in quantitative data analysis.
HÁJEK, Martin. Čtenář a stroj. Vybrané metody sociálněvědní analýzy textů. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství. 978-80-7419-161-9.
HENDL, Jan. Kvalitativní výzkum: základní metody a aplikace. 4. rozšířené vydání. Praha:
Portál, 2016. ISBN 978-80-262-0982-9.
JANÁK, Dušan. Vybrané metody výzkumu. Opava: Slezská univerzita v Opavě. 2018.
MIŠOVIČ, Ján. Kvalitativní výzkum se zaměřením na polostrukturovaný rozhovor. Praha: Karolinum, 2025.
NOVOTNÁ, Hedvika, Ondřej ŠPAČEK a Magdaléna ŠŤOVÍČKOVÁ, (ed.). 2019. Metody výzkumu ve společenských vědách. Praha: FHS UK. ISBN 978-80-7571-025-3.
RUBIN, H., J.; RUBIN, I., S. Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data. London: Sage, 2011.
a) During the teaching period (continuously), students will complete assignments on selected topics (40 points in total).
b) During the examination period: written examination (60 points).
A condition for being admitted to the exam is obtaining at least 20 points from the continuous assessment.
Violation of academic ethics will result in the cancellation of the points obtained in the respective assessment component.
Grading scale:
100–92: A
91–84: B
83–76: C
75–68: D
67–60: E
59–0: FX
The instructor accepts a maximum of 2 absences with valid documented justification.
The exact dates and topics of the continuous assessment, as well as the form of their completion, will be announced at the beginning of the semester.
Exam dates will be published through AIS no later than the last week of the teaching period.
Weight of continuous / final assessment: 40/60
Slovak/English
1.Research Approaches in Sociology and the Position of Qualitative Research
2.Qualitative Research as a Logic of Inquiry: Approaches and Research Design
3.Qualitative Research in Practice: Data Collection, Analysis, and Ethical Issues
4.Qualitative Interview I: Introduction to the Method, Types of Interviews
5.Qualitative Interview II: Preparation and Structure of the Interview Guide
6.Qualitative Interview III: Conducting Qualitative Interviews: Strategies, Types of Respondents, and Managing Them
7.Qualitative Interview IV: Analysis of Interview Data
8.Content Analysis I: Introduction to the Method, Definition of Analytical Unit, Population, and Sample
9.Content Analysis II: Data Preparation and Basic Analytical Procedures
10.Content Analysis III: Types of Codes, Relationship between Codes and Categories, Operational Definitions, and Reliability Testing
11.Content Analysis IV: Coding and Reliability Control
12.Processing Research Outputs
13.Presentation of Research Outputs
40/60
By completing the course, students build upon the knowledge acquired during their bachelor’s studies and strengthen their basic methodological competencies in the field of qualitative research. They will acquire both theoretical and practical knowledge of conducting qualitative interviews as a key method of sociological research and gain the ability to prepare, conduct, and evaluate interviews in accordance with methodological and ethical principles.
At the same time, students will become familiar with content analysis of documents in both its quantitative and qualitative forms and will be able to apply it to various types of textual materials. Emphasis is placed on the practical training of research procedures, enabling students to independently design and conduct a simple qualitative study, including the processing and presentation of its results.
WEBER, Max. (1997). Hospodářství a společnost 1. Praha: Argo.
LIPSET, Seymour Martin. (1995). Politický člověk: sociální základy politiky. Praha: Prostor. Kapitola "Volby: výraz demokratického třídního boje").
PUTNAM, Robert D. (1995). "Bowling Alone: America's Declining Social Capital." Journal of Democracy, 6(1), 65-78.
SKOCPOL, Theda. (1979). States and Social Revolutions: A Comparative Analysis of France, Russia, and China. Cambridge University Press. (Úvod / Kapitola 1).
ESPING-ANDERSEN, Gøsta. (1990). The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. Princeton University Press.
BONIKOWSKI, Bart. (2017). "Ethno-nationalist Populism and the Mobilization of Collective Resentment." The British Journal of Sociology, 68(S1), S181-S213.
.
.
a) During the teaching period, approximately in the middle of the semester, students will take a written test.
b) During the examination period, students will complete a written assignment in the form of an essay (60 points).
A condition for being admitted to the final assessment is obtaining at least 20 points from the continuous assessment.
Violation of academic ethics will result in the cancellation of the points obtained in the respective assessment component.
Grading scale:
100–90: A
89–82: B
81–76: C
75–68: D
67–60: E
59–0: FX
The instructor accepts a maximum of 2 absences with valid documented justification.
The exact date and topic of the continuous assessment will be announced at the beginning of the semester.
Exam dates will be published through AIS no later than the last week of the teaching period.
Slovak/English
.
1.Subject, Methods, and Development of Political Sociology
2.The Concept of Power and Domination
3.State Formation and State Power
4.Class, Inequality, and Political Order
5..Civil Society and Social Capital
6.Social Movements and Collective Action
7.Political Culture, Ideology, and Hegemony
8.Race, Ethnicity, and the State
9.Gender, Politics, and the Public Sphere
10.The Welfare State and Social Policy
11.Globalization and the Nation-State
12.Populism and Democratic Backsliding
13.Technology, Media, and the Future of Democracy
.
40/60
Political Sociology examines the relationship between society and politics. Rather than understanding the state and political institutions in isolation, this course explores them as entities embedded in social structures, cultural meanings, and economic processes. Students will analyze the nature and distribution of power, the historical formation of the nation-state, the dynamics of social movements, and the ways in which class, race, and gender intersect with political institutions. By engaging with both classical texts and contemporary research, students will become familiar with how states govern, how citizens defend their interests, and how global processes reshape the traditional boundaries of political life. A student who successfully completes the course will be able to critically analyze politics as a phenomenon that is historically and culturally embedded in society.
Main objectives of the course: to enable students to understand the dynamics of power; to identify and clearly articulate both visible and invisible mechanisms of power operating in everyday life and institutional settings; to synthesize complex theory; through reading more demanding academic texts, to teach students how to extract key arguments and connect different theoretical traditions (e.g. Weberian, Marxist, pluralist, and institutionalist); to teach students to analyze empirical data and evaluate empirical claims about political behavior, voting patterns, and social movements using sociological frameworks; and to contextualize contemporary politics by looking beyond media headlines and identifying the deeper, long-term structural and cultural forces driving phenomena such as populism, democratic decline, and digital mobilization.
