The Open University on iTunes U - Social Sciences

world map

Is citizenship nationality?

Without agreeing to or choosing it, the vast majority of people in the world have their nationality conferred on them by where they were born or...

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Security camera

The insecurity of security

Do you feel safe in your own home? Security measures, such as gated communities and CCTV, can remove people's rights and have a long-term physical...

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Silhouette of the female body

Human trafficking: Modern day slavery?

The phrase "human trafficking" conjures up shocking images of modern slavery, abuse and victims. But are people who have been trafficked necessarily...

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Subject introduction

Social Sciences

Many social science subjects provide fascinating insights into everyday life in our communities, families and workplaces. Topics include criminology, economics, geography, media studies, politics, psychology, social policy and sociology. In our courses you’ll engage with some of the most compelling and contested questions in contemporary society: How do we communicate with each other? Why do places carry meaning for people? What are our rights as citizens? What shapes our identity and why? Our courses will stimulate your curiosity, encourage you to ask questions and challenge assumptions, and help you understand yourself – and the world we live in – more deeply.

Subject highlights

Natural - what does it mean? What 'natural' means in the context of food and the market for human organs.	What Sport Tells us About Life Ed Smith, professional cricketer and author of 'What Sport Tells Us About Life' (2008), discusses how and why sport has come to acquire such intense and diverse social meanings.
Globalisation and health A short introduction to album.	The dot.com boom Tom Hadfield was only 12 years old when he set up the internet sensation Soccernet, by the time he was 17 years old he sold the company to ESPN for $40million dollars.
Technological revolutions Helen Yanacopulos and Simon Bromley discuss technological revolutions and waves of innovation.	An introduction: Sacking prime ministers A short video introduction to this album

Subjects

Arts and humanities

The Aurelianic wall

The renewed threat of barbarian invasion led to the construction of the Aurelianic wall - the second fortification in the history of Imperial Rome.

Artificial Intelligence

Philosophy professor Tim Crane explains what he sees to be the main philosophical issues in the area of Artificial Intelligence

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Business and Management

Calderdale: preparing the bid

Members of the Calderdale NHS trust and the private consortium discuss the affordability of the new hospital.

Sorting out strategies

How a group makes decisions and deals with discord.

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Childhood and Youth

Creativity and early years

Using interviews and a live recording of a learning environment, creativity is defined and discussed as both a central aspect of the curriculum and a developmental tool.

Making Music Together

Recording a DJ set, designing a cd cover, and a guitar lesson. Behind the scenes the facilitators discuss the group's teamwork.

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Computing and ICT

Adding text to video

Titles and visuals are a quick and simple way to give the audience more information.

Why go robotic?

Benefits for the cows, the farmer and his family.

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Education

TESSA - Anything for School

Adjua wants to go to school, even though she is sick

TESSA - Something Good

Jude's snap decision costs him money

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Engineering and Technology

A MIDI composer talks about his career and the equipment in his studio.

IDEO: Encouraging Ideas

How to manage small teams and ways to create innovative ideas.

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Environment, Development and International Studies

Women's roles in the war

Women were involved in various ways in war, and their roles both as perpetrators and in peace-building should not be under-estimated.

The Impact of Science

A discussion with scientists about the nature of scientific knowledge, and it's relationship to policy making regarding climate change

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Health and Social Care

Carers from Minority Ethnic Groups

The specific needs of carers from minority ethnic groups with emphasis on the Chinese Welfare Association in Belfast

Gate Control Theory

Doctors and patients at the Royal Free Hospital's Pain Clinic and at the Real Health Institute explain how chronic pain works

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Languages

Talking to the waiter

Beginners' German Introduction

A series of short tracks giving speaking, pronunciation and listening practice on the theme of Food and Drink.

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Law

Further reading

A list of further readings.

Freedom of speech

A current affairs journalist, a human rights lawyer and an academic debate issues around freedom of speech and to what extent the law should intervene to restrict it.

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Mathematics and Statistics

Taking a bearing

Discover how to get your bearings with a compass and a map.

The Open University's Alan Graham shares his knowledge on the link between music and math, and his band Betty's Kitchen perform several songs and talk us through their instruments.

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Psychology

Identical twinset

Linda, Sharon and their mother discuss their similarities as identical twins.

Discursive Psychological Research

Professor Margaret Wetherell discusses her pioneering research into the language of racism.

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Science

Focusing on fungi

Dr Sarah Watkinson reveals the role of fungi in breaking down dead leaves.

Waves: Electro magnetic waves

How radio waves work and their use at sea.

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Social Sciences

Migration: controlling borders

In Algeciras in southern Spain, the arrival of undocumented migrants from North Africa is a daily occurrence.

Working in partnership

Joan Devlin on how Belfast Healthy Cities is a model for further partnership initiatives.

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Research

Spectacular Flirtations

Open University Art History researcher, Gill Perry takes us through The National Portrait Gallery and explores the relationship between 18th Century art and theatre and the notion of actresses and their portraits as seductive, beguiling objects. Gill also looks at paralells in the ways contemporary female stars use media images to promote themselves as celebrities.

Building on History: the Church in London

Short documentary outlining a new Open University research project involving the Diocese of London and Kings College University in which existing c19th church history research is used to inform current strategies for the Church of England as part of a Knowledge Transfer Process.

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The OU on iTunes U

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