FVP:UVSRPVN104 Theory and Methodology of Scie - Course Information

UVSRPVN104 Theory and Methodology of Science

Extent and Intensity

2/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

doc. PhDr. Dušan Janák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Bc. Václav Kulhavý (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Martin Stanoev, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)

Guaranteed by

doc. PhDr. Tomáš Katrňák, Ph.D.
Institute of Public Administration and Social Policy – Faculty of Public Policies in Opava

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

• Public Administration and Social Policy (programme FVP, N6731-SPSP)

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
• 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

The course can also be completed outside the examination period.

• Enrolment Statistics (Winter 2015, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.slu.cz/course/fvp/winter2015/UVSRPVN104