BELL, Michael a Michael S. CAROLAN. An invitation to environmental sociology. 4th ed. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Pine Forge Press, 2012. ISBN 978-1-4129-9053-0.
BREWSTER, Bradley H. a Antony J. PUDDEPHATT, ed. Microsociological perspectives for environmental sociology. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2017. ISBN 978-1-4724-6258-9.
GOULD, Kenneth Alan a Tammy L. LEWIS. Twenty lessons in environmental sociology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-19-537112-3.
KELLER, Jan. Sociologie a ekologie. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 1997. Základy sociologie. ISBN 80-85850-42-7.
LIBROVÁ, Hana. Věrní a rozumní: kapitoly o ekologické zpozdilosti. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2016. ISBN 978-80-210-8412-4.
a) During the teaching period (continuously), students will complete three assignments (35 points in total) on selected topics related to research in the field of environmental sociology, the illustration of the social representation of nature, and the presentation of examples of environmental movement activities.
b) During the examination period: oral examination (65 points).
A condition for being admitted to the exam is obtaining at least 15 points from the continuous assessment.
Violation of academic ethics will result in the cancellation of the points obtained in the respective assessment component.
Grading scale:
100–90: A
89–79: B
78–68: C
67–57: D
56–46: E
45–0: FX
The instructor accepts a maximum of 2 absences with valid documented justification.
The exact date and topic of the continuous assessment will be announced at the beginning of the semester.
Exam dates will be published through AIS no later than the last week of the teaching period.
Weight of continuous / final assessment: 35/65
Slovak/English
Block I – History and Structure of Environmental Sociology
1.The Place of Environmental Sociology within the System of Sociological Subdisciplines
2.The Development of Environmental Sociology
3.Main Approaches in Environmental Sociology
4.Examples of Research in Environmental Sociology
Block II – Theoretical Concepts
5.Three Basic Conceptual Tensions in Environmental Sociology
6.The Social Construction of Nature
7.Constructivist and Realist Approaches to Environmental Problems
8.Representations of Nature
Block III – Applied Environmental Sociology
9.Sustainable Development and Ecological Modernization
10.The Environmental Movement
11.Measuring Attitudes toward the Environment
12.Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change
13.Environmental Policy and Nature Conservation
35/65
Graduates of the course will become familiar with the basic concepts of environmental sociology, will be able to think about environmental problems from a broader sociological perspective, and will gain an overview of selected areas of environmental issues suitable for the application of sociological research methods.
Accordingly, the course structure is divided into three interconnected blocks. The first block places environmental sociology within the context of sociological subdisciplines and defines its general conceptual framework. The second block introduces key theoretical concepts in environmental sociology in relation to important social issues. The third block is devoted to applied sociology in the field of the environment.
• BADINTER, Elisabeth. Rozpor. Žena vs. matka. Praha: IDEA, 2024. ISBN 978-80-9077775-5-2.
• BADINTER, Elisabeth. XY. Identita muža. Bratislava: Aspekt, 1999. ISBN 978-80-85549-10-2.
• BOURDIEU, Pierre. Nadvláda mužů. Praha: Karolinum, 2000. ISBN 80-7184-775-5.
• BUTLER, Judit. Trampoty s rodom. Feminizmus a podrývanie identity. Bratislava: Aspekt, 2015. ISBN 978-80-81510-28-1.
• CONNELL, Raewyn W. Masculinities. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2005. ISBN 978-0-520-24698-0.
• CVIKOVÁ, Jana (Ed.). Rodová perspektíva v ekonómii. Bratislava: ASPEKT, 2011. ISBN
978-80-85549-91-1.
• FRASER, Nancy. Rozvíjení radikální imaginace. Globální přerozdělování, uznání a
reprezentace. Praha: Filosofia, FU AV ČR, 2007. ISBN 978-80-700-7251-6.
• HAKIM, Catherine. Erotic Capital: the Power of Attraction in the Boardroom and the Bedroom. New York: Basic Books, 2011. ISBN 978-04-650-2747-7.
• KICZKOVÁ, Zuzana a Mariana SZAPUOVÁ (eds.). Rodové štúdiá. Súčasné diskusie,
problémy a perspektívy. Bratislava: Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, 2011. ISBN
978-80-223-2934-7.
• LINDSEY, Linda L. Gender Roles: A Sociological Perspective. London: Pearson, 2016. ISBN 978-01-32448-30-7.
• OAKLEY, Ann. Pohlaví, gender a společnost. Praha: Portál, 2000. ISBN 80-7178-403-6.
• RENZETTI, Clair M. a Daniel J. CURRAN. Ženy, muži a společnost. Praha: Karolinum, 2005. ISBN 80-24605-25-2.
• SALTZMAN CHAFETZ, Janet (Ed.) Handbook of the Sociology of Gender. New York: Springer, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-0387-32460-9.
• SIROVÁTKA, Tomáš a Ondřej HORA (eds.). Rodina, děti a zeměstnání v české společnosti. Brno/Boskovice: FSS MU, 2008. ISBN 978-80-7326-140-5.
Additional literature and an extended syllabus of the course will be presented at the beginning and during the semester.
During the teaching period, it will be possible to obtain 100% of the assessment through continuous evaluation (completion of assignments on selected topics – reports, written papers, presentations).
A condition for successfully passing the continuous assessment is achieving at least 60% (60 points).
Violation of academic ethics will result in the cancellation of the points obtained in the respective assessment component.
Grading scale:
A: 100% – 92%
B: 91% – 84%
C: 83% – 76%
D: 75% – 68%
E: 67% – 60%
FX: 59% – 0%
The instructor accepts a maximum of 2 absences with valid documented justification.
The exact dates and topics of the continuous assessment will be announced, and the form of their completion specified, at the beginning of the semester.
