Available in 2024
Course code

SCHS4090

Units

20 units

Level

4000 level

Course handbook

Description

This course introduces students to key debates and perspectives on theory and methods in the social sciences, more specifically sociology and anthropology, human services and criminology. Through interdisciplinary enquiry, the students will explore the questions of 'what is knowledge?' and 'how do we know what we know?'. The core concept of the course is 'epistemology' and a central learning objective is for the students to gain insight into how epistemology features in their own research. Through this course, students will gain an understanding of how research problems are conceived and acted upon in the disciplines of anthropology and sociology, human services and criminology. They will explore the philosophical underpinnings of social research, as well as ethical and political components of research.


Availability2024 Course Timetables

Callaghan

  • Semester 1 - 2024

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Explain how historical and emerging knowledge infrastructures influence the philosophy and practices of scholarship in the Social Sciences.

2. Select and synthesise key intellectual issues and debates in the Social Sciences to justify the focus and boundaries of a research study.

3. Apply critical reflective practices when engaging in complex multi-disciplinary Social Science contexts.

4. Identify the criteria used to evaluate the quality of research conducted in the Social Sciences.


Content

SCHS4090 centres on the question: 'what is knowledge'. In this course, students will be introduced to philosophical and historical discussions related to the question of knowledge and how we know what we know. Topics that will be covered may include:

  • epistemology: the theory of knowledge
  • what is truth?
  • epistemological positions: positivism; phenomenology; hermeneutics; social constructivism; interpretivism; empiricism
  • from philosophy to practice
  • research as action
  • reflexivity
  • positionality, subjectivity and bias

Requisite

Students must be active in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) [40209] or the Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) [10726] program to enrol in this course.

Students who have successfully completed SOCA4090 or SPSW4010 cannot enrol in this course.


Assumed knowledge

A major in sociology and anthropology, human services or criminology with a minimum credit grade average.


Assessment items

Essay: Epistemology essay

Journal: Reflexive journal

Written Assignment: Research blog


Contact hours

Semester 1 - 2024 - Callaghan

Self-Directed Learning-1
  • Self-Directed 18 hour(s) per week(s) for 13 week(s) starting in week 1
Seminar-1
  • Face to Face On Campus 2 hour(s) per week(s) for 13 week(s) starting in week 1

Course outline