Module manager: Dr Gary Wong
Email: g.p.f.wong@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
| SLSP1160 | Understanding and Researching the City |
SLSP1160
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module will engage students in a sociological exploration of cities and urban spaces and support them to think critically about everyday urban life. Students will be introduced to a range of social issues experienced by different social groups living in cities, and the ways in which global issues are reflected in different local contexts and communities. The module provides an opportunity for students to begin to explore and develop their research skills and interests.
The module will:
Develop understanding of the complex social issues and inequalities characteristic of urban contexts
- Support students to apply sociological concepts and social science approaches to a range of topics relevant to cities and urban life
- Enable students to understand the different stages of the social research process, and to begin to formulate research questions appropriate to small scale investigation
- Develop skills in evaluating different research methodologies and in analysis of key data and information about cities and urban life
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a familiarity with the basic concepts, practical competencies and methodological techniques within Urban Sociology and Social Policy
2. Apply sociological reasoning to theoretical and applied social situations and challenges
3. Effectively design and execute urban sociological research projects
4. Assess the effective application of diverse techniques and approaches involved in collecting qualitative and quantitative societal information
5. Use appropriate tools to analyse and present information
Throughout this module students will be introduced to both the sociology of cities and urbanism. Key topics that will be investigated include informal housing, cosmopolitism, everyday life and urban riots. A particular emphasis will be placed on the city of Leeds and the surrounding urban conurbation which students will use as an example for designing research. Students will be introduced to particular research techniques appropriate for the sociological investigation of city life.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-line Learning | 11 | 1 | |
| Group learning | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminar | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Independent online learning hours | 11 | ||
| Private study hours | 167 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 22 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students will receive formative feedback during tutorial discussions and at tutor’s open-door hours.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Coursework | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 08/05/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team