Weight of continuous / final assessment: 100 / 00
Slovak/English
1. Sex and Gender (Biological Essentialism and Social Constructivism)
2. Sociological Interpretations of Gender (Sociological Conceptualization of Gender from the Perspective of Selected Theoretical Approaches)
3. Gender Inequality as a Form of Injustice and Gender Equality as a Desirable State
4. Gender Equality in Slovakia
5. Women and Men in Statistics (Sources of Data and Gender-Disaggregated Statistics)
6. Gender Socialization
7. Gender Identity and Gender Stereotypes
8. Femininity and Masculinity
9.The Power of Beauty, Attractiveness, and Their Consequences
10.Gender Division of Labour in the Family
11.Motherhood and Fatherhood
12.Gender Dimensions and Gender Inequality in the Labour Market
13. Possibilities for Balancing Work and Family Life (from the Perspective of Social and Family Policy)
Scale of assessment (preliminary/final): 100/0
The course offers the application of a gender perspective in the analysis of selected topics. After its successful completion, students can independently and fundamentally analyze gender-relevant social facts and problems in terms of theory and methodology. They are able to orient themselves in the professional literature, in available data enabling gender-sensitive analysis and to work with standardly used methodological procedures. With the help of the acquired knowledge and skills, they are able to design their view aimed at ensuring equal opportunities - the elimination of gender inequalities and stereotypes in various areas (family, labor market, education, leisure, etc.).
ARLUKE, Arnold; Clinton SANDERS a Leslie IRVINE. Regarding Animals. Temple University Press, 2022. ISBN 10: 1439923108 / ISBN 13: 9781439923108.
DeMELLO, Margo. Animals and Society: An Introduction to Human-Animal Studies. Columbia University Press, 2012. ISBN: 9780231526760.
GIBAS, Petr, Karolína PAUKNEROVÁ a Marco STELLA. Non-humans in social science: animals, spaces, things. Červený Kostelec: Pavel Mervart, 2011. ISBN 978-80-7465-010-9.
HORSKÝ, Jan, Linda HRONÍKOVÁ a Marco STELLA. Natura et cultura. I., Antropologická bádání mezi empirií a interpretací. Praha: Togga, 2014. Andrias. ISBN 978-80-7476-056-3.
LINZEY, Andrew. Teologie zvířat. Praha: Stanislav Juhaňák - Triton, 2018. ISBN 978-80-7553-487-3.
PAUKNEROVÁ, Karolína, Marco STELLA a Petr GIBAS. Non-humans in social science: ontologies, theories and case studies. Červený Kostelec: Pavel Mervart, 2014. ISBN 978-80-7465-122-9.
PEGGS, Kay. (2012). Animals and sociology. Palgrave Macmillan.
Additional literature and an extended course syllabus will be presented at the beginning of and throughout the semester.imals and sociology. Palgrave Macmillan.
a) during the semester (30 points): a paper on a selected topic
b) in the examination period (70 points): written test.
The student will be admitted to the test only with a minimum of 10 points from continuous evaluation. Violation of academic ethics will be punished, and the student will lose all the received points in the relevant assessment.
Grading scale:
0-59: FX, 60-67: E, 68-75: D, 76-83: C, 84-91: B, 92-100: A
The teacher will accept a maximum of two absences with documentation.
The exact date for continuous evaluation and the topic of the paper will be announced at the beginning of the semester. The dates for the final test will be announced through AIS no later than in the last week of the instruction period.
Slovak/English
I. Block – The Development of the Sociology of Animals
1.What is sociology beyond the human? Posthumanism and post-anthropocentrism in the social sciences and beyond; introduction to the course structure
2.The sociology of animals in historical and intellectual context I – classical sociology of animals
3.The sociology of animals in historical and intellectual context II – modern sociology of animals
II. Block – Theory and Methodology
4. Important theoretical approaches in contemporary sociology of animals
5. Interspecies methodology
6. Anthropological differentiation and animal agency as a theoretical problem
III. Block – Empirical Research
7. The formation of the empirical corpus of the sociology of animals
8. Selected empirical studies in the sociology of animals
9. Interspecies communication and the problem of domestication
10. The animal rights social movement
11. Animals and the world of work, laboratory animals, zootherapy
12. Animals as family members
13. Social representations of animals
30/70
Graduates of the course will gain an overview of the application of sociology beyond the world of exclusively human actors within the currently and dynamically developing field of interdisciplinary research at the intersection of the social and natural sciences. The course is divided into a historical-overview, theoretical, and empirical section. The first section focuses on the place of sociological interest in animals within both historical and systematic sociological contexts. The theoretical section presents the key theoretical and methodological issues and approaches to addressing them. The empirical section summarizes findings related to the main thematic areas of the sociology of animals.
Recommended literature:
main literature (general):
• LICHNEROVÁ, Lucia: Písanie a obhajoba záverečných prác: vysokoškolské skriptá
pre študentov Univerzity Komenského v Bratislave [online]. Bratislava: Stimul, 2016 [cit. 2019-01-09]. Available at: stella.uniba.sk/texty/LL_pisanie_obhajoba_zaverecne_prac.pdf
• OCHRANA, F. Metodologie, metody a metodika vědeckého výzkumu. Praha: Karolinum, 2019. ISBN 978-80-246-4200-0.
• STEINEROVÁ, Jela. Kvalitatívne metódy výskumu v informačnej vede. In: ProInFlow: časopis pro informační vědy [online]. 2015, No. 2, s. 12-28 [cit. 2021-09-09]. Available at: https:// www.phil.muni.cz/journals/index.php/proinflow/article/view/2015-2-3
• STEINEROVÁ, Jela. Metodologické problémy výskumov v informačnej vede. In: ProInflow [online]. In: ProInFlow. 2011, roč. 3, 4. 1, s. 4-18 [cit. 2020-08-09]. ISSN 1804-2406. Available at: https://www.phil.muni.cz/journals/index.php/proinflow/article/view/2011-1-2
• ZOUHAR, M., BIELIK, L. a Miloš KOSTEREC. Metóda: metodologické a formálne aspekty. Bratislava: Univerzita Komenského, 2017. ISBN 978-80-223-4352-7.
Further literature is determined by the thesis supervisor depending on the topic of the thesis.
Throughout the semester:
Systematic preparation of the master’s thesis in accordance with the objectives specified in the assignment and according to the individual schedule provided to the student by the thesis supervisor; regular consultations with the thesis supervisor and continuous reporting on the progress of the agreed tasks, including: review of the relevant literature related to the thesis topic, submission of the thesis structure, preparation of the research plan and, if necessary, its modification, informing the thesis supervisor about the progress of the research, as well as presenting the initial and subsequent research results.
