SIW4300 Philosophy of Social Science Course description

The philosophy of social science is the study of social scientific knowledge and practice. The course is designed to inform and enrich the material learned in the research methods course. It includes discussions about foundations of various aspects of social scientific knowledge as well as analysis and evaluation of social science. Among topics covered are the role of values in research, objectivity, realism, social constructivism, evidence-based policy, social ontology, interpretation, models, and causality.

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A student who has completed his or her qualification has the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

The student has

• thorough knowledge of main philosophical social science topics relavant to social welfare and health policy studies
• thorough knowledge of theories and concepts enabling systematic reflection on social science
• thorough knowledge of main philosophical social science topics relevant to social welfare and health policy studies

Skills

The student can

• analyze and discuss social science making use of central concepts and theories in the philosophy of social science

The course is organised into a series of lectures and seminars. Students are expected to take an active role in lectures and seminars.

Students must submit a coursework requirement of 2500 words (+/- 10%). The paper should have one of three forms: a) Applying theories and consepts from the course syllabus and lectures, the paper analyzes a case of social welfare and helath policy and preferably also to the student's prospective master thesis Project. b) Applying theories and consepts from the course syllabus and lectures, the paper analyzes, the student's master thesis Project- this option is open to students who have already developed a well-defined theis Project. c) The paper analyzes and discusses concepts, theories or themes from the philosophy of social science, referring to examples from social science. The coursework project must be approved in advaced by the course lecturer.

Students whose papers are not approved after the first submission will be given the chance to resubmit once.

Papers that are not approved after two submissions will disqualify students from sitting the final examination.

The student's learning outcome will be assessed on the basis of an individual six-hour written school examination.

Students who have failed a regular examination are entitled to sit a new examination.

Students are awarded grades on a descending scale from A to E for pass and F for fail.

Exams are assessed by an internal and an external examiner. External examiners assess a random sample consisting of approx. 20 per cent of the exams. The grades given for this sample provide a basis for the internal examiner's assessment. The external examiner will also assess papers where there is doubt about giving a grade of pass.