COURSE DESCRIPTION
SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
SCIENCE, THEORIES AND METHODS
Dr. Numan Shehadeh
numanshehadeh@yahoo.com
Mobile: 0796117655
Office Hours: 1-3, Sunday, Tuesday
1st Semester
2013/2014
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INTRODUCTION
This course is intended to be a LEARNING COURSE focusing
on enhancing student’s skills and attitudes. It is quite different
from a traditional course where the instructor is the main actor
in class, while student’s role is restricted to taking notes and
participates sporadically in unplanned discussions.
This course has its own primary goals and intended learning
outcomes. The course material is mapped to the course goals.
The use of technology is employed heavily through the use of
internet to do activities in and out of class.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
FIRST: COGNITIVE OBJECTIVES
1. Enhancement of students cognitive skills in applying the
scientific research methodology or any other qualitative
method to define a research problem and use the appropriate
methods of analysis to reach research results.
2. Selecting appropriate statistical techniques for testing the
research method.
3.Applying appropriate techniques in organizing and writing a
research paper.
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SECOND: SKILL OBJECTIVES
1. The use of technology
2. Self-evaluation and evaluation of others.
3. Effective communication
THIRD: ATTITUDES
1. Cooperative work
2. Academic ethics
3. Tolerance and respect of different opinion
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Appropriate selection of research problem.
2. Applying critical thinking in evaluating research papers
dealing with related research problems.
3. Formulating appropriate research hypothesis for various
types of research problems.
4. Using appropriate methods for sampling.
5. Collecting related quantitative and qualitative data from the
field.
6. Applying appropriate statistical techniques in data analysis
and hypothesis testing.
7. Verifying reliability and validity of his research.
8. Efficient use of the SPSS in applying statistical analyses in
the course term paper and other assignments.
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9. Efficient use of technology in data collection and review of
previous literature.
10. Assessing papers of his colleagues objectively.
11. Enhancement of co-learning through joint research and
class assignments.
COURSE SYLLIBUS
Definition of science
Science in social sciences
Characteristics of scientific inquery
Defintion & types of systems
Characterists of systems
Systems in social sciences
Scientific method
Qualitative methods
Research problem
Literature review
Research hypothesis
Data collection
Statistical analysis
Conclusions
SCIENCE
SYSTEMS , MODELS & THEORIES
RESEARCH METHODS
RESEARCH DESIGN
Measures of central tendency
Measures of variation
Probability distributions
Simple and multiple correlation
Simple and multiple regression
STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES
Statistical tests
Spatial statistics
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Definition of knowledge
Epistemological issues concerning
perception
Methodological questions about
epistemology and analytic philosophy
Definition of ontology
Scientific ontologies
Ontological reasoning
Concept of sustainability
EPISTEMOLOGY
(NATURE OF KNOWLEDGE)
ONTOLOGY
SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS
Sustainable development
Sustainability approaches
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. A TERM PAPER:
The term paper will give you an opportunity to
explore in detail a part of the course which has particularly interested you.
Topics should be relevant to course material, (students may select topics).
Students will present and defend their main argument in class (20%). Papers
should be presented in class using PowerPoint, discussed by class and then
rewritten accordingly. 5% of the final grade will be devoted to effective
communication skills by the paper presenter: explaining slides and not
reading them, answering student’s questions …. etc, A Schedule for paper
presentation will be discussed and agreed upon in class.
2. Participation in class discussions:
Merely attending class does not constitute participation. To participate is to
contribute to collegiate discussion. I shall be closely monitoring your
participation in class throughout the semester. Periodically, you will be
asked to complete discussion self-evaluation sheets based on your
performance in class, which I shall review at the end of the semester.
Our discussions are in the spirit of collaborative learning, enhancing students
learning skills and self learning. Traditional teaching strategies (lecturer
speaks and students listen and write notes without discussing them will be
avoided). 5% of the course grade will be devoted to student’s weekly
participation.
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3. MIDTERM EXAM
covering course material, student’s presentations
(20%)
4. Final Exam covering all course material (50%)
REFFERENCES
Brewer, J., & Hunter, A., (2006)Foundations of Multimethod Research, SAGE,
Publications Ltd., London.
EXPERIMENT RESOURCES COM, THE RESEARCH PROCESS - KEY
CONCEPTS http://www.experiment-resources.com/research-process.html
Green, J.,& Browme,G., (2005)Principles of Social Research, Open University
Press, 2005.
Formulating a Research Problem
http://explorations.sva.psu.edu/lapland/LitRev/prob1.html
Kaivo,J., et.al., Advanced Sustainability Analysis,
http://www.ecoplan.org/assist/library/Malaska%20Advanced%20Sustainabili
ty%20Analysis.pdf
Lazlo, A., Krippner, S., 1998, Systems Theories: Their Origins, Foundations, and
Development,
http://archive.syntonyquest.org/elcTree/resourcesPDFs/SystemsTheory.pdf
Peter Klein, “Epistemology” Routledge Encylopedia to Philosophy, available
online.
W.K. Clifford, "The Ethics of Belief" online at:
http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/w_k_clifford/ethics_of_belief
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Qualitative Research Practice: A Guide for Social Science Students & Researchers:
(editors: Jane Ritchie& Jane Lewis, 2003)
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?start=10&q=science+in+social+science&hl=
ar&as_sdt=0,5&as_vis=1
SCIENCE AS A SOCIAL KNOWLEDGE : HELEN LONGINO. 1990
http://books.google.jo/books?hl=ar&lr=&id=S8fIbD19BisC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9
&dq=science+in+social+science&ots=T9xl8laokZ&sig=Q6K5ykqQ5PzbVXf4
QphSBfSVBsk&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=science%20in%20social%20scie
nce&f=false
Schafersman, S.D.(1994) An Introduction to Science Scientific Thinking and the
Scientific Method
Schneider, S., Theory of Knowledge,
Simons, P., Parts: A Study in Ontology (Oxford, Clarendon, 1987)
Suppes, P., Introduction to Logic, Dover Publications, 1999
EXPERIMENT RESOURCES COM, THE RESEARCH PROCESS - KEY CONCEPTS
http://www.experiment-resources.com/research-process.html
Wudka, J., What is the difference between a fact, a theory and a hypothesis?
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