The evaluation, according to the grading scale A–FX, shall be awarded by the thesis supervisor based on the fulfilment of the individual requirements agreed upon at the beginning of the semester.
Slovak/English
1. Defining the goals of the master's thesis.
2. Information research on the issue of the master's thesis.
3. Preparation of the list of literature resources
4. Analysis, interpretation, and critique of scientific literature, or possibly historical sources and other information sources relating to the issue of the master's thesis.
5.Analysis of additional information sources related to the master’s thesis topic.
6. Ongoing development of the citation apparatus for the master’s thesis.
7. Conceptual analysis of the master’s thesis topic.
8. Development of the theoretical framework of the master’s thesis.
9. Definition of the research problem.
10. Formulation of research questions and/or hypotheses.
11. Design of research methods and procedures, and selection of the research sample.
12. Verification of research methods and procedures, and preliminary design of the research project.
13. Proposal of the structure of the master’s thesis based on the conducted research activities.
Scale of assessment (preliminary/final): 100/0
Upon successful completion of the course, the student is familiar with published domestic and international literature related to the topic of the master’s thesis and is able to analyse, interpret, and critically evaluate it. The student possesses the knowledge and skills necessary for developing the theoretical framework of the master’s thesis. The student demonstrates practical competence in methodological preparation, as well as in the methodologies and methods of sociological research, and is able to define a research problem and formulate research questions and hypotheses. Furthermore, the student is capable of designing both qualitative and quantitative empirical research projects related to the topic of the master’s thesis.
LICHNEROVÁ, L. Písanie a obhajoba záverečných prác [online]. Bratislava:
Univerzita Komenského, 2016 [cit. 2016-10-09]. Available at: http://stella.uniba.sk/texty/ LL_pisanie_obhajoba_zaverecne_prace.pdf
• Vnútorný predpis č. 5/2020 [online]. Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave,
2015 [cit. 2021-09-09]. Available at: https://uniba.sk/fileadmin/ruk/ as/2020/20200527/04a_Studijny_poriadok_FiF_UK.pdf
• Záverečné práce [online]. Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Filozofická fakulta, 2020 [cit. 2021-08-09]. Available at: https://fphil.uniba.sk/studium/student/bakalarske-a-magisterske- studium/zaverecne-prace/
The student must submit the bachelor's thesis within the deadline specified in the schedule of the current academic year for the relevant date of the state exam. The bachelor thesis is submitted in electronic form via AIS. The work must meet the parameters determined by the internal quality system of Comenius University. The provisions of Article 14 of Internal Regulation no. 5/2020 (Study Regulations of the Faculty of Arts of Comenius University) apply to the evaluation of the bachelor's thesis.
The supervisor of the final thesis and its opponent will prepare evaluations of the bachelor's thesis and propose a grade in the A-FX grading scale, which the student receives a minimum of three working days before the defence.
Grading scale: 0-59% -FX, 60-67% -E, 68-75% -D, 76-83% -C, 84-91% -B, 92-100% -A
Bachelor thesis evaluation criteria:
1. The contribution of the bachelor's thesis, the fulfilment of the goals of the thesis in its assignment, and the requirements for the content of the bachelor's thesis given by the internal quality system of Comenius University. The following is assessed: demonstration of knowledge and skills, ability to work creatively in the study program, ability applied in the collection, interpretation, and processing of basic scientific literature; in the case of an empirically oriented bachelor's thesis also mastering the application of theoretical principles in practice and verifiability of hypotheses.
2. Originality of the work (bachelor thesis must not be plagiarized, must not infringe the copyrights of other authors); the documentation for the defence of the bachelor's thesis also includes protocols of originality from the CRZP and Theses systems, to the results of which the thesis supervisor and the opponent express their opinions in their evaluations.
3. Correctness and accuracy of citation of used information sources, research results of other authors and group authors, correctness of the description of methods and working procedures of other authors or group authors.
4. Compliance of the structure of the bachelor's thesis with the prescribed composition defined by the internal quality system of Comenius University.
5. Respecting the recommended length of the bachelor's thesis (the recommended length of the bachelor's thesis is usually 30 – 40 standard pages = 54,000 to 72,000 characters, including spaces), the adequacy of the length of the thesis is assessed by the thesis supervisor.
6. Linguistic and stylistic level of work and formal adjustments.
The student orally presents the content, achieved goals, and conclusions of the bachelor's thesis, and answers the questions and comments of the thesis supervisor, opponent, or members of the examination committee. The committee will comprehensively evaluate the quality of the bachelor's thesis, assess the method and form of defence, and the student's ability to adequately respond to comments and questions from the evaluations of the thesis supervisor and the opponent. The student receives their final grade based on the average of the assessment of the thesis supervisor and opponent from their evaluations, and the assessment of the examination committee.
Scale of assessment (preliminary/final): 0/100
Slovak
1. The student presents the bachelor's thesis in front of the committee for state exams, the opponent of the bachelor's thesis, and those present.
2. The student responds to comments and questions in the evaluations.
3. The student responds to the questions of the committee for state exams or the questions in a broader debate.
Scale of assessment (preliminary/final): 0/100
The student has mastered the basic requirements of writing a scientific text in compliance with the rules of academic ethics, is able to work creatively in the field of study in which he completed the study program, and has adequate knowledge and understanding of the relevant issues. The student can apply his skills in the collection, interpretation, and processing of basic scientific literature, or even in its application in practice, or has the ability to solve a partial task related to the focus of the bachelor's thesis. After a successful defence of the bachelor's thesis, the student is able to logically deal with the theoretical background of the bachelor's thesis and respond to questions relating to the relevant issues.
Summary of literature prescribed in compulsory and optional subjects of the study program Sociology relevant to the content of the state examination in sociological theory, eg:
GIDDENS, A.: Sociologie. Praha: Argo, 2013.
HARRINGTON, A. a kol.: Moderní sociální teorie. Praha: Portál, 2006.
SOPÓCI, J.: Teória sociálnych inštitúcií. Bratislava: Stimul, 2013.
SOPÓCI, J.: Sociologické teórie modernej spoločnosti. Bratislava: Stimul, 2014.
SOPÓCI, J.: Sociálna stratifikácia a mobilita v sociologickej perspektíve. Bratislava: Stimul: 2015.
SOPÓCI, J.: Teórie kolektívneho správania a sociálnych hnutí. Bratislava: Stimul, 2014.
