UVSRPVR104 Theory and Methodology of Science

Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Winter 2023
Extent and Intensity
9/0/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Dušan Janák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Andrea Preissová Krejčí, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Ing. Ladislav Průša, CSc.
Institute of Public Administration and Social Policy – Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Contact Person: JUDr. Marie Sciskalová, Ph.D.
Prerequisites (in Czech)
FAKULTA(FVP) && TYP_STUDIA(N) && FORMA(K)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the resources of knowledge, especially scientific one. They will discuss the role of science as a theoretical system, the role of facts and data in science, also the issue of legitimation of scientific knowledge and basic problems in current theory and methodology of science.
Syllabus
  • 1st Cognition and understanding. Pre-scientific and scientific knowledge. Sources of cognition, the traditional definition. Discursive approach of sciences - preliminary determination. Excat cognition: aim, resources, field experience. Methods of legitimation of scientific knowledge. Power, narrative, discourse, performative, pragmatic ways of working. Scientific knowledge and research
    2nd The function of science and research of social subject. Global research phase. Facts and data, subjectivity and objectivity, importance. The principle of reflection
    3rd Natural and scientific language. Construction of scientific language, function: economics, exactness
    4th The introduction of concepts. Definition and types, application of definitions, mistakes in defining
    5th Clarification of terms. Explication and their types. Application and errors in explication
    6th Limitations terms. Classification and types. Application and errors in classifying
    7th Statements, theoretical statements. Existential, relational and causal statements. Deterministic and probabilistic statements. Control of causal relationship
    8th Hypothesis in science as a kind of theoretical statement. The kinds of hypothesis, methods of validation
    9th Paradigms in science. Science as a theoretical system. Construction of theory. Deductive and inductive construction of theory. Examples
    10th Verification of the theory. Logic verification: deduction, induction, analogy. Empirical verification: observation, experiment. Verification and falsification. Interpretation of events, the criteria
    11th Quantitative research strategy: objectivity and measurement. Elements of the process of scientific knowledge in quantitative strategy - diagram, examples. Conceptualization, operationalization, the indicators and signs. The issue of measurement
    12th Qualitative research strategy: subjectivity and meaning. Elements of the process of scientific knowledge in qualitative strategy - diagram, examples
    13th Change of scientific theories and changing of paradigms. Historical examples. Current research. An integrated approach
Literature
    required literature
  • JANÁK, D., M. STANOEV, V. KULHAVÝ. Teorie a metodologie vědy. (studijní opora). Opava: Fakulta veřejných politik v Opavě., 2015. info
  • BAUM, Detlef, GOJOVÁ, Alice (eds.). Výzkumné metody v sociální práci. Ostrava: Ostravská univerzita v Ostravě, Fakulta, 2014. ISBN 978-80-7464-390-3. URL info
  • FAJKUS, B. Filosofie a metodologie vědy. Praha: Academia, 2005. ISBN 80-200-1304-0. info
    recommended literature
  • MARVAN, T. Otázka významu. Cesty analytické filosofie jazyka. Praha: Togga, 2010. info
  • FAY, B. Současná filosofie sociálních věd. Multikulturní přístup. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2002. ISBN 80-86429-10-5. info
  • KUHN, Thomas S. Struktura vědeckých revolucí. Praha: OIKOYMENH, 1997. info
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: Přednáška 9 HOD/SEM.
Teacher's information
Contact lectures are guided by a system of consultation on selected topics within 9 hours. The distant part of study is opened in an e-learning course on e-portal http://elearning.fvp.slu.cz/. There students can find individual tutorials that follow the subject and they work under the guidance of the teacher. This environment also provides the students individual consultations of selected units. Electronic study materials and specified tasks are ready for teaching.
The course is also listed under the following terms Winter 2016, Winter 2017, Winter 2018, Winter 2019, Winter 2020, Winter 2021, Winter 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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