Module BUSI4S715: Fundamentals of the Philosophy of the Social Sciences

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI4S715: Fundamentals of the Philosophy of the Social Sciences

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To acquaint students with key ideas and debates in the philosophy of science and the philosophy of social science.
• To provide students with the skills and knowledge required to engage in scholarly discourse and exemplary scholarly research practice.
• To facilitate students’ in-depth engagement with current debates surrounding research philosophy (ontology and epistemology) relevant to doctoral-level study in a business discipline.
• To facilitate students’ in-depth engagement with current developments in research methodology and the implications for their doctoral research.
• To develop students’ doctoral-level research skills in relation to developing innovative, rigorous, and relevant research projects.
• To develop paradigmatic awareness in the design, conduct, writing and evaluation of scholarly research in a business discipline.
• To acquaint and prepare students for a scholarly career.

Content

• Research philosophy and paradigms.
• Approaches to theorising.
• Research design.
• Research methodology.
• Research practices.
• Communicating research.
• Research review process.

Learning Outcomes

• Critical understanding of different research philosophies, including different epistemological assumptions, theoretical traditions and current developments.
• Critical understanding of inductive, deductive and abductive approaches to theorising.
• Critical understanding of designing, conducting, presenting and evaluation research.
• Critical understanding of reading, reviewing and writing at a doctoral level.

• Ability to critically evaluate research and the underlying philosophical paradigm.
• Ability to develop innovative, rigorous, and relevant research projects.
• Ability to evaluate strengths and opportunities of different research philosophies, designs and methods.
• Ability to communicate academic concepts, verbally and in writing.

• Advanced academic reading and writing.
• Formulating and communicating doctoral-level research questions.
• Critically evaluating and developing valid research designs.
• Self-management and time management.
• Applied paradigmatic awareness.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The module will be delivered in a lecture-workshop type delivery, with a stronger focus on guided work in small groups, and on individual work that helps students develop a deeper understanding of doctoral-level research.
• Guest presentations from researchers, authors, reviewers and editors of journals, doctoral examiners and supervisors, and completed PhD students may be offered.
• Based on selected publications, students will learn to deconstruct the research and publication process.
• The summative assessment of the module is designed to assess students’ critical and original thinking.
• Comprehensive reading and self-study materials will be provided online.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative assessment feedback opportunities are provided throughout the term.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University