Acquisition of sociological knowledge contained in the courses Sociological Theory 1 to Sociological Theory (in the 2nd level of study), as well as knowledge contained in the courses Predsociological Thinking and History of Sociological Thinking 1 to 3 and acquisition of the ability to use this knowledge in sociological scientific work. Acquisition of general theoretical sociological knowledge and mastering the ways of using this knowledge in theoretical and empirical sociological research activities.
Sociology as a science of society, basic approaches to the study of society. Basic sociological theoretical perspectives (paradigms). Development of theoretical concepts of society in sociology of the 19th and 20th centuries. Culture and socialization, social control and deviation, social groups and formal organizations, social institutions, social inequalities, social stratification and mobility, collective behavior, social movement, social change. Classical and contemporary sociological theories of all these social phenomena, empirical research and sociological knowledge about them.
The student must submit the master’s thesis within the deadline specified in the schedule of the current academic year for the relevant date of the state exam. The master’s thesis is submitted in electronic form via AIS. The work must meet the parameters determined by the internal quality system of Comenius University. The provisions of Article 14 of Internal Regulation no. 5/2020 (Study Regulations of the Faculty of Arts of Comenius University) apply to the evaluation of the master’s thesis.
The supervisor of the final thesis and its opponent will prepare evaluations of the master’s thesis and propose a grade in the A-FX grading scale, which the student receives a minimum of three working days before the defence.
Grading scale: 0-59% -FX, 60-67% -E, 68-75% -D, 76-83% -C, 84-91% -B, 92-100% -A
Master’s thesis evaluation criteria:
1. The contribution of the master's thesis, the fulfilment of the objectives of the thesis in its assignment, and the requirements for the content of the master's thesis given by the internal quality system of Comenius University. It is assessed whether the student has worked on the chosen topic at the level of scientific study, with a representative selection of scientific literature, with appropriately chosen scientific procedures and hypotheses that can be verified. Demonstration of the ability to work creatively in the study program is evaluated and the degree of demonstration of knowledge and understanding of the diploma thesis is reflected.
2. Originality of the work (master’s thesis must not be plagiarized, must not infringe the copyrights of other authors); the documentation for the defence of the master’s thesis also includes protocols of originality from the CRZP and Theses systems, to the results of which the thesis supervisor and the opponent express their opinions in their evaluations.
3. Correctness and accuracy of citation of used information sources, research results of other authors and group authors, correctness of the description of methods and working procedures of other authors or group authors.
4. Compliance of the structure of the master’s thesis with the prescribed composition defined by the internal quality system of Comenius University.
5. Respecting the recommended length of the master’s thesis (the recommended length of the master’s thesis is usually 50 – 70 standard pages = 90,000 to 126,000 characters, including spaces), the adequacy of the length of the thesis is assessed by the thesis supervisor.
6. Linguistic and stylistic level of work and formal adjustments.
The student orally presents the content, achieved goals, and conclusions of the master’s thesis, and answers the questions and comments of the thesis supervisor, opponent, or members of the examination committee. The committee will comprehensively evaluate the quality of the master’s thesis, assess the method and form of defence, and the student's ability to adequately respond to comments and questions from the evaluations of the thesis supervisor and the opponent. The student receives their final grade based on the average of the assessment of the thesis supervisor and opponent from their evaluations, and the assessment of the examination committee.
Scale of assessment (preliminary/final): 0/100
Slovak
Sociology as a science of society, basic approaches to the study of society. Basic sociological theoretical perspectives (paradigms). Development of theoretical concepts of society in sociology of the 19th and 20th centuries. Culture and socialization, social control and deviation, social groups and formal organizations, social institutions, social inequalities, social stratification and mobility, collective behavior, social movement, social change. Classical and contemporary sociological theories of all these social phenomena, empirical research and sociological knowledge about them.
Scale of assessment (preliminary/final): 0/100
A student who passes the state exam comprehensively manages the issue of the state exam in context specified headings. He has theoretical and practical knowledge based on the current state of knowledge from sociological theory, as well as the ability to apply and use them creatively in sociological scientific work. By acquiring the sociological knowledge contained in the teaching of sociological theory courses and courses in the history of sociological thinking, the student acquires the ability to use this knowledge in theoretical and empirical sociological research activities.
BIELIK, L. et al. Slovník metodologických pojmov. Bratislava: Univerzita Komenského, 2016. ISBN 978-80-223-4276-6.
• LICHNEROVÁ, L. Písanie a obhajoba záverečných prác: vysokoškolské skriptá
pre študentov Univerzity Komenského v Bratislave [online]. Bratislava: Stimul, 2016 [cit.
2019-01-09]. Dostupné na: stella.uniba.sk/texty/LL_pisanie_obhajoba_zaverecne_prac.pdf
• LICHNEROVÁ, L., HRDINÁKOVÁ, Ľ. Ako dodržať akademickú etiku pri
písaní vedeckých a odborných textov? In: Naša univerzita. 2020, roč. 67, č. 1, s. 62-65.
ISSN (print) 1338-4163. Dostupné tiež na: https://uniba.sk/fileadmin/ruk/nasa_univerzita/
NU2020-21/201021_Nasa_univerzita_1_20-21.pdf
• OCHRANA, F. Metodologie, metody a metodika vědeckého výzkumu. Praha: Karolinum, 2019. ISBN 978-80-246-4200-0.
• STEINEROVÁ, J. Kvalitatívne metódy výskumu v informačnej vede. In: ProInFlow: časopis pro informační vědy [online]. 2015, No. 2, s. 12-28 [cit. 2021-09-09]. Dostupné na: https://www.phil.muni.cz/journals/index.php/proinflow/article/view/2015-2-3
• Záverečné práce [online]. Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Filozofická fakulta, 2020 [cit. 2021-08-09]. Dostupné na: https://fphil.uniba.sk/studium/student/bakalarske-amagisterskestudium/zaverecne-prace/
• ZOUHAR, M., BIELIK, L., KOSTEREC, M.: Metóda: metodologické a formálne aspekty. Bratislava: Univerzita Komenského, 2017. ISBN 978-80-223-4352-7.
Additional literature shall be determined by the thesis supervisor depending on the thematic focus of the master’s thesis.
