SIW4301 Philosophy of Social Science Course description

This course is designed to inform and enrich the material learned in the research methods courses. It combines a descriptive and a normative approach to reflection on social science. In addition, the course contains a master thesis preparation seminar leading to a master thesis design proposal which supports the master thesis work process. The thesis preparation seminar runs in collaboration with the two courses on methods (SIW4210 and SIW4220).

Among topics covered in philosophy of science are the role of values in research, objectivity, realism, social constructivism, social ontology, feminist philosophy of science, evidence-based policy, models, and causality. The master thesis preparation seminar covers research design.

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Admission requirements.

A student who has completed this course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

On successful completion of this course the student

• has advanced knowledge of multimodal user interfaces
• has advanced knowledge of input and output technologies
• can analyse problems and issues in interactions related to context, such as accessibility in public spaces, mobility problems, and the user's affective state
• can use knowledge of interaction technology to address new problems in universal design of ICT

Skills

On successful completion of this course the student

• can independently use appropriate methods of user centred interaction design and evaluation; both heuristic and automatic, in an independent manner
• can analyse and critically deal with the results from relevant research literature, apply these to structure and formulate scientific arguments, and assess the suitability of published results on new problems and issues
• can carry out independent, limited research or development projects under supervision and in accordance with applicable ethical standards
• can present scientific work orally
• can debate and conduct scientific discussions

General competence

On successful completion of this course the student

• can apply knowledge and skills in interaction technology on new problems and issues for carrying out advanced facilitation tasks and projects
• can communicate scientific problems, analysis and conclusions in the field to both specialists and the general public
• can contribute to original thinking and innovation processes

This course is organized as a series of seminars where students present and discuss with opponents research articles that covers core concepts and topics in the literature. Students work in groups on projects under supervision.

• Two individual oral presentations of research articles (45 min per presentation including questions).
• Being opponent against two student presentations.

Students may use a spelling dictionary, as well as a bilingual dictionary during the written school exam.

For the oral exam, students will not have access to computers or other aids.

The school exam is assessed by an internal and an external examiner. External examiners assess a random sample consisting of at least 25 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 individual exams where there is doubt about giving a grade of pass.

Two internal examiners will assess the report and oral exam. External examiner is used periodically.