PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH - 2025/6

Module code: MAND026

Module Overview

This module provides a grounding in the fundamentals of conducting rigorous and publishable social science research. The module starts with a discussion of the role of social science in research, the assumptions that underpin social science research, the resulting methodological traditions, the formulation of a value-added research problem, the role of theory in explaining scientific phenomenon, informed choices in research design, and ethical issues in the research process.    

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

ARYEE Samuel (SBS)

Number of Credits: 0

ECTS Credits: 0

Framework: FHEQ Level 8

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 120

Lecture Hours: 10

Seminar Hours: 10

Guided Learning: 10

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content





Indicative content includes:


  • Nature and philosophy of scientific research

  • Formulating a research problem

  • Theoretic explanation

  • Theory testing-converting research ideas into research design

  • Designing variance studies

  • Designing process studies

  • Generalization and replication

  • Ethics in research and publication







 

Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Coursework INDIVIDUAL ESSAY Pass/Fail

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their learning and achievement of the module’s learning outcomes. Engaging with the assignment will enable students to deepen their understanding of philosophical issues that underpin research as well as contemporary issues and debates in the knowledge discovery process.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
 

Assignment: Students must submit an essay of 4,000 words excluding references. The essay must evidence a sound understanding of the issues covered in the module, ability to integrate/synthesize the relevant literatures, and analytical rigour.

Module aims

  • To examine the interplay between philosophy and science in the knowledge discovery process
  • To provide insights into how to generate and frame research questions
  • To examine assumptions underlying methodological traditions in social science research
  • To examine the notion of theoretical contribution and its framing

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
001 Demonstrate a critical perspective on what constitutes knowledge and its generation KCT
002 Evaluate the role of theory in the research process KC
003 Evaluate methodological choices in social science research KCT
004 Demonstrate an awareness of moral/ethical quandaries in social science research KCT
005 Apply and assess elements of high quality research KCT

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The teaching/learning strategy has been designed ensure students achieve the learning outcomes. Accordingly, the module adopts a seminar format to facilitate effective discussion and evaluation of competing/alternative views. Students are therefore expected to come to class having done the assigned readings and ready to participate in the discussions.  

The learning and teaching methods include:
Lectures
Class discussions
Verbal student presentations
Critiques of journal articles

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MAND026

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
Management and Business PHD 1 Compulsory Each unit of assessment must be passed at 50% to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.