Throughout the semester:
Systematic preparation of the master’s thesis in accordance with the objectives specified in the assignment and according to the individual schedule set for the student by the thesis supervisor; regular consultations with the thesis supervisor and continuous reporting to the thesis supervisor on the progress of the assigned tasks of a theoretical and methodological nature; submission of the research project and, if necessary, its modification; provision of information on the implementation of the research, as well as on the processing and analysis of its findings; consultation on the structure of the master’s thesis and on both the substantive and formal aspects of its text.
The evaluation, according to the grading scale A–FX, shall be awarded by the thesis supervisor based on the fulfilment of the individual requirements agreed upon at the beginning of the semester.
1.Completion of the theoretical part of the master’s thesis to a level enabling the development of an empirical research project.
2.Finalisation of the methodological approach and methods of quantitative or qualitative empirical research based on the developed theoretical foundations.
3.Design of the empirical research project based on the preceding theoretical and methodological analysis.
4.Verification of the proposed research project through a pilot study.
5.Finalisation of the research project and refinement of its methodology.
6.Field collection of empirical data.
7.Data verification and quality control.
8.Basic statistical processing of data.
9.Statistical analysis of empirical data obtained through the research.
10.Interpretation of empirical data in relation to the defined research questions and/or hypotheses.
11.Development of empirical generalisations and formulation of theoretical conclusions based on the analysis of empirical data. Theoretical and methodological reflection on the applied research procedures and achieved results.
12.Proposal of the structure of the master’s thesis in accordance with its topic, theoretical and methodological foundations, applied research procedures, empirical findings, and analytical conclusions, as well as with the structural requirements set by the internal quality system of Comenius University.
13.Preparation of the master’s thesis text in compliance with the substantive and formal requirements for this type of academic work; potential additional forms of dissemination of the research results.
100/0
Upon successful completion of the course (based on engagement with relevant academic literature addressing theoretical and methodological issues related to the master’s thesis topic and consultations with the supervisor), the student acquires the knowledge and skills necessary for developing the theoretical foundations and the empirical research project of the master’s thesis, as well as the competencies required for its implementation.
The student also gains knowledge and skills enabling them to analyse and interpret findings from quantitative and qualitative empirical sociological research, official statistical data, and other sources of empirical data applicable to the sociological analysis of social phenomena. The results of such analyses can be presented not only in the form of the master’s thesis, but also as a scholarly article, a presentation at a scientific conference, a popular science article, or as recommendations for practice, among other formats.
RICHTEROVÁ, Kornélia. Úvod do výskumu trhu. Bratislava: Sprint 2, 2013. ISBN
978-80-89393-95-4
FORET, Miroslav. Marketingový průzkum: poznáváme svoje zákazníky. Brno: BizBooks, 2012
PLÁVKOVÁ, Oľga a Jozef KOŠTA. Sociologické metódy prieskumu trhu. Bratislava: Ekonóm, 2005. ISBN 80-225-2075-6
ZIKMUND, William G., et al. Marketing research. Sydney: Cengage Learning, 2014.
Temporary reading material is available in Moodle. Students will be acquainted with supplementary literature during the lessons.
Conditions for Completing the Course:
a) During the teaching period, students will prepare several presentations of surveys based on real market research data, submitted in the form of reports and presented during seminars.
b) During the examination period, students will complete a written project in the form of a market research proposal (60 points).
A condition for being admitted to the exam is obtaining at least 20 points from the continuous assessment.
Violation of academic ethics will result in the cancellation of the points obtained in the respective assessment component.
Grading scale:
100–90: A
89–82: B
81–76: C
75–68: D
67–60: E
59–0: FX
The instructor accepts a maximum of 2 absences with valid documented justification.
The exact date and topic of the continuous assessment will be announced at the beginning of the semester.
Exam dates will be published through AIS no later than the last week of the teaching period.
Slovak / English
1.Academic Research vs. Commercial Market Research
2.Customer Satisfaction Research Using Qualitative Methods
3.Customer Satisfaction Research Using Quantitative Methods
4.Category Entry Points
5.User Tests
6.Monitoring Advertising Communication
7.Market and Market Potential
8.Emotional Needs in Market Research
9.Price Testing in Market Research
10.Cultural Codes
11.–12. Presentation of Results, Formulation of Conclusions, and Recommendations
13.Research Assignment
40/60
The aim of the course is to acquaint students with the basic issues of commercial market research and the techniques by which commercial market research is carried out. The graduate of the course will be able to formulate a relevant research question and then proceed to design a survey and suggest a way to answer the question. Part of the course evaluation is also the presentation of results, which is an important and integral part of commercial market research. The graduate is thus ready to present the results of their analysis.
It will be recommended and specified by the specific organisation.
Completion of 60 hours of work experience (optimally spread over 40 + 20 hours per week). The grade is awarded on the basis of a submitted internship report validated and evaluated by the institution, which the student can choose from the offer provided by the department. The placement report will include a description of the activities carried out by the student during the placement. Violation of academic ethics will result in the cancellation of the points earned in the relevant assessment item. Classification scale: A: 100% - 92%, B: 91% - 84%, C: 83% - 76%, D: 75% - 68%, E: 67% - 60%, FX: 59% - 0%
The content of the internship will depend on the focus of the particular organisation, with the main emphasis on empirical research preparation, data collection procedures, working with data, data processing and interpretation procedures.
100 % preliminary
Within the professional practice, the student will get acquainted with the functioning of a professional institution providing analytical, research or other professional activities. In practice, students will develop the sociological analytical and interpretative competences and research procedures acquired through their studies, including the collection, processing and evaluation of data and the presentation of results. In doing so, they will use the knowledge and skills acquired and strengthen their ability to research relevant information, evaluate it critically and communicate it effectively.
Atlas of European Values, https://www.atlasofeuropeanvalues.eu/
Arts, W. - Hagenaars, J. - Halman, L. (Eds.) (2003): The Cultural Diversity of European Unity: Findings, Explanations and Reflections from the European Values Study, Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers, ISBN 90-04-12299-0
Bahna, M. (2011): Migrácia zo Slovenska po vstupe do Európskej únie, Bratislava: VEDA
Borgatti, S. P. - Mehra, A. - Brass, D. J. - Labianca, G. (2009): Network analysis in the social sciences. Science, 323(5916), 892-895.
Bilecen, B. - Gamper, M. - Lubbers, M. J. (2018): The missing link: Social network analysis in migration and transnationalism. Social Networks, 53, 1-3.
