Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SOC3130: Digital Society

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

This module aims to:

  • Explore the ways in which social contexts have shaped the development of information technology and networks, and vice versa
  • Discuss key contemporary social issues related to the informatisation and datafication of society
  • Enhance knowledge of the local and global processes, practices and interactions through which information technology, databases and networks are mobilised, operationalised, shaped by social contexts and shape them in turn
  • Encourage critical and questioning attitudes about often hyped or overlooked socio-technical innovations
  • Develop new skills in identifying opportunities for social change and elaborating strategies for seizing them
  • Develop skills of team collaboration and organisation
  • Improve employability with a combination of analytical and organisational skills in addition to the thematic knowledge acquired

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.

On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Understand key terms and concepts in social study of digital technology and information and digital sociology scholarship, and use them in an articulate and comprehensive way, orally and in writing
2. Critically reflect, evaluate and comprehensively contrast and compare the social issues and questions raised by the introduction of new digital technology and networks in everyday life, the workplace, and communities
3. Identify opportunities for social change and the key milestones and strategies to achieve change, developing possible paths of action
Discipline-Specific Skills4. Critically understand, apply and criticise theoretical arguments, frameworks and concepts from digital sociology and social studies of digital technology and information in the analysis of real-world issues and cases
5. Critically articulate how different groups, communities, organisations and individuals adopt and appropriate digital technology and networks, demonstrating a robust awareness of the contributions of different social actors to the development and diffusion of technology, and the direct and indirect social impacts
Personal and Key Skills6. Analyse and draw conclusions from unstructured social scenarios and real-world cases
7. Demonstrate skills of critical and reflective thinking, and effective independent study and research
8. Plan, execute and write-up effective independent study and research
9. Collaborate with peers in a team and manage a team-based project