GV110-4-AU-CO:
Scientific Reasoning for the Social Sciences
2020/21
Government
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 08 October 2020
Friday 18 December 2020
15
09 June 2020
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
SC208
BA L250 International Relations (Including Foundation Year),
BA L258 International Relations,
BA L259 International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BA L260 International Relations (Including Placement Year),
MPOLL268 International Relations,
MPOLL269 International Relations (Including Placement Year),
MPOLL370 International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BSC L222 Politics and International Relations,
BSC L223 Politics and International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BSC L224 Politics and International Relations (Including Placement Year)
The module provides an introduction to the philosophy and theory of (empirical social) science, its structure, and methods. It asks questions such as "What is science?", "What is the scientific method?", "How is knowledge generated?", "How is scientific progress made?", or "How to do science?" Introducing students to the basics of the scientific methods in the social sciences, allows them to understand better how to formulate research problems independently, identify and acquire the necessary additional methods skills within their degree program, and to conduct work that fulfills satisfactory standards of research quality. This not only pertains to students' classes during the second and third academic year or their capstone dissertation but also provides them with a solid foundation for potential postgraduate studies or employment in research-related jobs.
This module seeks to enable students to assess scientific logics and assumptions, evaluate scientific theories and empirical evidence, and build intuition for good research designs.
By the end of the module the students will have achieved the following:
1. Gained an understanding of the basic issues in research design and philosophy of science.
2. Learnt how to construct a scientific explanation (research question, theory-building, hypotheses).
3. Understood how to empirically evaluate scientific theories
No additional information available.
1 x pre-recorded lecture and 1 x interactive lecture per week. Weeks 4,8,17,19 will include an extended advisory session for all students
- Kellstedt, Paul M.; Whitten, Guy D. (2013) The fundamentals of political science research, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Okasha, Samir. (no date) 6£ Ebook: Philosophy of Science: Very Short Introduction (2nd ed.).
- Popper, Karl R. (2002) The logic of scientific discovery, London: Routledge. vol. Routledge classics
- Kellstedt, Paul; Whitten, Guy. (2013) The Fundamentals of Political Science Research, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Clarke, Kevin A; Primo, David M. (2012) A model discipline: political science and the logic of representations, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Kuhn, Thomas S. (1970) The structure of scientific revolutions, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Online Class Activity 1 |
|
13.33% |
| Coursework |
Online Class Activity 2 |
|
13.33% |
| Coursework |
Online Class Activity 3 |
|
13.34% |
| Coursework |
Test |
|
60% |
Additional coursework information
Assessment is by three class activities (40% of final mark) and a final test assignment (60% of final mark). Activities will go online at the beginning of the term (week 1) and submissions close in week 4, 7, and 10 for the three activities, respectively. The final test assignment goes online the day after the last lecture of the module (week 11) and submission closes 24 hours later.
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Dominik Duell, email: dominik.duell@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Dominik Duell
Module Supervisor: dominik.duell@essex.ac.uk
Module Administrator: Nicola Rowley, govquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
Dr Mohammed Rodwan Abouharb
University College London
Available via Moodle
Of 228 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
228 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Government
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