Cases, R. K. C. (2025): Persistent ties, evolving networks: Accounting for changes and stability in migrant support networks. International Migration, 63(2), e13286.
De Haas, H. (2021). A theory of migration: the aspirations-capabilities framework. Comparative Migration Studies, 9(1), 1-35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40878-020-00210-4
Pun, N. (2005): Made in China: Women Factory Workers in a Global Workplace. Durham [NC], Hong Kong: Duke University Press ; Hong Kong University Press.
Małgorzata Sikorska (2020): ‘Addictive’ for children and ‘helpful’ to parents:
electronic devices as a non-human actor in family relations, Journal of Family Studies, DOI:
10.1080/13229400.2020.1759446
Mezihorák, P. (2018): Competition for control over the labour process as a driver of relocation of activities to a shared services centre. Human Relations 71(6), 822-844.
Onderco, M. - Stoeckel, F. (2023). Conspiratorial thinking and foreign policy views: evidence from Central Europe. Journal of elections, public opinion and parties, 33(2), 182-196.
Rabušic, L. - Kusá, Z. - Chromková Manea, B. - Strapcová, K. (Eds.) (2019): Odděleně spolu? : Česko a Slovensko optikou vývoje hodnot po roce 1991 = Living apart together? Czechia and Slovakia through the lense of value development after 1991, Bratislava: SLOVART, ISBN 978-80-556-4590-2
Sekeráková Búriková, Z. (2017): K deťom a na upratovanie: podoby platenej práce v domácnosti. Brno: Munipress.
Torres-Adán, Á. (2021). Still winners and losers? Studying public opinion’s geopolitical preferences in the association agreement countries (Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine). Post-Soviet Affairs, 37(4), 362-382.
White, S. - McAllister, I. - Feklyunina, V. (2010). Belarus, Ukraine and Russia: East or West? The British journal of politics and international relations, 12(3), 344-367.
Additional recommended literature and the extended course syllabus will be presented at the beginning of and throughout the semester.
a) continuous assessment during the teaching period: minor assignments (totaling 60 points) on selected topics from individual lectures b) examination period: a major written assignment on a selected topic (40 points). To be admitted to the exam, students must earn a minimum of 30 points from the continuous assessment.
Violation of academic ethics will be punished, and the student will lose all the received points in the relevant assessment.
Grading scale:
0-59: FX, 60-67: E, 68-75: D, 76-83: C, 84-91: B, 92-100: A
The teacher will accept a maximum of two absences with documentation.
The exact date for continuous evaluation and the topic of the paper will be announced at the beginning of the semester. The dates for the final test will be announced through AIS no later than in the last week of the instruction period.
Slovak/English
1.The Role and Importance of Social Science Research and an Introduction to the Research Focus Areas of the Sociological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences
2.The European Values Study Research Project – an International Study of Values, Value Change from the Perspective of Theory (post-materialism/materialism, individualization, secularization), international data, connection with the World Values Survey
3.Comparative Research on Values, Opinions, and Attitudes Using the Example of a Selected Research Area, e.g. politics/religion/family/migration/trust/solidarity (based on a pre-selected area, we will focus on indicators and measurement, comparison – Atlas of European Values)
4 How Do Individuals Choose Between the West and Russia? Measuring Individual Geopolitical Preferences and Identifying the Factors That Influence Them
5. Individual Geopolitical Preferences in Slovakia and the Central and Eastern European Region: Predictors and Trends
6. How to Think Sociologically About International Migration
7. What Do We Know About International Migration From Slovakia and to Slovakia?
8. Care from a Sociological Perspective
9. Intimacy and Digital Technologies: Between Sharing and Surveillance
10. Work as a Subject of Qualitative Sociological Research
11. Work and Working Conditions as Neglected Topics in Sociology in Slovakia (and the Czech Republic)?
12.Introduction to Social Network Analysis: Theoretical and Methodological Foundations
13.Application of Social Network Analysis to Migration Research
60/40
The course focuses on selected social problems in contemporary Slovak (and broader) society, as well as on their theoretically grounded empirical investigation conducted primarily at the Institute for Sociology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. The lecturers will introduce specific research problems and demonstrate possible empirical approaches to their measurement and analysis within Slovak society. Throughout the course, students will become familiar with current trends in the empirical research of Slovak society. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to define a research problem in a sociologically relevant manner and propose empirical solutions. The knowledge and skills acquired can also be utilized when choosing a topic and preparing their master's thesis.
DOUGLAS, Mary. Čistota a nebezpečí. Analýza konceptu znečištění, Praha: Malvern, 2014. ISBN: 978-80-87580-91-2.
GEERTZ, Clifford. Interpretace kultur. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2000. ISBN: 80-85850-89-3.
MAUSS, Marcel. Esej o dare. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 1999. ISBN: 80-85850-77-X.
TURNER, Victor. The Forest of Symbols: Aspects of Ndembu Ritual. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 1967.
TURNER, Victor. Pruběh rituálu. Praha: Computer Press, 2004. ISBN: 80-722-6900-3.
Temporary teaching texts for the course are available in Moodle, MS TEAMS. Students will be introduced to the supplementary literature during the course.
The interim assessment consists of a resume (50%) and a presentation (20%). In the exam period, students will write an essay (30%). A maximum of two unexcused absences will be tolerated. Three to five absences may be accepted upon submission of a doctor's excuse or a relevant explanation which will be accepted by the lecturer.
The overall grade is then summed up to 100 % and evaluated according to the ECTS A = 100-91% B = 90 – 81 % C = 80 – 73 % D = 72 – 66 % E = 65 – 60 % FX = 59 – 0 %.
Violation of academic ethics will be punished, and the student will lose all the received percentage in the relevant assessment.
Slovak and English
1. Anthropological research on symbols
2. Classifications of space and place
3. Classifications of time and calendar systems
4. Symbolism of the body and the senses
5. Symbolism of kinship
6. Symbolism of social organization
7. Moral emotions and culture
8. Symbolic classifications, race and ethnicity
9. Symbolism in propaganda
10. Symbolism in folk tales
11. Symbolism of exchange and the social life of things
Interim assessment (70%).
In the exam period (30%).
Students will gain an understanding of the anthropological study of symbols. They will be able to navigate through relevant theories and apply their knowledge to analyze human behavior in different societies.
