ASOA22213U Discrimination: Conceptualization, Causes, Measurement and Counteraction (Summer 2025)
BA and MA elective course
Course package:
Welfare, inequality, and mobility
Open to credit transfer students
What is discrimination, how do we measure it, and can it be countered? Are women discriminated as political candidates? Are men also subject to discrimination when applying for jobs? Are minority members discriminated against in the housing market? Even though formal rules and informal norms against discrimination are strong, existing evidence shows that discrimination continues to affect individuals’ chances of success in life. Understanding why discrimination occurs – and how it might be countered – is crucial for building critical awareness and informing policies.
This course offers students a broad introduction to the field of discrimination by using evidence from across the social sciences. The course has four different blocks. The first block begins by defining discrimination and exploring related concepts like prejudices and stereotypes as well as delving into the theories of discrimination. The second block focuses on how to measure discrimination, and we will assess the strengths and weaknesses of different research designs. We will give particular attention to the use of survey and fields experiments, which are frequently used designs for identifying discrimination. In the third block, we will investigate some of the most recent experimental evidence on discrimination. We will look at discrimination based on various socially salient characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, partisanship in both political and apolitical domains. In the fourth block, we will reflect (and debate!) on the policies and initiatives that aim to counteract discrimination, including affirmative action policies.
This seminar aims to be interactive and there will be group work, debates, presentations, among other interactive tasks. No previous methodological knowledge is required.
Knowledge
- Develop an understanding of discrimination, including its relevance, key theoretical frameworks and counteraction initiatives.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the measurement of discrimination and the use of different designs in studies of discrimination.
- Discuss the latest experimental evidence on discrimination in both political and apolitical domains in various areas, such as gender, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation and partisanship.
Skills
- Critically evaluate designs employed in measuring discrimination, identifying their strengths, weaknesses, and potential biases.
- Analyse and evaluate the initiatives aiming to counteract discrimination.
- Being able to synthesize knowledge and information from the course and to independently formulate an accompanying research design to study discrimination.
Competences
- Apply theoretical and methodological knowledge in analysing instances of discrimination across various social contexts.
- Integrate course knowledge to formulate research design that address different aspects of discrimination.
Lippert-Rasmussen, K., 2013. ‘What is Discrimination’ (chapter 1). In Born Free and Equal? Oxford University Press. https://academic.oup.com/book/8942/chapter/155252515
Tilcsik, A., 2021. ‘Statistical Discrimination and the Rationalization of Stereotypes’. American Sociological Review 86 (1). SAGE Publications Inc: 93–122. doi:10.1177/0003122420969399.
Fiske, S. T., Cuddy AJC, and Glick P., 2007. ‘Universal dimensions of social cognition: Warmth and competence.’ Trends in cognitive sciences 11 (2): 77-83.
Galos, D.R., 2023. Social Media and Hiring: A Survey Experiment on Discrimination based on Online Social Class Cues. European Sociological Review, 1-13.
Olsen, A.L., Kyhse‐Andersen, J.H., and Moynihan, D., 2022. The unequal distribution of opportunity: A national audit study of bureaucratic discrimination in primary school access. American Journal of Political Science, 66(3): 587-603.
Schaeffer, M., & Kas, J. (2024). The integration paradox: a review and meta-analysis of the complex relationship between integration and reports of discrimination. International Migration Review, 58(3), 1384-1409.
Paluck, E. L., Porat, R., Clark, C. S., and Green, D. P., 2021. Prejudice reduction: Progress and challenges. Annual review of psychology, 72, 533-560.
Eberhardt, J. L. (2019). Biased: Uncovering the hidden prejudice that shapes what we see, think, and do. Penguin Books.
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 42
- Preparation
- 164
- Total
- 206
Credit students from Danish universities - sign up through this website.
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written assignment
- Type of assessment details
- The students are required to formulate their own exam questions
based on pre-defined guidelines provided by the teacher. Students
will receive the exam guidelines for formulating exam questions
during the ongoing semester. The teacher is required to provide at
least two exemplary exam questions that adhere to the guidelines.
The exam can be written individually or in groups of max. 4 students.
Length of the exam is 10 pages + 5 pages pr. extra group member. - Aid
- Only certain aids allowed
The Department of Sociology prohibits the use of generative AI software and large language models (AI/LLMs), such as ChatGPT, for generating novel and creative content in written exams. However, students may use AI/LLMs to enhance the presentation of their own original work, such as text editing, argument validation, or improving statistical programming code. Students must disclose in an appendix if and how AI/LLMs were used; this appendix will not count toward the page limit of the exam. This policy is in place to ensure that students’ written exams accurately reflect their own knowledge and understanding of the material. All students are required to include an AI declaration in their exam submissions regardless of whether they have used generative AI software or not. This declaration should be placed as the last page of the exam submission. Please note that the AI statement is not included in the calculation of the overall length of your assignment. The template for the AI statement can be found in the Digital Exam system and on the Study Pages on KUnet under “Written exam”. Exams that do not declare if and how AI/LLMs were used will be administratively rejected and counted as one exam attempt.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
- Re-exam
Students will write a new written assignment based on the guidelines provided by the teacher.
The exam can be written individually or in groups of max. 4 students.
Length of the exam is 10 pages + 5 pages pr. extra group member.
Criteria for exam assesment
Criteria for exam assessment:
Grade 12 is given for an outstanding performance: the student lives up to the course's goal description in an independent and convincing manner with no or few and minor shortcomings
Grade 7 is given for a good performance: the student is confidently able to live up to the goal description, albeit with several shortcomings
Grade 02 is given for an adequate performance: the minimum acceptable performance in which the student is only able to live up to the goal description in an insecure and incomplete manner
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- ASOA22213U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree MasterBachelor
- Placement
- Summer
Summer 2025
- Schedule
- August 4
August 5
August 7
August 8
August 18
August 19
August 21
August 22
Study board
- Department of Sociology, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Sociology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinators
- Diana-Roxana Galos (3-7381764f827e723d7a843d737a)
Lecturers
Diana Roxana Galos, drg@soc.ku.dk