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Explanation and Understanding in Social and Political Research (P00099)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : SPS-P-EUSPT

This course aims to introduce students to a range of central issues concerning the epistemological character of enquiry in the social sciences and the nature and possibilities and explanation. It explores the relationship between these philosophical issues and influential theoretical and methodological debates in social and political science.

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Postgraduate (School of Social and Political Studies), (School of Social and Political Studies, Schedule J)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students should:

i. Have become familiar with a range of key debates about the
epistemological status of social and political enquiry

ii. Be able to distinguish, and evaluate the respective merits of,
different conceptions of explanation and understanding

iii. Be able to illustrate and explore the philosophical issues in
(i) and (ii) in relation to substantive areas of social and political
enquiry