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to examine the symbolic constituents of culture. Students will acquire the skills necessary to identify and critically analyze symbols mediated in time, space, the body, memory, emotions, rituals, or ideologies of race and ethnicity.
DULMEN, Richard van. Historická antropologie. Vývoj, problémy, úkoly. Prague: Dokořan, 2002. ISBN 80-86569-15-2.
OLICK, Jeffrey K., VINITZKY-SERROUSSI, Vered, LEVY, Daniel. The Collective Memory Reader. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011. ISBN 9780195337426.
MICHÁLEK, Ján. Spomienkové rozprávanie s historickou tematikou. Bratislava: Slovak Academy of Sciences, 1971. ISBN n.d.
SILVERMAN, David. Ako robiť kvalitatívny výskum. Bratislava: Ikar, 2005. ISBN 8055109044.
VANĚK, Miroslav. Orální historie vo výzkumu soudobých dějin. Prague: Czech Academy od Sciences, 2004. ISBN 80-7285-045-8.
The course consists of weekly lectures and seminars. Course materials, including the syllabus and interim announcements, will be available in MS Teams. Absences are taken into account according to the Study Regulations of Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Arts, Art. 4.9. During semester, students will be required to present a selected academic text or assigned topic at the seminar. Active participation in discussions is required during the seminar. At mid-semester, students will turn in a transcribed interview conducted with any respondent on the topic of a historical event that the respondent remembers. During the second half of the semester, students analyze these interviews. The results of the analyses will be discussed in the final colloquium.
Grading scale: A=92-100%; B=84-91%; C=76-83%; D=68-75%; E=60-67%; FX=0-59%
Violation of academic ethics will be punished, and the student will lose all the received points in the relevant assessment.
English is required to study some texts.
1. Introduction. The "boom" of memory and oral history
2. The concept of collective memory: problems and debates
3. Reconstruction in remembering: history, memory and identity
4. Oral tradition as collective remembering
5. Cultural scripts and individual stories
6. Media and cultural transmission
7. Memory and propaganda
8. Ethical and legal issues in researching the past
40/60
Students will gain an understanding of the field of historical anthropology and the oral history method used within the social science disciplines. They will be able to deal with issues of collective memory and the cultural transmission of representations about the past. They will become skilled in the use of oral history in field research, which they will be able to apply to the study of contemporary society and memories of historical events.
JANÁK, Dušan. Klasická sociologie ve střední Evropě: mezi centrem a periferií. Praha:
Sociologické nakladatelství (SLON), 2018. Studijní texty. ISBN 978-80-7419-278-4.
KŘEN, Jan. Dvě století střední Evropy. Vydání druhé. Praha: Argo, 2019. ISBN
978-80-257-2848-2.
LAIFEROVÁ, E. - MISTRÍKOVÁ, Ľ. - CAPÍKOVÁ, S. - LUBELCOVÁ, G.- ECKEROVÁ,
L.: Slovenská sociológia po páde komunizmu: ideové korene, súčasné trendy a osobnosti vedy.
Bratislava: UK 2018.
NEŠPOR, Zdeněk R. a kol. Dějiny české sociologie. Praha: Academia, 2014. ISBN
978-80-200-2355-1.
NEŠPOR, Zdeněk R. a kol. Slovník českých sociologů. Praha: Academia, 2013. ISBN
978-80-200-2221-9.
Supplementary literature and the extended course syllabus will be presented at the beginning of and during the semester.
a) During the teaching period (continuously): a presentation (30 points) on a selected topic related to Slovak and Central European sociology.
b) During the examination period: a written test (70 points).
A minimum of 10 points from the continuous assessment is required in order to be admitted to the exam. Violation of academic ethics results in the annulment of the points obtained in the relevant assessment component.
Grading scale:
100–92: A
91–84: B
83–76: C
75–68: D
67–60: E
59–0: FX
The instructor accepts a maximum of 2 absences with documented justification. The exact date and topic of the continuous assessment will be announced at the beginning of the semester. Exam dates will be published through AIS no later than the last week of the teaching period.
Weight of continuous/final assessment: 30/70
Slovak/English
1.Where is Central Europe located, and where are the boundaries of sociology?
2.Main approaches and concepts used in the study of the history of sociology and social thought
3.The institutional development of sociology in Central Europe from a comparative perspective and in an international context
4.Intellectual migrations in Central Europe in the 20th century
5.Sociology and social thought in the Czech lands up to the first half of the 20th century
6.Sociology and social thought in the Czech lands from the Second World War to the present
7.Sociology and social thought in Slovakia up to the first half of the 20th century
8.Sociology and social thought in Slovakia from the Second World War to the present
9.Sociology in Poland
10.Sociology in Hungary, in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, and in Romania
11.Key figures of social thought in Austria; Vienna at the turn of the century as a center of knowledge
12–13. Between center and periphery: sociology in Central Europe or Central European sociology?
30/70
Course graduates are able to orient themselves in sociology and social thought that developed within the cultural environment of Central Europe. As a result, they have expanded their knowledge of the domestic intellectual tradition, which was shaped in relation to the so-called “great sociologies” on the one hand and the (“small”) Czech sociology on the other, and they are therefore better able to navigate the contemporary Slovak intellectual environment.
It will be recommended and specified by the specific organisation.
Completion of 60 hours of work experience (optimally spread over 40 + 20 hours per week). The grade is awarded on the basis of a submitted internship report validated and evaluated by the institution, which the student can choose from the offer provided by the department. The placement report will include a description of the activities carried out by the student during the placement. Violation of academic ethics will result in the cancellation of the points earned in the relevant assessment item. Classification scale: A: 100% - 92%, B: 91% - 84%, C: 83% - 76%, D: 75% - 68%, E: 67% - 60%, FX: 59% - 0%
The content of the internship will depend on the focus of the particular organisation, with the main emphasis on empirical research preparation, data collection procedures, working with data, data processing and interpretation procedures.
100 % preliminary
Within the professional practice, the student will get acquainted with the functioning of a professional institution providing analytical, research or other professional activities. In practice, students will develop the sociological analytical and interpretative competences and research procedures acquired through their studies, including the collection, processing and evaluation of data and the presentation of results. In doing so, they will use the knowledge and skills acquired and strengthen their ability to research relevant information, evaluate it critically and communicate it effectively.