COURSE INTRODUCTION AND APPLICATION INFORMATION

Course Name
Philosophy of Science and Research Design
Code
Semester
Theory
(hour/week)
Application/Lab
(hour/week)
Local Credits
ECTS
BA 630
Fall
3
0
3
7.5
Prerequisites
None
Course Language
English
Course Type
Required
Course Level
Third Cycle
Mode of Delivery -
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course Discussion
Group Work
Q&A
Critical feedback
Lecturing / Presentation
Course Coordinator
Course Lecturer(s)
Assistant(s)
Course Objectives This course aims at equipping students with advanced knowledge of philosophical debates and research methodologies in social sciences and the field of management.
Learning Outcomes The students who succeeded in this course;
  • Know the major schools of thought in social sciences and the field of management
  • Know the streams of research based on different philosophical schools
  • Know how philosophical foundations shape the research process and design
  • Know how to identify a research question
  • Can choose between alternative research designs
Course Description This course is about philosophical debates concerning social sciences and particularly the field of management and organizations, such as positivism, conventionalism, interpretativism, postmodernism, critical studies, and critical realism. The course introduces these schools of thought, their philosophical foundations, core arguments, and methodological preferences. The course also introduces main research designs used for different research purposes and methodologies.
Related Sustainable Development Goals

 



Course Category

 Core Courses
X
Major Area Courses
Supportive Courses
Media and Managment Skills Courses
Transferable Skill Courses

 

WEEKLY SUBJECTS AND RELATED PREPARATION STUDIES

Week Subjects Required Materials
1 Introduction to the course
2 Logical Empiricism Godfrey-Smith, Theory and Reality. An Introduction to the philosophy of Science. Ch. 2 pp. 19-39
3 Induction and Confirmation Godfrey-Smith, Theory and Reality. An Introduction to the philosophy of Science. Ch. 3 pp. 39-57
4 Conjecture and Refutation Godfrey-Smith, Theory and Reality. An Introduction to the philosophy of Science. Ch. 4 pp. 57-75
5 Normal Science Godfrey-Smith, Theory and Reality. An Introduction to the philosophy of Science. Ch. 5 pp. 75-87
6 Scientific Revolutions and the Problem of Relativism Godfrey-Smith, Theory and Reality. An Introduction to the philosophy of Science. Ch. 6 pp. 87-101
7 Midterm Exam 1
8 What is Scientific Explanation? Problems and Options. Godfrey-Smith, Theory and Reality. An Introduction to the philosophy of Science. Ch. 13 pp. 190-201
9 Feminism and Science Studies Godfrey-Smith, Theory and Reality. An Introduction to the philosophy of Science. Ch. 9 pp. 136-148
10 Naturalism and the Social Structure of Science Godfrey-Smith, Theory and Reality. An Introduction to the philosophy of Science. Chs. 10 and 11 pp. 149-173 (Focus section to be announced.)
11 Bayesiansim and Modern Theories of Evidence Godfrey-Smith, Theory and Reality. An Introduction to the philosophy of Science. Ch. 14 pp. 202-219
12 Debates on Post-Truth 1 McIntyre, Post-Truth. Ch. 2 “Science Denial as a Road Map for Understanding Post-Truth pp. 17-34
13 Debates on Post-Truth 2 McIntyre, Post-Truth. Ch 5 “The Rise of Social Media and the Problem of Fake News” pp. 89-122
14 Discussion and Presentation on Conspiracy Theories
15 Review of the Semester
16 Final Exam
Course Notes/Textbooks

Godfrey-Smith, Peter.Theory and Reality. An Introduction to the philosophy of science. The University of Chicago Press 2003

ISBN: 0-226-30063-3

McIntyre, Lee. Post-Truth. MIT Press 2018 ISBN: 978-843-763-8690

Epistemology: an anthology, ed. Sosa et al., Blackwell Publishing 2008 ISBN: 978-1-4051-6966-0
Suggested Readings/Materials

Okasha, Samir. Philosophy of Science. A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press 2002 ISBN: 0-19-280283-6

 

Chalmers, A. F. What is this thing called Science? 3rd Ed. Hackett Publishing Company 1999 ISBN: 0-87220-452-9

 

Ladyman, James. Understanding Philosophy of Science. Routledge 2002 ISBN: 0–415–22157–9

 

Johnson, P., and Duberley, J. 2000. Understanding management research: An introduction to epistemology. London: Sage. ISBN 13: 978-0761969181

 

EVALUATION SYSTEM

Semester Activities Number Weigthing
Participation
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
Presentation / Jury
5
40
Project
1
30
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exam
Midterm
1
30
Final Exam
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade
7
100
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade
Total

ECTS / WORKLOAD TABLE

Semester Activities Number Duration (Hours) Workload
Course Hours
(Including exam week: 16 x total hours)
16
3
48
Laboratory / Application Hours
(Including exam week: 16 x total hours)
16
Study Hours Out of Class
14
5
70
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
Presentation / Jury
5
9
Project
1
37
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exam
Midterms
1
25
Final Exams
    Total
225

 

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES AND PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS RELATIONSHIP

#
 Program Competencies/Outcomes
* Contribution Level
1
2
3
4
5
1

To be able to master existing theoretical knowledge in their specialized area of business administration.
2

To be able to gain in-depth knowledge of research methodologies and design.

 X
3

To be able to acquire advanced knowledge of data collection and analysis techniques.
4

To be able to design and conduct original research with a scholarly theoretical emphasis.

 X
5

To be able to disseminate scholarly knowledge in well-known academic networks.
6

To be able to demonstrate the ability to communicate the results of their research in a clear and effective manner with various audiences.
7

To be able to have concerns for the high ethical standards in research, and teaching.

 X
8

To be able to adopt critical attitude toward the extant literature and practice in the specialized area of business administration.

 X

*1 Lowest, 2 Low, 3 Average, 4 High, 5 Highest