USESEB052 Methodology of Social Sciences and Creation of Scientific Texts

Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Winter 2018
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Dušan Janák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Michal Kuděla (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Dušan Janák, Ph.D.
Institute of Central European Studies – Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The aim of the subject is to introduce the main methodological aspects of researches focused on social sciences and cardinal questions linked to application of these researches to the students. The primary effort is to present the logics of creation of scientific knowledge. The subject is divided in three blocks subsequet to one another. The first one concerns the general principles of scientifical aquisition of information, relation of science and wider social process as well as the issue of legitimization of scientific knowledge in relation to their application in social practice. The second and the most extensive block makes the students familiar with the main methodological approaches in social sciences and introduces the range of main methods, including real examples of their application. It also shows the interconnection of empirical and theoretical research in social sciences. The third one is dedicated to some practical questions of production of scientific knowledge, issue of funding of science, storing existing data and their further application in research, use of results of scientific work.
Syllabus
  • Block I
    1. Historical introduction - formation of social sciences in the19th century and dispute over their method
    2. Relation of social science and society in contemporary world ( social function of science and the theory of reflexive modernization).
    3. Language of science and language of social practice; the matter of values in social sciences.
    Block II
    4. Positivism. Objectivity and measurement, quantitative approaches.
    5. Principal methods of quantitative research.
    6. Quantitative methodology in research practice - examples.
    7. Understanding and interpretation. Subjectivity and meaning, qualitative approaches.
    8. Principal methods of qualitative research.
    9. Qualitative methodology in research practice - examples.
    10. Empirical and theoretical research.
    Block III
    11. Basic and applied research in social sciences: funding of science.
    12. Application of existing data acquired from empirical research and application of results of scientific work.
    The seminars are focused on practising the methodological processes. Therefore, they will be integrated with
    a) practical needs of students´ researches for the purpose of qualification works, or
    b) the researches ongoing at FVP SU in a form of active participation in collection or data processing.
    In the seminars, the students will present and discuss the methodology of their researches designated for their qualification works and/or results of their running work related to their involvement in the ongoing research.
Literature
    required literature
  • JANÁK, D. Metody a techniky sociologického výzkumu. Distanční studijní opora. Opava: Slezská univerzita v Opavě, 2011. URL info
  • BRYMAN, A. Social research methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-19-920295-9. info
  • FAJKUS, B. Filosofie a metodologie vědy. Vývoj, současnost a perspektivy. Praha: Academia, 2005. ISBN 80-200-1304-0. info
  • DISMAN, M. Jak se vyrábí sociologická znalost. Příručka pro uživatele. Praha: Karolinum, 2002. ISBN 80-246-0139-7. info
  • FAY, B. Současná filosofie sociálních věd. Multikulturní přístup. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2002. ISBN 80-86429-10-5. info
    recommended literature
  • JANÁK, D. Úvod do sociologie. Distanční studijní opora. Opava: Slezská univerzita v Opavě, 2012. URL info
  • JANÁK, D. Člověk a společnost v soudobé filosofii. Distanční studijní opora. Opava: Slezská univerzita v Opavě, 2011. URL info
  • JANÁK, D. Metodologický seminář k empirickým výzkumům. Distanční studijní opora. Opava: Slezská univerzita v Opavě, 2011. URL info
  • WALLERSTEIN, I. M. a kol. Kam směřují sociální vědy. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 1998. ISBN 80-85850-65-6. info
  • WEBER, M. Metodologie, sociologie a politika. Praha: Mladá fronta, 1998. ISBN s. 7-19, 135-160. info
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is also listed under the following terms Winter 2015, Winter 2016, Winter 2017.
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