30210
Advanced seminar
Inequality beliefs: Concepts, Measurements and empirical results
Claudia Traini
Comments
Beliefs about inequality are deeply connected to how individuals interpret the causes of social and economic differences as outcomes of personal effort or as consequences of structural conditions beyond individual control. Understanding these beliefs is essential to grasp how citizens relate to institutions, policy, and broader processes of social change.
For students, studying inequality beliefs provides an opportunity to connect theoretical reflection with empirical investigation. It deepens their understanding of key sociological theories, fosters analytical abstraction, and encourages critical thinking about how beliefs are shaped by both individual-level factors (e.g., values, status, socialization) and macro-level structures (e.g., welfare regimes, institutions, macro-economic conditions). Comparative approaches and the close reading of empirical research are central to this work.
This course is built around the critical examination of empirical studies on inequality beliefs. In the first part of the seminar, we will discuss the conceptual spectrum between meritocracy and structural inequality. The following sessions will focus on selected articles that examine how different individual and contextual determinants shape inequality beliefs across countries and time.
The seminar also includes an experimental component involving AI tools, which students may use to assist with tasks such as summarizing literature, outlining arguments, or generating counterpoints. These activities aim to assess when and how artificial intelligence can support or potentially hinder sociological reasoning. The goal is not only to engage with content, but also to foster reflective thinking about the role of digital tools in social science research and learning. close
The seminar also includes an experimental component involving AI tools, which students may use to assist with tasks such as summarizing literature, outlining arguments, or generating counterpoints. These activities aim to assess when and how artificial intelligence can support or potentially hinder sociological reasoning. The goal is not only to engage with content, but also to foster reflective thinking about the role of digital tools in social science research and learning. close
16 Class schedule
Regular appointments
Mon, 2025-10-13 14:00 - 16:00
Mon, 2025-10-20 14:00 - 16:00
Mon, 2025-10-27 14:00 - 16:00
Mon, 2025-11-03 14:00 - 16:00
Mon, 2025-11-10 14:00 - 16:00
Mon, 2025-11-17 14:00 - 16:00
Mon, 2025-11-24 14:00 - 16:00
Mon, 2025-12-01 14:00 - 16:00
Mon, 2025-12-08 14:00 - 16:00
Mon, 2025-12-15 14:00 - 16:00
Mon, 2026-01-05 14:00 - 16:00
Mon, 2026-01-12 14:00 - 16:00
Mon, 2026-01-19 14:00 - 16:00
Mon, 2026-01-26 14:00 - 16:00
Mon, 2026-02-02 14:00 - 16:00
Mon, 2026-02-09 14:00 - 16:00