Project Brief

Social class and prosocial behaviour are two key aspects affecting cooperation and integration within societies. It is therefore not surprising that researchers started to be interested in the relationship between social class and prosociality.  The research so far has shown contradictory results. Some studies indicate that lower-class individuals are more prosocial than higher-class individuals (“having less, giving more”). Other studies find the opposite, that higher-class individuals are more prosocial than lower-class individuals. In this project, students will work at the University of Warwick Department of Sociology and the Warwick Q-Step Centre to conduct their own research in this field.

Placement

The students were given the opportunity of making a contribution to ongoing research on the relationship between social class and prosocial behaviour by identifying an aspect of this field that was of interest to them and studying the relationship between two key concepts in the social sciences. With guidance and training provided by the project supervisors (Prof Ulf Liebe and his Research Assistant, Nicole Schwitter) students conducted a short literature review, developed their own research question, analysed data and wrote up results. Through the course of the placement, they were able to acquire/enhance skills in research design, quantitative data analysis, and communication.

At the end of the 4 weeks placement, the students presented their findings to an audience of Warwick staff and PhD students. For more details on the research findings, see the posters produced by the students below.

• Amber Barlas
• Delal Etel
• Modupe Otunaiya