CloseHelpPrint
Kies de Nederlandse taal
Course module: 201700111
201700111
Youth-studies: an interdisciplinary approach
Course info
Course code201700111
EC5
Course goals
1. In-depth interdisciplinary approach to youth issues

2. Insights in various theoretical approaches to person-environment interactions

3. Applying these insights to
•        research on youth issues
•        explanations for youth issues
•        solutions for youth issues (implications of research for policy)
Content
In the social sciences, the development of young people (children and adolescents) has always been an important research topic. Young people represent society's future. This is why it is so important to understand the lives of young people, the main problems that they face and how society can most effectively respond to these problems or attempt to mitigate their consequences or solve them. It is also known that many problems in adulthood have their origins in childhood or adolescence. Thus, research into young people's lives is necessary to better understand adults' problems. Indeed, the idea that adult problems can best be prevented by taking remedial action and providing support when people are still young is now widely accepted.
 
Many disciplines conduct research into youth-issues, each with their own perspectives and theories. Developmental psychologists primarily approach  adolescence and young adulthood as a specific phase in the individual life course. This approach is based on the assumption that life phases have a relatively fixed pattern driven by individual biological development and processes of maturation. However, psychologists also acknowledge that context is an important factor in determining individual development. For example, vulnerable children who grow up in highly favourable conditions may be protected by these conditions from developing problems, while vulnerable children who grow up in highly unfavourable conditions may be particularly susceptible to developing problems. Researchers in Pedagogics focus primarily on the influence of the immediate social environment (parents, friends, peers). However, social inequality and cultural and historical conditions can also determine an individual's life course, which is where a sociological or anthropological approach becomes imperative for gaining a better understanding of the risks in the social environment (be it social, cultural or historical).
 
These general assumptions are shared by many researchers, but untangling this combination of contemporary influences (personal, biological, social, cultural, and historical factors) can be quite complicated. Risk factors do not lead simply and logically to a predictable outcome. They often interact with each other to influence individuals and their development in a complex manner. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach as a basic premise, this course furthers this interdisciplinary approach by applying a number of important theoretical perspectives to a range of current issues affecting young people. Examples of issues covered by the course include:
 
  • Juvenile crime and antisocial behaviour
  • Changes in youth culture, lifestyle and music preferences
  • Development of internalising problems (depression, anxiety, suicide)
  • Substance abuse and addiction
  • (Increasing) social inequality among young people (socio-economic status, level of education, cultural capital)
  • Migration (labour migrants, asylum seekers, refugees) and intercultural conflict-
  • Internet and social media use (including gaming and/or internet addiction)
  • The international context of young people's lives in Europe (cultural and political differences).
 
Working method. The course consists of a series of lectures combined with working group sessions. The literature consists of articles by leading researchers in the areas of youth study described above. The articles discuss these topics in relation to young people's development, adopting an interdisciplinary perspective (genes, the brain, parents, peers, social and cultural context). Thereby, the course aims to provide students with an introduction to recent, high-quality research in the field of youth issues. There is a weekly lecture. In the working groups, students will discuss, analyse, and evaluate the literature of that week. To encourage in-depth discussion, analytical questions are posed about the literature of the week. Students prepare answers to these questions in groups. Any problems in answering the questions can be discussed in the working groups. Additionally, students choose one of the issues affecting young people. In small project groups, students will prepare a final presentation, in which they analyse the chosen issue from an interdisciplinary perspective. In the presentation, students provide a scientifically based explanation for the youth issue and, based on this explanation, present implications for research, policy and interventions relating to the issue. The presentation is based on an essay, to be written jointly, of no longer than three pages.
 
Skills assessed.
 
  • familiarity with and understanding of the complex literature and interdisciplinary theories on youth issues (examination) (70% of the final mark).
  • The ability to identify and analyse the relevant, scientific literature critically, use it to provide an explanation, and outline basic principles for policy and intervention (30% of the final mark)
  • The ability to critically analyse, evaluate and discuss scientific literature, theoretical approaches and their implications for youth issues (preparation for working group).
 
Aspects of academic skills development
Critical reading of academic literature. Analytical skills. Developing new ideas and translating them into research questions. Actively participating in the debate about academic knowledge and knowledge acquisition.
 
CloseHelpPrint
Kies de Nederlandse taal