SS5102 Philosophy and Methodology of the Social Sciences

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Tuesdays 2.00pm - 4.00pm

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr M O'Dwyer

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

The School of International Relations

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This seminar-based module will introduce you to the basic theoretical approaches in the social sciences, encourage you to make connections between the methodological and epistemological issues involved in conducting social scientific research, and inspire you to reflect critically on your own experience. The module will cover modern philosophy's historical evolution, positivism, feminism, critical theory and post-structuralism among other topics. Assessment will involve one short review and one longer essay.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

2-hour Written Class Test = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2-hour seminar

Scheduled learning hours

22

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

128

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.