Factores socioeconómicos que determinan la elección de la carrera de Sociología en la Universidad de Cuenca entre los años 2020-2021

Abstract

This case study had the purpose of investigating what were the social, economic and cultural factors that determined the choice of the Sociology career, for which it was considered important to address categories such as cultural capital, habitus, rules of the game of the Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu. Methodologically, the research has a descriptive scope, the modality was a case study. The approach was mixed since quantitative and qualitative techniques were used. For the quantitative study, a representative sample of 85 students of the Sociology career was surveyed, in the qualitative aspect, 12 semistructured interviews were applied to graduates of the career, with the purpose of knowing what has been the motivation to continue their studies. , the main difficulties encountered in the course of the career, as well as if they consider that it brings prestige both academically and at work. The results of the investigation showed that the students who chose the career, did so by personal initiative, by the influence of friends and teachers, in addition, the role of the entrance exam as a determinant of the choice of the sociology career should be highlighted, given that placed the students in the race. As for the motivational factors for permanence in the career, there is having a well-paid job in the future and the possibility of achieving greater social prestige, by facilitating the completion of postgraduate studies, making possible, as proposed by Bourdieu, the accumulation of cultural capital. It is concluded that the socioeconomic factors that influence the decision to study is the desire to have a professional degree, since it is similar to a better quality of life, in addition, a predominance of women was found since they are traditionally oriented towards careers. social and humanitarian.