PHI-40007 - Module Specification
School of Social, Political and Global Studies
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

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.

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. Possible topics include Durkheim's naturalism, Popper's falsification theory, Weber's interpretivism, Critical theory, phenomenology, structuralism, and post-structuralism.

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

Active Learning:
15 hours - Lectures, seminar discussions, and small group work
15 hours - Supervision
50 hours - Class preparation
Independent Study:
80 hours - Assessment preparation
60 hours - Independent Research
80 hours - Essay preparation
Semester 1
15 hours - Lectures, seminar discussions, and small group work
50 hours - Class preparation
80 hours - Assessment preparation
Semester 2
15 hours - Supervision
60 hours - Independent Research
80 hours - Essay preparation

School Rules

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

Description of Module Assessment