ANALISI E RAPPRESENTAZIONE DEI DATI SOCIO-TERRITORIALI

Applied knowledge and understanding: the course aims to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of applied sociology through the use of new digital mapping techniques that interact with commonly used georeferenced applications (Google Maps, Google Earth, etc.).

Autonomy of judgement: The course aims to provide students with a spatial view of data, i.e. the ability to develop a socio-territorial approach but also to analyse research data critically.

Communication skills: the course aims to develop the ability to communicate knowledge using the specific language of the discipline, including through the creation of coherent, clear and easily understandable thematic maps for an audience that is not necessarily specialised.

Learning skills: ability to learn the socio-territorial approach and apply it in research and professional contexts in order to increase practical knowledge.

main approaches and methods

The course focuses on the concepts, methodology and techniques that contribute to the sociological study of the change in urban societies. 

It consists of three phases:  an introduction aimed at presenting the "resources" available for socio-territorial analysis; 

the second is an application centered on analysis tools and processes; 

finally, the third is of a planning and exploratory type and serves as an exercise in the formulation of research questions and hypotheses, in the correct use of data and in the critical interpretation of the results.

Participation in the course offers the opportunity to practice the use of GIS to study and geo-reference phenomena such as marginality, exclusion, vulnerability in a socio-territorial key, sustainable development (Agenda 2030, UN) and, therefore, develop analytical skills useful for planning, managing and implementing interventions social and personal support.

In particular, during the classroom workshop activities we will focus on:

definition and construction of territorial units of analysis at different scales (from national to urban);

construction of indicators;

cartographic visualisation of socio-territorial indicators.

Battaglini E. (2014), Sviluppo territoriale. Dal disegno della ricerca alla valutazione dei risultati, Franco Angeli, Milano (cap. 3-5-6).

Bergamaschi M. (a cura di), 2022, Esplorare il territorio. Linee di ricerca socio-spaziali, Franco Angeli, Milano.

Colleoni M., Boffi M. (2014), "Human Behaviour and GIS. Methodologies for analysing urban mobility in a GIS

environment", Netcom, 28, pp. 131-144.

For non-attending students, he exam will be based on the exam texts and will be written, consisting of 3 open-ended questions to be completed in 90 minutes.

For attending students, the exam will cover a reduced part of the programme, which will be communicated during the lessons. The exam will be written, with one question requiring the development of a socio-territorial analysis project based on a map provided by the teacher (simulations of this test will be carried out in class). There will then be two open-ended questions on the programme, and the student will have to choose one. The exam will last 60 minutes. Classroom activities will account for 30% of the final mark.

Applied knowledge and understanding: the ability to develop and/or apply original ideas in the context of socio-territorial research is assessed positively.

Autonomy of judgement: the ability to integrate knowledge and manage complexity, and to formulate judgements even with incomplete data, is assessed positively.

Communication skills: the ability to communicate knowledge using the specific language of the discipline and its underlying rationale is assessed.

Learning skills: the ability to learn the socio-territorial approach and apply it in research and professional contexts is assessed.

Exercises with software including: 

Example: A) Management of vector layers (join between tables and data visualization);

B) Attribute management (selection of geometries and calculation of new fields); 

C) Construction of indicators and mapping.

Example examination questions:

a) State how a socio-territorial research design is constructed;

b) Explain the cartographic approach in urban sociology.