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Basic Course 7: Philosophy of Social Science

Semester
E2025
Subject
International Bachelor Study Programme in Social Science
Activity type
Basic course
Teaching language
English
Registration

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.

Detailed description of content

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.

In this exam, the use of generative AI (GenAI) tools is allowed as per the university's guidelines for the use of AI and so long as the further guidelines on this course's Moodle page are followed. Specifically, the following points must be observed: • When using GenAI tools, you must include a description of the purpose of using GenAI and which GenAI are used and how they have used. The description is assessed the same way as other methodology sections regarding the use of relevant literature, course’s general learning objectives, and assessment criteria. • Text copied from GenAI chats must be quoted the same way as citations from other texts. The citations and your demonstrated ability to interpret, evaluate and critically assess them is part of the overall assessment of the exam. Please consider including the prompt in a footnote to the citation if you find it relevant to demonstrate your description and analysis of the subject matter. • Ordinary spell checking and other language suggestions as known from Word or other word processing programs are allowed without declaration.

Expected work effort (ECTS-declaration)

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.

Course material and Reading list

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.

Evaluation- and feedback forms

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.

Administration of exams
SIB Registration & Exams (sib-exams@ruc.dk)
Responsible for the activity
David Pinder (dpinder@ruc.dk)
ECTS
5
Learning outcomes and assessment criteria
  • 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

Mandatory or elective

Mandatory course

Overall content

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

Teaching and working methods

The course consists of a combination of lectures and seminar teaching

Form of examination
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, talking points for presentations, written feedback, reflection, and 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 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
Form of Re-examination
Samme som ordinær eksamen / same form as ordinary exam
Exam code(s)
Exam code(s) : U26345
Last changed 02/09/2025

lecture list:

Show lessons for Subclass: 1 Find calendar (1) PDF for print (1)

Friday 12-09-2025 09:00 - 12-09-2025 12:00 in week 37
Basic Course 7: Philosophy of Social Science
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Friday 19-09-2025 09:00 - 19-09-2025 12:00 in week 38
Basic Course 7: Philosophy of Social Science
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Friday 26-09-2025 09:00 - 26-09-2025 12:00 in week 39
Basic Course 7: Philosophy of Social Science
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Friday 03-10-2025 09:00 - 03-10-2025 12:00 in week 40
Basic Course 7: Philosophy of Social Science
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Friday 03-10-2025 12:15 - 03-10-2025 15:00 in week 40
Basic Course 7: Philosophy of Social Science
Basic Course 7: Workshop

Friday 10-10-2025 09:00 - 10-10-2025 12:00 in week 41
Basic Course 7: Philosophy of Social Science
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Wednesday 22-10-2025 14:15 - 22-10-2025 17:00 in week 43
Basic Course 7: Philosophy of Social Science
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Friday 07-11-2025 09:00 - 07-11-2025 12:00 in week 45
Basic Course 7: Philosophy of Social Science
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Friday 07-11-2025 12:15 - 07-11-2025 15:00 in week 45
Basic Course 7: Philosophy of Social Science
Basic Course 7: Workshop

Friday 14-11-2025 09:00 - 14-11-2025 12:00 in week 46
Basic Course 7: Philosophy of Social Science
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Monday 01-12-2025 09:30 - 01-12-2025 10:00 in week 49
Basic Course 7: Philosophy of Social Science
BC7 Philosophy of Social Science (SIB) - Deadline 10:00 Exam hand-in

Monday 02-02-2026 09:30 - 02-02-2026 10:00 in week 06
Basic Course 7: Philosophy of Social Science
BC7 Philosophy of Social Science (SIB) - Deadline 10:00 Reexam/ hand-in