PHI-40007 - Philosophy of the Social Sciences
Coordinator: Ranji Devadason Tel: +44 1782 7 34901
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

This module provides students with an introduction to the philosophy of the social sciences and philosophical debates around methodology and methodological approaches to research. It includes a discussion of topics such as naturalism, falsification theory, paradigm shifts, the interpretive tradition, critical theory, and structuralism. Apart from an exploration of these topics, the module also covers the work of a range of key thinkers, including Durkheim, Popper, Kuhn, Weber, Adorno, and Foucault, who have informed the ways in which researchers think about social science knowledge. In introducing the module, we seek to ground discussion in first, the enlightenment idea of the search for science, and second, the ancient Greek, Platonic, theory of metaphysical truth. The module unfolds on the basis of the debate between these ideas and perspectives that were critical of these philosophies.


Aims
The module aims to provide an introduction to philosophy of the social science research and knowledge through a discussion of a range of key perspectives including Durkheim's naturalism, Popper's falsification theory, and Weber's interpretivism. The module will also cover phenomenology, structuralism, and post-structuralism.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/phi-40007/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate systematic understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of approaches at the forefront of researching the social world and apply these effectively in their own work: 1,2,

Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the philosophy of the social sciences and the ways in which debates in this field apply to issues in the creation of social science knowledge: 1,2,

Demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge of the philosophy of the social sciences to a range of methodological and philosophical problems: 1,2,

Demonstrate advanced conceptual understanding to evaluate research and scholarship in the field of the philosophy of the social sciences: 1,2,

Evaluate different methodological approaches to the creation of knowledge and understand their distinctiveness in the history of the philosophy of social sciences: 1,2,

Communicate appropriately through the use of higher level writing skills to diverse audiences with the use of academic referencing: 1,2,
























Study hours

Semester 1
15 hours - Lectures, seminar discussions, and small group work
68 hours - Class preparation
67 hours - Assessment preparation
Semester 2
15 hours - Supervision
68 hours - Independent Research
67 hours - Essay preparation

School Rules

Barred combination to be managed by the School: SOC-40014

Description of Module Assessment

1: Essay weighted 50%
Essay
Following the 5 taught sessions, students will write a 4000 word essay on a question drawn from a list written by the module leader. This essay will concern the topics studied on the first part of the module.

2: Essay weighted 50%
Essay
In the second part of the module, students choose a topic or theme on a particular methodological question relating to their own research. Following meetings with their dissertation supervisor, they write a 4-5000 word essay on this topic, which will contribute to the research into methodology for their dissertation.