If you are curious about how societies evolve and how ageing shapes both individuals and groups, this course is a natural next step. You will work with questions that concern people’s living conditions, their opportunities and the challenges they face in a fast-changing society. Through the course, you gain insight into both the broad social structures and the small details that shape people’s lives.
Methods that reveal patterns in both life and society
You will learn how social researchers study change over time. The course introduces methodological approaches such as cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, and you will work with different types of data that capture society at the macro, meso and micro level. You gain knowledge about sampling methods, how measurements are made and what happens when data is incomplete.
Through practical exercises, you will use statistical methods to analyse real questions about ageing, social change and people’s shifting living conditions. You also learn to navigate software such as SPSS and to understand when and how different analytical methods should be applied.
A critical and ethical approach
Research on ageing and social change often raises important ethical considerations. In this course, you will discuss what research ethics mean in practice, how to protect study participants and which dilemmas may arise when working with sensitive data. You will also learn how to identify and understand methodological challenges such as sampling bias, selective mortality or inaccuracies in self-reported information. This helps you develop a critical mindset and understand what shapes research results.
Skills that support your development as a researcher
Throughout the course, you learn to identify and discuss central concepts and methods within social science research, with a focus on ageing and social change. You develop your ability to formulate research questions, justify methodological choices and analyse data using basic statistical tools.
You will also practise reflecting on the strengths and limitations of different methods and see how various research approaches can be used to understand complex social processes. This provides a solid foundation for further studies or for work in areas where knowledge about society, people and change is essential.
Teaching and learning activities
The course is built around a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and group work. You will follow the theoretical content through practical exercises and discussions, and you are also expected to work independently with your own studies. This means you receive both support and freedom to explore the questions that interest you most.