GSCS website

Join us at the Liu Institute on April 27th, 2017 for our 10th Annual interdisciplinary graduate student conference! We will have a great set of presentations from a range of fields and substantive areas.

CFA link Below!

GSCS Conference 2017 – Call for Abstracts POSTER

The UBC Graduate Student Council of Sociology (GSCS) seeks paper proposals for its eighth annual interdisciplinary graduate conference taking place May 9, 2015 at the University of British Columbia (Learning Exchange Center).

Abduction: Embracing the “alien” aspects of social research 

In methods courses, social science students are taught the research process is straightforward: there  is a “formula” for coming up with a research question, for gathering data, and for turning data into theory. In practice, students learn that research is anything but formulaic–questions change, interview protocols and surveys evolve, and once-foundational points of reference in the literature lose sway in the process. To bring these familiar yet taboo topics into the foreground, some sociologists have begun to advocate for an “abductive” approach to sociological research, where the actual process of theorizing is made explicit. Unlike grounded theorists, who claim that theories can emerge cleanly from the data, or more traditional sociologists who claim to “deduce” objective truths, abductive sociologists take a more practical view of research as an iterative back-and-forth between questions and answers, theory and data, researchers and participants.

We invite conference participants to present the behind-the-scenes aspects of their research projects. How do you move beyond empirical observations to constructing a theory? How do you reconcile existing theoretical conversations with this new data? What does the practice of social science research really involve? Instead of focusing on research results, the idea for this conference is to focus on the research process. Panels will consist of 5-8 minute self-reflexive presentations on topics such as:

• Turning ideas and observations into a research topic
• Finding the “right” literature
• Gathering data – dealing with unexpected results
• Moving beyond empirical observations to construct a theory
• Introducing research insights into the academic conversation

If reading this list brings to mind a vivid moment of your research experience, go on this! We are looking for panelists to recount personal experiences of a hurdle in the research process, along with insights or strategies they’ve developed as a result. Abstracts can be a summary of this experience.

Presentation-based panels mean no papers are required. Presentations will be used as a lifting off point for group discussions of similar research issues and solutions.

Keynote speaker: David Wachsmuth, Killam Postdoctoral Research Fellow and SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia

Please submit abstracts of up to 250 words to: UBC.GSCS@gmail.com with the subject heading “GSCS 2015 Conference Abstract.” The deadline for abstracts is: March 31^st, 2015.

Abstract submissions from all social science/humanities disciplines are welcome!

Hi everyone,

The UBC Graduate Student Council of Sociology (GSCS) seeks paper proposals for its sixth annual interdisciplinary graduate conference, “Agency, Power, and Structure: Navigating the Social World” taking place May 11, 2013 in the UBC Anthropology-Sociology building. Please see the attached poster.

The conference is an avenue for graduate students to come together to share empirical research and theoretical insights on our changing social world. Papers, panels, posters or multi-media presentations are welcome. All topics and frameworks are encouraged, however we especially seek submissions that critically engage with themes of social change, social justice, collective action, new technology, and other issues that take into account recent local and international developments. Please feel free to submit an individual abstract or propose a panel along with other students.

Please submit abstracts of up to 250 words to: UBC.GSCS@gmail.com with the subject heading “GSCS 2013 Conference Abstract.” The deadline for abstracts is April 1st, 2013.

Click to see our beautiful call for papers!

We have a new exec! Check them out here.

On Tuesday, the department is welcoming this year’s first Seminar Series Speaker. Join us for Philp Cohen’s talk and for the discussion afterwards with other grad students!

Please join us for the first meeting of the Graduate Student Council of Sociology (GSCS) this Wednesday, September 5 from 1:30 to 2:30 in room 24 (basement level of the ANSO building).

We will be electing our new executive and talking about plans for the upcoming year, the search for a new Head of Sociology, conference funding, amongst other things.

Hope to see many of you there!

Don’t miss the Department of Sociology’s 2012 Academic Launch this Tuesday, September 4!

12:00 noon – Come to the Networking Lunch in the Lino Lounge to eat sushi and mingle with the many faculty, staff and students that you will be working alongside this year.

1:30 – Orientation events – specific to new grad students and undergrads and new sessional instructors.

3:30 – Stop by and watch our local experts be challenged in a game of sociological JEOPARDY! in 207.

5:00 – Conclude the day with more celebration and a burger at the annual department BBQ.