APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2013/2014

DRE 3005 Philosophy of Science in Management

Responsible for the course
John Chandler Johnson, Timothy Devinney

Department
Department of Strategy and Logistics

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
3

Language of instruction
English

Introduction

This course is concerned with the nature of social science inquiry. It is intended for students in the business and management disciplines and those early in their doctoral research program. The course is broken into four sections: (1) an introductory overview to the philosophy of science, (2) a review of epistemology – the nature and scope of knowledge − (3) a review of ontology – the what can be said to exist − and (4) specific applications to the major disciplinary areas.

Learning outcome

The main objectives of the course are:

1. To introduce the philosophy of science and its application to social science.

2. To outline major differing classes of theory in social science and to explicate their meta-theoretical foundations.

3. To familiarize students with the plurality of views on these issues in the intellectual community.

4. To provide students with an opportunity to apply these concepts to the analysis of issues in social science.

5. To provide students with an opportunity to practise scholarly discourse.

Prerequisites
Admission to a PhD Programme is a general requirement for participation in PhD courses at BI Norwegian Business School.

External candidates are kindly asked to attach confirmation of admission to a PhD programme when signing up for a course with the doctoral administration. Candidates can be allowed to sit in on courses by approval of the course leader. Sitting in on courses does not permit registration for courses, handing in exams or gaining credits for the course. Course certificates or conformation letters will not be issued for sitting in on courses

Compulsory reading
Books:
Chalmers, A.F.. 1999. What is this thing called Science? An assessment of the nature and status of science and its methods

Articles:
Selected Articles

Recommended reading
Books:
Curd, M. and Cover, J.A.. 1998. Philosophy of Science: The Central Issues
Kincaid, H.. 1996. Philosophical Foundations of the Social Sciences: Analyzing Controversies in Social Research

Course outline

Philosophy of (Social) Science
Science and Pseudoscience
Induction
Falsification
Paradigms and Programs
Anarchistic Theory of Knowledge
Bayesianism & Probability
Experimentation
Causation, Explanation and the Laws of “Nature”
Realism and Rationalism
Functionalism and Individualism
Hermeneutics and Critical Theory
Applications

Computer-based tools
N/A

Learning process and workload

The course will take the form of a seminar. Students will be pre-assigned readings and will lead the discussion.


Examination
The assessment for this subject will be based 40% on class participation and 60% on written materials. The class participation is split 50:50 between participation in the discussion (including attendance) plus your own presentations. The two written assignments are worth 30% each.

Examination code(s)
DRE 30051 accounts for 100% of the grade

Examination support materials


Re-sit examination
Re-takes are only possible at the next time a course will be held. When the course evaluation has a separate exam code for each part of the evaluation it is possible to retake parts of the evaluation. Otherwise, the whole course must be re-evaluated when a student wants to retake an exam.

Additional information
Honour Code
Academic honesty and trust are important to all of us as individuals, and represent values that are encouraged and promoted by the honour code system. This is a most significant university tradition. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the ideals of the honour code system, to which the faculty are also deeply committed.

Any violation of the honour code will be dealt with in accordance with BI’s procedures for cheating. These issues are a serious matter to everyone associated with the programs at BI and are at the heart of the honour code and academic integrity. If you have any questions about your responsibilities under the honour code, please ask.