Social Sciences: Theory of Science for the Social Sciences

Why do I need to take a course on the philosophy of science? Is this not something that should be left to people who can get excited over the most abstract theories and philosophies? Philosophy of science – or theory of science, as it is called in this course – is in fact no exotic undertaking but lies at the very basis of what social science research is all about: it provides glimpses into the different ways that we, as social science researchers, perceive, define and theorize reality, in order to build our research upon this 'reality.'

The course will make you realize that these ways can be very different and often at odds with one another. It will also enable you to identify the main characteristics of important meta-approaches to doing social science research and see their merits and limitations: positivist, social constructivist, feminist, and critical realist conceptions of 'doing science.' Additionally, you will be given the opportunity to work with these concepts both on provided topics and on a topic of your own.