ADM5224 EPISTEMOLOGY AND METHODOLOGY IN SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT
| Course Code: | 3105224 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 8.0 |
| Department: | Political Science and Public Adm. |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Graduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Prof.Dr. AYLİN TOPAL |
| Offered Semester: | Fall or Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
This course aims to historically situate the emergence of epistemologies in social scientific analysis. It aims to do so by documenting the cultural, social, political and economic milieu of different thinkers who have become founders of different epistemologies. Although their viewpoints might be argued to have become universal, this course aims to locate thinkers in the power relations of their era.
Course Content
For course details, see https://catalog2.metu.edu.tr.Course Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
Explain how power relations at a given time influence knowledge production
Compare and contrast major epistemological traditions (e.g., positivist, interpretivist, critical realist) and their implications for research design.
Deconstruct claims of neutrality in social science research, identifying hidden assumptions in influential studies.
Evaluate how methodological choices (e.g., variable selection, case study selection) can reinforce or challenge existing power structures.
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | The ability to interpret and assess the ways in which power is generated and used socially, institutionally, economically and culturally at the local, national and international levels. | ✔ | |||
| 2 | The ability to conduct interdisciplinary studies and research when assessing the social phenomena in the field of Political Science and Public Administration. | ✔ | |||
| 3 | To attain a sound formation regarding the basic topics, like state-society relations, history of political thought, organisational theory, Turkish politics and comparative politics, in the field of Political Science and Public Administration. | ✔ | |||
| 4 | The ability to use the classical and new approaches in social sciences comprehensively and critically. | ✔ | |||
| 5 | To acquire the methodological knowledge and scientific skills which would enhance the capacity to conduct scientific research and produce publications including a M.S. thesis. | ✔ | |||
| 6 | The ability to evaluate the different dimensions of the problems in the policy areas which are studied through the use of different theoretical perspectives and to develop strategies on this basis. | ✔ | |||
| 7 | To uphold ethical principles in science, academy and life. | ✔ | |||
| 8 | To approach the issues by an independent, critical and inventive cognitive orientation, which could also support the professional career development. | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution