PIM01-Research Methods-Philosophical Issues In The Social Sciences

Module Provider: Graduate Institute for Politics and Internat Studs
Number of credits: 10 [5ECTS credits]
Level: M
Terms in which taught: Autumn and Spring
Module Convenor: Dr ADT Cromartie
Pre-requisites:
Co-requisites: PIM02
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2008/9

Email: a.d.t.cromartie@reading.ac.uk

Aims:
1. To deepen each student's awareness of the basic philosophical and methodological issues encountered in the study of human activity.
2. To extend each student's familiarity with the major approaches to theory and analysis within politics and international relations.
3. To heighten each student's sense of the inherent difficulties and dilemmas, both analytical and ethical, encountered in any advanced study of politics and international relations
4. To equip each student with a basic understanding of the sources, uses and difficulties of the quantitative and qualitative techniques that might be employed in the study of a range of issues in politics and international relations.

Assessable learning outcomes:
Students will learn the most important doctrines of some of the main traditions in the philosophy of social science.
Students will be enabled to detect philosophical problems arising in the course of their research.
Students will gain a knowledge of the presuppositions and limitations of social science research more generally.

Additional outcomes:
Practice and confidence in the oral presentation of philosophical doctrines.
Practice in manipulating such doctrines in oral discussion.
Awareness of the ethical difficulties inherent in various kinds of research in the social sciences.

Outline content:
This module introduces students to the consideration of methodological, philosophical and ethical problems encountered in graduate research in the social sciences. Students will study and discuss the difficulties involved in characterising the nature of social-scientific research and the status of the knowledge it produces. The course moves from considering the analogies and contrasts with the natural sciences to the claims made by methodological individualists, behaviourists, relativists, and Marxists. Particular attention is paid throughout to the tension between individualism and holism, and between explanation and understanding. The course will conclude with classes on the application of philosophy to international relations and on the impact of postmodernism.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
The class will be taught in seminars, preceded by brief student presentations. There may be mini-lectures when appropriate, but stress will be placed on developing the skills of philosophical discussion. Students will be encouraged to use examples drawn from their own field (and from their own research, where possible) in essays, presentations and class debates.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures
Tutorials/seminars	10 x 1.5hrs
Practicals
Other contact (eg study visits)
Total hours	15
Number of essays or assignments	1
Other (eg major seminar paper)	Seminar Presentation

Assessment:
Coursework
One 3-4,000 word essay, to be handed in by the first Friday of the Lent term.
Examinations
There is no examination.
Requirements for a pass
A mark of 50%.
Reassessment arrangements
Resubmission of coursework by September.

Last updated: 8 August 2008