Philosophy of Science, Methodology and Analysis

The subject aims to provide knowledge and understanding of the theory, history and sociology of science, and methodology. This will help prepare students for work on their own master’s thesis, by equipping them with a deepened insight into epistemology, different traditions of science (both theoretically and methodologically) and characteristics of good scientific work.

The subject also facilitates knowledge of and reflections about the coherence between research, researcher, subject and society in an overall perspective, and individual research regarding both the academic society and society in general. Furthermore, the subject promotes the development of scientific ethics and the comprehension of the relationship between epistemology, methodology and research methods.

Knowledge, the candidate
• have insight into key trends and controversies throughout the history of science
* have in-depth knowledge of different research traditions and knowledge paradigms
• have knowledge of basic reasoning and procedures within various methodological approaches
• have knowledge of central concepts within different methodological traditions


Skills, the candidate
• can identify and discuss relationships between scientific theoretical positioning and methodological choices in research work on practical and theoretical levels
• can critically evaluate and interpret research, with a view on the methods used
• can discuss and reflect on different aspects of research traditions and science paradigms
• can reflect independently on various ethical issues in research

General competence, the candidate
• analyze and evaluate relationships between empirical knowledge and theoretical and methodological issues at both a theoretical and a practical / concrete level
• can thoroughly evaluate scientific uncertainty, limitations, and possibilities given in various methods
• can evaluate research ethics in your own and others research

A combination of lectures, group work and presentations. Mandatory assignments and presentations must be approved in order to attend the exam . To the extent that mandatory tasks are related to the teaching, participation in teaching is mandatory.