Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

Faculty of Philosophy

Department of Philosophy and Methodology of Science

 

Author: ____

 

 

 

 

 

Working program description

“Methodology and organization of scientific researches” (Module 1)

 

                                                                      for Master’s

Institute of International Relations

Specialization: “International Economic Relations and International Finances”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kyiv – 2017

 

Introduction

 

Discipline “Methodology and organization of scientific researches” is compulsory course. Thought during first semester 1 year Master’s program of Institute of International Relations, specialization: “International Economic Relations and International Finances”.

 

Total amount of hours – 10.

Including:

            Lectures – 6 hours;

            Seminars – 4 hours;

Final evaluation form: complex test covering all the modules.

 

Objective:provide the students with basic knowledge about methodologies, methods and organization of scientific processes as a part of training for their professional scientific career.

 

Course tasks:

-          students overview of modern methodology concepts, basic scientific learning methodologies and scientific research methods;

-          create an overall image about the process of scientific research;

-          gaining the necessary research skills, understanding the research goals, practice the skills necessary for submission qualification and scientific works (Ìasters’s thesis’s, research papers, dissertations).

 

Discipline subject:

Methods, methodic and methodology of science during organization of the scientific research process.

 

Knowledge and skills pre-requests:

-          understand the need ofmethodology skill in further professional scientific career;

-          know the characteristics of basic reasoning methods (inductive, deductive inference) and methodology models (hypothetico-deductive, empiric and inductive);

-          be capable to apply basic methodology principles of scientific activity;

-          learn main evaluation criteria of scientific knowledge and requirements for the research activity.

 

Course role at a program scale:

“Methodology and organization of scientific researches” - is a mandatory course for a Master’s degree program.

 

For course evaluation “modular-rating” system is used.

 

Evaluation scale

Mark (points)

University scale

ECTS scale

90-100

Pass

A – pass

85-89

75-84

Pass

B – pass

C - pass

65-74

60-64

Pass

D – pass

E - pass

1-59

Fail

FX – fail

F - fail

 

Course Plan

¹

Topic

Hours

Lectures

Workshops

Other

Module 1. Theoretical basics of methodology and organization of scientific researches

1

Science and scientific researches in a modern world.

2

2

 

2

Methodology, techniques and methods of scientific research.

2

1

 

3

Main methodologic concepts in XX century.

2

1

 

 

Module 1. Theoretical basics of methodology and organization of scientific researches

 

Lecture 1. Science and scientific researches in a modern world.

The emergence and development of science. Scientific research types. Methodology and methods of scientific research. Organization of scientific activity in Ukraine.

 

Workshop 1. Science and scientific researches in a modern world.

1.      Basic approaches for science understanding.

2.      Specifics of scientific activity.

3.      Principles, norms and criteria’s of scientific knowledge.

4.      Levels of methodologic science organization.

5.      Scientific revolutions globally and types of scientific rationality.

 

Individual assignment:

Conduct a research on topic “Is my chosen field a science?”

Research structure:

-          state the main characteristics of science;

-          based on those criteria’s, check the chosen studies field;

-          make a conclusion about chosen study field.

 

 

Lecture 2. Methodology, techniques and methods of scientific research.

Main definitions: method, methodic. Reasoning in method application. Methods typology. Methods in philosophy and science. Forms and methods of empirical, and theoretical research.

Methodology as a philosophical discipline – history of methodology, methodological aspect of scientific research, role and function of methodology in modern science.

 

Workshop 2. Methodology, techniques and methods of scientific research.

1.      Scientific method definition. Method, methodology.

2.      Main organization steps while conducting scientific research.

3.      Common scientific research methods: empirical, theoretical and other common methods.

4.      Role of experiments, induction and deduction in methodological development of science.

5.      Popular methodology models: hypothetico-deductive and empirical-inductive.

6.      Methodological verification procedures, reasoning and falsifications.

 

Lecture 3. Main methodologic concepts in XX century.

Methodological principles: theory requirements, checks, maximal similarity, ease, prognostic possibilities. Methodological traditions and theories: empirics, rationalism, conventionalism, pragmatism, critical rationalism, relativism, historicism. Methodological anarchism as a problem. Methodological base of interdisciplinary researches.

 

Individual assignment

Written assignment with a topic “Methodology and methods of bachelor’s research”,

2-3 pages long. Analysis of bachelor’s thesis writing methods, plus analysis of research

methods expected.

Assignment structure:

-          process description: picking the theme, problem, idea and research stages;

-          theoretical and methodological base of work;

-          subject, object, goals and tasks of work;

-          methods and methodics used, effectiveness and justification of its use;

-          self-esteem of bachelor’s work: what and why you would change, if you’d be doing it now.

 

Recommended literature:

1. Ackoff, Russell L., The Design of Social Research, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1961..

2. Ackoff, Russell L., Scientific Method, New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1962..

3. Ghosh, B.N., Scientific Methods and Social Research, New Delhi: Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd., 1982.

4. Lastrucci, Carles L., The Scientific Approach: Basic Principles of the Scientific Method, Cambridge, Mass.: Schenkman Publishing Co., Inc., 1967..

5. Hyman, Herbert H., et al., Interviewing in Social Research, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1975.

6. Lee-Trewick, G. and Linkogle, S. (eds.) Danger in the Field: Risk and Ethics in Social Research, London: Routledge, 2000.

7. Homan, R. The Ethics of Social Research, London: Longman, 1991.

                                                                                

 

 

 

 

Final test questions

1.      Main approaches to science understanding.

2.      Principles and criteria’s of scientific knowledge.

3.      Types of scientific rationalism.

4.      The concept of scientific revolution.

5.      Fundamental and applied scientific research.

6.      Main stages of scientific research.

7.      Methodology, methods and organization of scientific research: comparison analysis.

8.      Empirical scientific methods.

9.      Theoretical research methods.

10.  Common scientific methods.

11.  Hypothetico-deductive model of scientific research.

12.  Methodological procedures of verification and falsifications.

13.  Role of deduction and induction in methodological development of science.

14.  Role of experiment in methodological development of science.

15.  System analysis method in modern science.

16.  Common scientific methodological principles.

17.  Methodology of positivism.

18.  Methodological base of interdisciplinary researches.

19.  Specifics of scientific activity.

20.  Organization of scientific activity in Ukraine.