PHPS40850 Sociology&Social Epidemiology

Academic Year 2021/2022

This module is divided in two parts:

Part 1 Sociology
During the first six weeks of this module the focus will be on sociological and anthropological considerations of health and health chances. This will include an introduction to qualitative research methodology and competing philosophical approaches that underpin research methodology. This will consider the potential uses and drawbacks of using quantitative and/or qualitative research methods and mixed methods.

This advanced module will introduce MPH students to sociological factors that impinge on health status, health chances and health policy. It will consider historical as well as recent substantive and theoretical issues pertinent to health and health care. This will include focusing on quantitative and qualitative research and current debates surrounding social and health capital and critical realist perspectives.

Part 2 Social Epidemiology
The remainder of the module will focus on how to study the associations between social determinants and health in defined populations.

Social Epidemiology may be defined as the branch of epidemiology that studies the social distribution and social determinants of states of health. It is a rapidly expanding field of specialist research, characterised by major theoretical and methodological developments and inter-disciplinary working. The aim of this module is to provide an introduction to social epidemiology, describe guiding concepts and principles used in social epidemiology and studies of health and social inequalities, present and discuss current evidence on health inequalities and inequities and encourage critical assessment of that evidence. The following topics will be covered: Basic concepts and Measures used in Social Epidemiology; Social capital and Cohesion; Life-course epidemiology; Concepts of stress in relation to health and well-being; Psychosocial processes and models; Globalisation (Definitions and demographic considerations; Issues of environmental impact and socio-political considerations).

Each part has it's own assessment and both assessments must be passed to pass the overall module.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Sociology.
By the end of the course students should be able to demonstrate,
an awareness of the problems of conceptualising health and illness and the implications of such problems,
show an appreciation of some key theoretical approaches within sociology to the study of health, illness and health care,
understand the relationship between states of health and social forces,
compare and contrast sociological and anthropological perspectives of health and illness.
understand the relative merits of quantitative and qualitative (and mixed) methodological approaches and the rationale and philosophical underpinnings associated with these approaches.

Social Epidemiology
Understand the guiding concepts and principles which underpin Social Epidemiology.
Understand the measures of socio-economic position.
Develop a broad perspective on the social determinants of health, including social capital and cohesion, psychosocial and life-course approaches.
Understand the conceptual and methodological challenges of using epidemiological methods to investigate social determinants of health.
Critically appraise research on the role of social determinants of health that generate health inequalities and inequities.
Analyse the policy implications of research on health inequalities and inequities.


Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

30

Tutorial

12

Autonomous Student Learning

83

Online Learning

Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
lectures
task-based learning 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Students should have completed the modules PHPS40010: Fundamentals of Epidemiology and PHPS40190: Biostatistics I


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: Essay for Sociology Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

60

Presentation: Seminar/Presentation carried out at the end of the trimester. Week 12 n/a Graded No

40


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer Yes - 1 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Assoc Professor Ronald Moore Lecturer / Co-Lecturer