Social Structure and Consumer Sociology
Code: 103131 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Advertising and Public Relations | FB | 2 |
Contact
- Name:
- Sonia Parella Rubio
- Email:
- sonia.parella@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
Introductory subject. There are no prerequisites.
Objectives and Contextualisation
Consumption is a fundamental cultural and economic practice. Students cannot confine themselves to understand it as the result of individual needs, desires and decisions, nor as the exclusive consequence of the intervention of powerful offer instances to demand. In this module we propose studying the use of goods in the context of society as a social interaction system and a social structure.
Our goal is to introduce a series of sociological theories and concepts in order to facilitate an approximation to the social dimension of consumption, and to initiate some ways to approach reality of contemporary consumption empirically, in order to see these conceptual apparatuses shown as theories of consumption practices.
Learning Outcomes
- CM06 (Competence) Correlate the impact of the consumer society on the configuration of social structure and lifestyles.
- KM07 (Knowledge) Identify the sociological theories that explain consumer habits in Western society.
- SM07 (Skill) To demonstrate from a sociological perspective that consumer needs, habits and desires are socially constructed.
Content
1. The place from which we will look at the consumption: the sociological perspective.
2. Social and historical specificity of consumption.
3. Overview of some of the fundamental sociological inputs for the study of consumption.
4. The consumption of merchandises.
5. The consumption of signs and symbols.
6. Consumption and the search for identity.
7. Consumption and social position.
The calendar detailed with the content of the different sessions will be presented on the day of presentation of the subject. It will be uploaded to the Virtual Campus, where students will also be able to access the detailed description of the exercises and practices, the various teaching materials, and any necessary information for the proper follow-up of the subject.
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Lessons, seminars, task orientation. | 51.5 | 2.06 | |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Individual meetings or in small groups to resolve doubts and prepare and follow up study, small researches and class exhibitions. | 6.75 | 0.27 | |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Reading and study. Small researches. Elaboration of evidences. | 80.5 | 3.22 |
Methodology
a. Lectures
b. Reading texts and working with audiovisual materials
c. Individual and group work
d. Final exam
Throughout the sessions, an environment will be promoted that prevents sexist, racist, and LGBTphobic comments or examples
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group project | 40% | 3.75 | 0.15 | CM06, KM07, SM07 |
| Individual project | 10% | 3.75 | 0.15 | CM06, KM07, SM07 |
| Reasoned written exam | 50% | 3.75 | 0.15 | CM06, KM07, SM07 |
Ordinary (continuous) assessment
The subject will be assessed as follows:
a) Group project (max. 4–5 students)
b) Individual assignment
c) Final exam
The instructor will provide guidance on all practicals, assessments, and evidence submissions during the course.
Other considerations
- Recovery: allowed for all the failed evaluative evidences (a, b and c) if 2/3 of assessment has been completed.
- In the evaluation record, only those individuals who have not completed the assessment activities corresponding to 50% of the grade will receive a 'not presented'
- Academic misconduct: any plagiarism, copying, or impersonation = 0 in that assessment. Multiple offenses = final mark 0
- See: https://www.uab.cat/doc/GuiaCitesiPlagiEstudiants
Single assessment
- Original review of all mandatory and optional readings. Individual. 30%
- Research project. Individual. 30%
- Final written exam. Minimum score 5. Individual. 40%
Other considerations
The same conditions mentioned above apply. All failed evaluative activities can be retaken
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Restricted Use:
"For this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for the development of assignments, and only for support tasks such as bibliographic or information searches, text correction, or translations. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated using this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these tools have influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity. Lack oftransparency in the use of AI in this graded activity will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a partial or total penalty on the grade for the activity, or more severe sanctions in serious case
Bibliography
Bibliography
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Software
Any word processor, spreadsheet, and slideshow program. Software for the elaboration of conceptual maps.
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (SEM) Seminars | 1 | Catalan | first semester | afternoon |
| (SEM) Seminars | 2 | Catalan | first semester | afternoon |
| (SEM) Seminars | 3 | Catalan | first semester | afternoon |
| (TE) Theory | 5 | Catalan | first semester | afternoon |