-
Courses
Courses
Choosing a course is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make! View our courses and see what our students and lecturers have to say about the courses you are interested in at the links below.
-
University Life
University Life
Each year more than 4,000 choose University of Galway as their University of choice. Find out what life at University of Galway is all about here.
-
About University of Galway
About University of Galway
Since 1845, University of Galway has been sharing the highest quality teaching and research with Ireland and the world. Find out what makes our University so special – from our distinguished history to the latest news and campus developments.
-
Colleges & Schools
Colleges & Schools
University of Galway has earned international recognition as a research-led university with a commitment to top quality teaching across a range of key areas of expertise.
-
Research & Innovation
Research & Innovation
University of Galway’s vibrant research community take on some of the most pressing challenges of our times.
-
Business & Industry
Guiding Breakthrough Research at University of Galway
We explore and facilitate commercial opportunities for the research community at University of Galway, as well as facilitating industry partnership.
-
Alumni & Friends
Alumni & Friends
There are 128,000 University of Galway alumni worldwide. Stay connected to your alumni community! Join our social networks and update your details online.
-
Community Engagement
Community Engagement
At University of Galway, we believe that the best learning takes place when you apply what you learn in a real world context. That's why many of our courses include work placements or community projects.
Header & Footer
University of Galway
Course Module Information
Course Modules
SP6111: Philosophy of Social Science
Semester 2 | Credits: 10
This course is an introduction to the philosophical foundations for research methods in social science.
The departure point is the standard positivistic epistemic foundations of science, including Popper and Kuhn. Moving to social science, we explore the particular epistemic foundations of sociology and political science. This includes social constructionism and the making of meaning, which open the doors to hermeneutics, critical realism, critical theory, pragmatism, and discourse theory.
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of philosophical positions, social ontology, paradigms, and the framing of research
- Design a research question in a clear and testable manner.
- Choose the appropriate epistemic frame for a research question.
- Relate a research question and frame to an appropriate methodology.
- Construct a coherent argument using social science frameworks.
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (80%)
- Department-based Assessment (20%)
Teachers
- MARK HAUGAARD:
Research Profile |
Email
- NIAMH REILLY:
Research Profile |
Email
Reading List
- "Philosophy of the social sciences" by Patrick Baert
ISBN: 9780745622477.
Publisher: Cambridge, UK ; Polity, 2005. - "The foundations of social research" by Michael Crotty
ISBN: 9780761961062.
Publisher: London ; Sage Publications, 1998. - "Varieties of social explanation" by Daniel Little
ISBN: 0813305659.
Publisher: Westview Press
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.