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Integration of Micro and Macro Theories of Communication
Study Course Description
Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:4.00
Study Course Accepted:02.02.2024 12:25:21
| Study Course Information | |||||||||
| Course Code: | KSK_123 | LQF level: | Level 7 | ||||||
| Credit Points: | 4.00 | ECTS: | 6.00 | ||||||
| Branch of Science: | Communication Sciences; Communication Theory | Target Audience: | Communication Science | ||||||
| Study Course Supervisor | |||||||||
| Course Supervisor: | Sergejs Kruks | ||||||||
| Study Course Implementer | |||||||||
| Structural Unit: | Faculty of Social Sciences | ||||||||
| The Head of Structural Unit: | |||||||||
| Contacts: | Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf rsu[pnkts]lv | ||||||||
| Study Course Planning | |||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.1 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 12 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 24 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 8 | Class Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 16 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 40 | ||||||||
| Study course description | |||||||||
| Preliminary Knowledge: | Philosophy. Introduction to communication theories. | ||||||||
| Objective: | To understand continental and Anglo-Saxon approaches to communication studies. To understand the importance of agency, structure and culture in the analysis of communication processes. To evaluate weaknesses and strengths of methodological individualism and collectivism paradigms. | ||||||||
| Topic Layout (Full-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | Public communication in Latvia: research overview. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 2 | Methodological individualism and collectivism. Anglo-Saxon, continental and cultural romanticism tradition. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 3 | Critical theory. J. Habermas publicity (public sphere) concept. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 4 | M. Weber’s interpretive paradigm. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 5 | Symbolic interactionism. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 6 | Ethnomethodology. Analysis of conversations. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 7 | Rational choice theory. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 8 | Figurational sociology. N. Elias. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 9 | Habitus and field. P. Bourdieu. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 10 | Theories of structuration and social morphogenesis. A. Giddens and M. Archer. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 11 | Social constructionism. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 12 | Language as a problem of communication. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 13 | Theoretical model of public communication. | Classes | 8.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Assessment | |||||||||
| Unaided Work: | Studies of literature. Preparation of two reports. | ||||||||
| Assessment Criteria: | Two reports form 25% of the mark each, examination – 50%. | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Full-Time): | Exam (Written) | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Part-Time): | |||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
| Knowledge: | After mastering the course students show extensive knowledge on different theoretical paradigms, understanding the commonalities and differences, strengths and weaknesses. | ||||||||
| Skills: | After mastering the course students practically select theories for research; explain with arguments communication phenomena in different paradigms and discuss strengths and weaknesses of different paradigms by evaluating communication phenomena. | ||||||||
| Competencies: | After mastering the study course students integrate insights of different theoretical paradigms when researching or planning public communication. | ||||||||
| Bibliography | |||||||||
| No. | Reference | ||||||||
| Required Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Ritzer, G., J. Stepnisky (2018) Contemporary Sociological Theory and Its Classical Roots. London: Sage. | ||||||||
| 2 | Udehn, Lars (2001) Methodological Individualism. London: Routledge. | ||||||||
| 3 | Habermas, Jürgen. The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere. | ||||||||
| 4 | Habermas, J. Theory of Communicative Action. | ||||||||
| 5 | Weber, Max. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Chapter II. | ||||||||
| 6 | Kalberg, Stefan (1987) “The Origin and Expansion of Kulturpessimismus: The Relationship between Public and Private Spheres in Early Twentieth Century Germany”, Sociological Theory 5(2): 150-164. | ||||||||
| 7 | Elias, N. The Civilising Process. | ||||||||
| 8 | Bourdieu, Pierre. Outline of a Theory of Practice. | ||||||||
| 9 | Giddens, A. (1984) The constitution of society: Outline of the theory of structuration. Cambridge: Polity Press | ||||||||
| 10 | Archer, M. (2001) Being Human. Cambridge University Press. | ||||||||
| 11 | Schütz, Alfred (1976) The Stranger. | ||||||||
| 12 | Berger, A., T. Luckmann. The Construction of Social Reality. | ||||||||
| 13 | Kruks, S. (2012) “Semiozes izpratne latviešu avotos: Valodnieku un mākslas zinātnieku zīmes koncepciju kritika”, Letonica 23:52-66. | ||||||||
| 14 | Kruks, S. (2011) “Evicting the Speaking Subject: A Critique of the Latvian Concepts of Language”, Journal of Baltic Studies 42(4):447-63. | ||||||||
| Additional Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Juzefovičs, J. (2017) Broadcasting and National Imagination in PostCommunist Latvia: Defining the Nation, Definig Public Televison. Bristol, Chicago: Intellect. | ||||||||
| 2 | Kruk, S., J. Chakars (2018) “Democratic Crisis or Return to the Western World? Civic Engagement, Social Capital, and Media in Latvia”, Lituanus 64(4): 18-40. | ||||||||
| 3 | Kruks, S., G. Veidemanis, K. Rižņikova, L. Vaita (2018) “Kurš rada ziņas? Sabiedrisko attiecību un ziņu mediju dienaskārtība”, Akadēmiskā Dzīve 54:85-95. | ||||||||
| 4 | Kruk, S. (ed.) (2018) Pluralism Anxiety. Acting Socially in Latvia. Riga: Riga Stradiņš University. | ||||||||
| 5 | Kruks, S. (ed.) (2016) Ekonomiskā krīze Latvijā: "veiksmes stāsta" pēcgarša. Rīga: Rīgas Stradiņa Universitāte. | ||||||||
