| Unit name | Philosophy and Research Design in the Social Sciences |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SOCIM0012 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Tsilipakos |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit discusses central philosophical issues in sociological and political research as a means of reflecting on research design; it is does not aim to be a 'how-to' manual. Key questions that will be addressed include: Is social science closely related to science and what is science like? What are the main positions in reflecting on social science and what are their historical origins? What kinds of claims can be made in sociological and political research? Should social scientists be committed to emancipatory values and can those values be justified? How should research ethics be taken into account when designing a research project? On the whole, we will consider the advantages and disadvantages of different philosophical and methodological approaches by looking at important philosophical texts and examples of empirical research.
Aims:
Upon completion of this unit students will:
The unit will be taught through blended learning methods, including a mix of synchronous and asynchronous teaching activities
Each of the learning outcomes will be assessed both formatively and summatively:
Formative assessment: a seminar presentation.
Summative assessment: 4,000 word essay.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SOCIM0012).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
