UVSRPTEMV1 Theory and Methodology of Science

Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Winter 2015
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Ivana Loučková, CSc.
Institute of Public Administration and Social Policy – Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Prerequisites (in Czech)
žádné
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce the resources of cognition, especially scientific, to students. The role of science as theoretical system is discussed as well as role of facts and data in science, issues of legitimization of scientific findings and basic problems in current theory and methodology of science.
Syllabus
  • 1. Cognition and knowledge. Pre-scientific and scientific cognition. Resources of cognition, traditional concept. Discursive concept of science - preliminary determination. Clear cognition: target, means, area of experience, non-darkness. The means of legitimization of scientific findings. Power, narrative, meta-narrative, discursive, meta-discursive, performative, pragmatic. Scientific cognition and research.
    2. Function of science and research of social subject. Global research phase. Facts and data, subjectivism and objectivism, meaning. Principle of reflexion.
    3. Natural and scientific language. Building up of scientific language, function: economy, exactness.
    4. Establishment of concepts. Definitions and their types, use of concepts, mistakes in defining.
    5. Specification of concepts. Explication and their types. Use and mistakes in classification.
    6. Limitation of concepts, Classification and their types. Use and mistakes in classification.
    7. Statements, theoretical statements, existential and relational statements, association and causal statements. deterministic and stochastic statements. Controls of causal relation
    8. Hypothesis in science as type of theoretical statement. Types of hypotheses, the means of veryfying
    9. Paradigms in science. Science as theoretical system. Building of theory. Deductive and inductive building of theory. Examples.
    10. Verifying of theory. Logical verifying: deduction, induction, analogy. Empiric verifying: observation and experiment. Verification and falsification. Interpretation of events, criteria.
    11. Quantitative research strategy: objectivism and measurement. Elements of processes of scientific cognition in quantitative strategy - diagram, examples. Conceptualization, operationalization, indicators and features. Issue of measurement in science of men.
    12. Qualitative research strategy: subjectivism and meaning. Elements of process of scientific cognition in qualitative strategy - diagram, examples.
    13. Change of scientific theories and alternation of paradigms. Historical examples. Research of action. To current researches. Integrated attitude.
Literature
    required literature
  • ANZENBACHER, A.:. Úvod do filosofie. Praha: SPN,, 1990. info
  • BERKA, K., RYBOVÁ,J. Logika a metodologie pro žurnalisty. Praha: Novinář, 1987. info
    recommended literature
  • KUHN, T. Štruktúra vedeckých revolúcií. Bratislava: Pravda, 1982. info
  • BERTALANFFY, L. VON. Člověk-robot a myšlení. Praha: Svoboda, 1972. info
  • CARNAP, R. Problémy jazyka vědy. Praha: Svoboda, 1968. info
  • RUSSELL, B. Logika, jazyk, věda. Praha : Svoboda, 1967. info
  • HEISENBERG, W. Fyzika a filosofie. Praha: Svoboda, 1966. info
Teaching methods
Interactive lecture
Lecture supplemented with a discussion
Assessment methods
Written exam
The analysis of student 's performance
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
Teacher's information
Written exam aimed at testing theoretical and practical knowledge.
The course is also listed under the following terms Winter 2007, Winter 2008, Winter 2009, Winter 2010, Winter 2011, Winter 2012, Winter 2013, Winter 2014.
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