E2024

International Bachelor Study Programme in Social Science

Basic course

English

Tilmelding sker via stads selvbetjening indenfor annonceret tilmeldingsperiode, som du kan se på Studieadministrationens hjemmeside Når du tilmelder dig kurset, skal du være opmærksom på, om der er sammenfald i tidspunktet for kursusafholdelse og eksamen med andre kurser, du har valgt. Uddannelsesplanlægningen tager udgangspunkt i, at det er muligt at gennemføre et anbefalet studieforløb uden overlap. Men omkring valgfrie elementer og studieplaner som går ud over de anbefalede studieforløb, kan der forekomme overlap, alt efter hvilke kurser du vælger.

Registration through stads self-service within the announced registration period, as you can see on the Studyadministration homepage. When registering for courses, please be aware of the potential conflicts between courses or exam dates on courses. The planning of course activities at Roskilde University is based on the recommended study programs, which do not overlap. However, if you choose optional courses and/or study plans that goes beyond the recommended study programs, an overlap of lectures or exam dates may occur depending on which courses you choose.

The course aims to provide you with a thorough background in contemporary social theory and the philosophy of social science. This is essential for your project work as well as wider studies in social science since it relates to all elements of conducting research, from the questions you ask and the methods you choose to the ways you present and justify your arguments.

Through the course you should become confident in discussing different views on knowledge and society within the philosophy of social science. You should be able to explain the analytical consequences of different philosophical perspectives, and to apply and contextualise social scientific approaches to societal problems.

The lectures and workshops introduce the main themes, issues and dimensions of particular approaches to the philosophy of social science. They also involve discussions and exercises when you work individually and in groups on theoretical questions relating to your projects or other questions. Appreciating the implications of different, often conflicting views and positions is a vital part of the course.

It is important to attend all sessions, to work with the associated readings, and to participate actively in discussions and written exercises so as to understand the distinct approaches we consider as well as the connections and differences between them. The assignment involves submitting materials that should be produced through the course. The precise details of what is required will be available on Moodle before the course starts.

5 ECTS = 135 hours of work. This is constituted by: 30 hours of lectures and workshops, 75 hours preparation for classes (2.5 per hour of class), 30 hours for portfolio assignment.

Reading widely and carefully is crucial for success on this course. Both 'core' and 'additional' readings for each session will be available via Moodle. A core text used throughout the course is Ted Benton and Ian Craib's Philosophy of Social Science (2023, third edition), which is available as a library ebook. A more introductory text that covers some of the approaches we address is Liv Egholm's Philosophy of Science (2014). Note, however, that you will need to read beyond these textbooks and engage with the readings available via Moodle.

The assignment and means of gaining formative feedback through participating in the course will be introduced at the start of the course. Summative feedback on individual submitted portfolios will be given via eksamen.

SIB Registration & Exams (sib-exams@ruc.dk)

David Pinder (dpinder@ruc.dk)

5

• Knowledge and understanding of the various views within philosophy of social science (their epistemology, ontology, methodology, and validity) and their fundamental values

• Knowledge and understanding of the distinction between different scools of thought within philosophy of social science

• Skills in explaining and substantiating the consequences of different theoretical choices of philosophy in relation to the knowledge production in connection with a specific research question

• Skills in analysing which basic assumptions that lie behind a theoretical position or empirical analysis regarding the philosophy of science approach

• Competences in assessing, contextualising and applying approaches based in philosophy of social science to social science research questions

• Competences in reflecting on the scientific practice of oneself and that of others

The course presents key trends and key research question within the field of philosophy of social science theory and research, and introduces discussions of within the field. The aim is for the student to be able to demonstrate a broader knowledge and understanding of the views on knowledge and society of various social science philosophical schools of thought, to explain the analytical implications of each, and to apply these approaches to societal issues

The course consists of a combination of lectures and seminar teaching

Mandatory course

Individual written portfolio.

The portfolio consists of 2 to 4 written products, that wholly or partially are are developed during the course. For example, products can be exercise responses, speech papers for presentations, written feedback, reflection, written assignments. The preparation of the products may be subject to time limits.

The character limit: 12,000-16,800 characters, including spaces.
The character limits include the cover, table of contents, bibliography, figures and other illustrations, but exclude any appendices.

The portfolio's specific products and the (if relevant) recommended size (character limit) for the individual products are made public on study.ruc.dk before the course begins.

The entire portfolio must be handed in at the same time.
The submission deadline will be public on study.ruc.dk before the course begins.

The assessment is individual and based on the entire portfolio.

Assessment: 7-point grading scale.
Moderation: Internal co-assessor.

Samme som ordinær eksamen / same form as ordinary exam