Philosophy of Science and Research Methods (MEE125)

Social science gives rise to a broad range of ontological, epistemological, and methodological issues. Central questions in the philosophy of social science concern the possibility and production of scientific knowledge. In short, how is scientific knowledge acquired? In keeping with this, the course introduces central questions in the philosophy of science focused on showing their relevance for research practices and knowledge production.

In this course, we discuss processes and conditions of scientific knowledge production and application. We deal with questions regarding the nature of science, among which: how to demarcate science from non-science; scientific reasoning and rationality; differences between social sciences and natural sciences; how knowledge is produced and situated; issues of scientific objectivity and subjectivity, and more.

Students will learn how to evaluate the scientific quality of research, think critically, and scrutinise scientific claims. Students will also learn about the nature of scientific work; forms of scientific analysis; as well as sound research practices and methodologies.

The course is organised in a seried of modules, combining lectures and discussions with active participation among students. While lectures offer students the theoretical frameworks and conceptual tools necessary for an overview of the philosophy of science, tasks and activities will facilitate students' learning with regards to their own programme areas and its relation to the various topics discussed.

The modular structure entails a pronounced progression to gradually guide students through central issues and approaches in the field.

Knowledge

Students will have:

• Knowledge of central issues and approaches in the philosophy of social science
• Knowledge of central issues and approaches relating to research practice and evaluation
• Knowledge of how the two sets of issues and approaches relate to one another

Skills

Students will be able to:

• Present and discuss issues in the philosophy of social science in an informed and independent way
• Present and discuss issues relating to research practice and evaluation in an informed and independent way
• Present and discuss the relation between the two sets of issues in an informed and independent way
• Critically reflect on practices and conditions of knowledge production
• Critically evaluate procedures, implicit assumptions, and implications of research projects

General competence

Students will be able to:

• Independently acquire and assess knowledge within their field of study
• Independently analyse and discuss issues in the philosophy of science using relevant concepts
• Analyse relevant ethical and political dimensions of scientific practice
• Critically assess the uses and usefulness of key approaches in the philosophy of science in relation to research and/or working life

The course is mandatory for several MA programmes at the Department of Media and Social Sciences and is taught in English. Students in English-language programmes will submit all work in English. Students in Norwegian-language programmes may choose to submit their work in either English or a Scandinavian language.

Exam-questions will be provided in English and Norwegian. In the eventuality that the exam uses excerpts from the syllabus, these will be in English only.

The course requires active participation and students have to a hand in a compulsory written assignment during the semester, in order to qualify for the final exam. Detailed information on deadline, nature, and length of the written assignment is provided in the introductory lecture at the beginning of the course period.

This assignment will be evaluated according to a Pass/Fail grade.

Failure to pass this compulsory assignment will disqualify the student from taking the final exam.