MBH4100 Philosophy of science and research methods Course description

No requirements over and above the admission requirements.

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

The student has

• knowledge of power and categorisation processes that contribute to forming the relevant categories in our age
• insight into the intersection between the categories¿ design and importance in different socio-cultural contexts
• knowledge of classical and new theoretical contributions that attempt to understand prominent social categories, such as gender, ethnicity, ¿race¿, social class, sexual orientation and age
• an understanding of how social categories and intersections between them has importance for professionals as well as the different user groups' conditions and social sphere of action

Skills

The student is capable of

• mastering analytical aspects and approaches that are appropriate for analysing implicit and explicit understandings and theoretical contributions, as well as empirical phenomena in the various fields of social work from a perspective of intersectionality
• applying knowledge about the relevant social categories and their interaction in research and development work relating to the social work field and/or different user groups, and to social work's conditions and functions in society

General competence​

• can critically reflect on various power relations and their interactions that are evident in social work

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• has knowledge of key topics in philosophy of science and research methods that are relevant to ECEC research
• has knowledge of different types of data and ethical and practical issues related to data collection in research about children and ECEC

Skills

The student

• can critically read research of relevance to ECEC in light of philosophy of science, research ethics and methods
• can carry out an independent, limited research or development project under supervision and in accordance with applicable standards of research ethics

General competence

The student

• can analyse relevant academic, professional and research ethics issues relating to the field of ECEC
• can apply their knowledge and skills to carry out research and development projects of relevance to ECEC

Lectures, laboratory assignments and supervised exercises.

Coursework spring 2021 due to Covid-19:

• A minimum of 10 out of 13 exercise submissions in Machine Systems.
• A minimum of 5 out of 7 exercise submissions in Hydraulics.
• Two approved written lab reports in Hydraulics, submitted in groups.”

[Coursework earlier:]

The following coursework is compulsory and must be approved before the student can sit the exam:

• 1 project assignment
• 2 lab reports on hydraulics, 6-30 pages
• 3 individual exercises

The estimated workload is four hours of lectures, four hours of supervised exercises and five hours of self-study per week.

Individual written exam, 3 hours

The exam results can be appealed.

Grade scale A-F.

In the social sciences, social categories, such as gender, social class, ethnicity, 'race', sexuality, and age, have traditionally formed separate research fields, often attached to different theories. A result of this division has been that such categories are often portrayed as isolated variables in people's lives. Criticism levelled at such interpretations makes the point that they do not sufficiently address the dynamism that emerges when several categories intersect. Is importance attached to the category "man" or to the category "ethnic minority"? Does the category "woman" offer the same room of opportunity for all those who are categorised or identify as women? Do the categories "young", "boy", "immigrant", have another meaning attached to them than "young", "boy", "Norwegian"?

The course looks at theories that address how such categories have different meanings depending on the combination with other categories. The course offers theoretical, methodological and practical opportunities to explore the dynamism that emerges in the interaction between key social categories. During the course, we will work at making these types of analyses relevant for social work in general.

Language of instruction is Norwegian.

None.