GV110-4-AU-CO:
Thinking Like a Social Scientist
PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
2023/24
Government
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 4
Inactive
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 15 December 2023
15
23 January 2020
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This module provides an introduction into the basics of the philosophy and theory of (empirical social) science, its structure, and procedures/techniques. It tackles questions such as "what is a research design?" and "how is scientific progress made?"
This module thus seeks to introduce students to the basics of scientific work and procedures in the social sciences, which in turn shall allow them to conduct work that fulfills satisfactory standards of research quality. This not only pertains in particular to students' classes during the third academic year, but also in light of potential postgraduate studies.
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.
On successful completion of the module, students will have:
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 1 hour lecture per week. 1 x 1 hour class per week.
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Johnson, J.B., Reynolds, H.T. and Mycoff, J.D. (2019a)
Political Science Research Methods. 9th Revised edition. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications Inc. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/650865.
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Cartwright, N., Montuschi, E. and Montuschi, E. (eds) (2014b)
Philosophy of Social Science: A New Introduction. Oxford University Press, USA. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/167278.
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Okasha, S. (2016b)
Philosophy of science: a very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://academic.oup.com/book/486?login=true.
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‘Naomi Oreskes: Why we should trust scientists | TED Talk’ (no date). Available at:
https://www.ted.com/talks/naomi_oreskes_why_we_should_trust_scientists.
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Knopf, J.W. (2006) ‘Doing a Literature Review’,
PS: Political Science & Politics, 39(1), pp. 127–132. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049096506060264.
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Johnson, J.B., Reynolds, H.T. and Mycoff, J.D. (2019d)
Political Science Research Methods. 9th Revised edition. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications Inc. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/650865.
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Kellstedt, P.M. and Whitten, G.D. (2018b)
The fundamentals of political science research. Third edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/294544.
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Kellstedt, P.M. and Whitten, G.D. (2018a)
Fundamentals of Political Science Research. Third Edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/294544.
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Pillow, W. (2003) ‘Confession, catharsis, or cure? Rethinking the uses of reflexivity as methodological power in qualitative research’,
International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 16(2), pp. 175–196. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/0951839032000060635.
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Clark, T.
et al. (2021b)
Bryman’s social research methods. Sixth edition. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/974675.
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Reade, J. (2021) ‘Keeping it raw on the ‘gram: Authenticity, relatability and digital intimacy in fitness cultures on Instagram’,
New Media & Society, 23(3), pp. 535–553. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444819891699.
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Malik, R. (2023) ‘Lesser of Two Evils: Allocating Resources to Opposition Districts in Pakistan’, 48(2). Available at:
https://repository.essex.ac.uk/33311/.
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Brown, W. (no date) ‘At the Edge’,
Political Theory, 30(4), pp. 556–576. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/3072621.
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Montanaro, L. (no date) ‘Discursive Exit’,
American Journal of Political Science, 63(4), pp. 875–887. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/45217048.
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 |
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
Prof Federica Genovese, email: fgenov@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Federica Genovese plus Teaching Assistants
Module Supervisor: fgenov@essex.ac.uk
Module Administrator: Nicola Rowley, govquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
Dr Max Gallop
University of Strathclyde
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 73 hours, 71 (97.3%) hours available to students:
2 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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