Welcome to ONLINE course - Applying practice theory in social science research (2020)

Theories of practice has a long history within the social sciences, which include the work of prominent scholars such as Pierre Bourdieu (Bourdieu 1977, 1990) and Anthony Giddens (Giddens 1984). However, more recent accounts of practice theory offered by Theodor Schatzki (1996) and Andreas Reckwitz (2002) has led to a renewed engagement, for example by referring to a “practice turn” within the social sciences (Schatzki, Knorr-Cetina, and Savigny 2001) and Allan Warde’s (2005) introduction to the field of sociology of consumption. The variety of these contributions also means that there is no unified account of practice theory (Nicolini 2012). However, family resemblances are found in emphasizing routinized activity, shared (embodied) understanding and the role of materiality in the performance of social practices (Warde 2014, 2015). 

Practice theory is quite widespread within for instance studies of consumption and innovation, whereas it in broader approaches of social sciences still appears as a fairly new but promising research agenda.

This course focuses on how to apply practice theory within research fields that so far has been deemphasized, overlooked or forgotten. This is done by 1) presenting a variety of research examples from the perspective of practice theory, and 2) practicing how to apply theories of practice in research.

The course requires familiarity with the foundation of theories of practice. The following sources may serve as inspiration:

-        Reckwitz, Andreas. 2002. “Toward a Theory of Social Practices A Development in Culturalist Theorizing.” European Journal of Social Theory 5(2):243–63.

-        Schatzki, Theodore R. 1996. “Social Practices”, Chapter 4 in Social Practices: A Wittgensteinian Approach to Human Activity and the Social. Cambridge University Press: 88-131.  

-        Warde, Alan. 2005. “Consumption and Theories of Practice.” Journal of Consumer Culture 5(2):131–153.

Learning outcomes

The course will introduce the students to how theories of practice can be applied on various research topics. Through discussions and workshops, the student will practice how to relate the topics and theoretical discussions to current debates as well as to their own PhD research.

The course encourage participants to delve into new ways of using practice theory in empirical research, for example by applying well-known approaches on new empirical fields or re-inventing approaches to study well-described empirical fields.

Organiser/s: Anders Rhiger Hansen, arh@sbi.aau.dk 
Lecturer(s):  Anders Rhiger Hansen, arh@sbi.aau.dk, Kirsten Gram-Hanssen kgh@build.aau.dk
ECTS for students: 3.0
Time:  11, 14, 18, 25, 26 May and  2, 16 June 2020
Place: Aalborg University, Copenhagen - ONLINE
Deadline for registration: 25 April 2020
Max. no. of participants: 10

Important information concerning PhD courses:  We have over some time experienced problems with no-show for both project and general courses. It has now reached a point where we are forced to take action. Therefore, the Doctoral School has decided to introduce a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start. This can hopefully also provide new students a chance to register for courses during the year. We look forward to your registrations.