Budapest University of Technology and Economics
Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences
Course Syllabus
and requirements
Research Methodology
2.
Course code
Semester
Hours per
week
ECTS
credits
(Theory/Practice)
BMEGT41A002
1/2
2/0/0/
Language
of
Instruction
English
Level
(BSc/BA/MSc
/MA)
BSc
3. Course supervisor (name, title, department):
Dr. Gábor Zemplén, Associate Professor, Deputy Head of Department, Dept. of Philosophy
and the History of Science
4. Lecturers:
Name:
Position:
Dr. Gábor Zemplén
Associate Professor
Dept. of Philosophy and
History of Science. 605
[email protected]
u
Ákos Gyarmathy
PhD. Student
Dept. of Philosophy and
History of Science. 612
[email protected].
hu
5. Preliminary knowledge required:
none
6. Academic prerequisites:
none
Department/Institute/availa
bility(Room, e-mail
address):
7. Objectives and description of the course:
The course offers a reading and discussion of major topoi of research methodology, both from
the point of view of the actual research practice, and from the point of view of traditional
epistemology and philosophy. The course gives an introduction to core concepts, and surveys
recent contributions that connect contemporary approaches. The aim is to foster both
enculturation in science and nature of science issues that concern research-methodology as well
as sensitivity and responsiveness to philosophical issues.
8. Teaching methods:
Frontal teaching, Individual and group work, Home-work
9. Requirements and assessment:
Midterm test 30 %
Presentation at the end-of semester 30 %
In-Class activity 30%
Optional Home-work: 10-40% (handouts, individual research)
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For handouts: You should read the mandatory readings carefully before the seminar. (minimum
one quick and one thorough reading)
Each participant writes an outline of each reading for each meeting. The summaries are to be
submitted to the tutor of the topic per email by Thursday 10:00 am prior to the seminar.
You should be prepared to give a 10 minute oral presentation of the text on the basis of this
summary. The presenter will be appointed on the spot. The summary should be circulated as a
handout. (no ppt)
The outline (1-2 pages) consists of
 the explanation of the key concepts
 the concise statement of the major theses
 the reconstruction of the reasoning.
 (You should not rewrite the text in your own words. Rather you should reveal the internal
logical relations of the text and interpret them! All and only the major points should be dwelt
on!)
active participation and good presentations in the classes.
10. Exams, make-up duties and make-up exams:
The grade is composed of two frontal evaluations: a mid-term an end-term test (30-30%), Inclass assignment, and homework (40%)
11. Office hours:
On appointment: Monday 15:00-16:45; Wednesday 8:00-9:30
12. Course material, compulsory and recommended readings:
Mandatory Reading:
handouts and online resources, made available
Suggested Readings:
Fara, Patricia: (2015) Newton shows the light: a commentary on Newton (1672) ‘A letter …
containing his new theory about light and colours…’
http://rsta.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/373/2039/20140213
Fehér Márta (1995) „The rise and fall of crucial experiments” in.: Changing Tools. Budapest:
Akadémiai Kiadó. 55-64.
Fehér Márta (1995) „The birth of crucial experiment: the Baconian idea”. in.: Changing
Tools, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó. 65-68.
Newton, Isaac (1972) A Letter of Mr. Isaac Newton, Professor of the Mathematicks in the
University of Cambridge; Containing His New Theory about Light and Colors: Sent by the
Author to the Publisher from Cambridge, Febr. 6. 1671/72; In Order to be Communicated to
the R. Society. Phil. Trans. 6, 3075–3087.
http://rstl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/6/69-80/3075.full.pdf+html
Lakatos, Imre (1974) “The Role of Crucial Experiments in Science”, Studies In History And
Philosophy Of Science (1974).4: 309-325.
Restall, Greg: (2006) Logic, Routledge, New York (6-26)
Rosenberg, Alex: (2012) Philosophy of science, a contemporary introduction, Routledge,
New York. (179-218)
Skyrms, Brian: (2000) Choice and Chance, Wadswhorth, London. (12-50)
Schimmel, Joshua: (2011) Writing Science, Oxford University Press, Oxford. (26-35; 95-104)
13. Workload and detailed class schedule:
Topics to be discussed, readings required for the class, other
assignments
Week 1
Errors in science
Allchin, Douglas: Error (Forthcoming) – available in
manuscript
Week 2
Error, falsification and underdetermination
Rosenberg, Alex: (2012) Philosophy of science, a
contemporary introduction, Routledge, New York. (201-218)
Week 3
Newton’s theory of vision I.
Fara, Patricia: (2015) Newton shows the light: a commentary
on Newton (1672) ‘A letter … containing his new theory
about light and colours…’
Week 4
Newton’s theory of vision II.
Newton, Isaac (1972) A Letter of Mr. Isaac Newton, Professor
of the Mathematicks in the University of Cambridge;
Containing His New Theory about Light and Colors: Sent by
Week 5
the Author to the Publisher from Cambridge, Febr. 6. 1671/72;
In Order to be Communicated to the R. Society. Phil.
Trans. 6, 3075–3087.
Logic of science: connectives
Restall, Greg: (2006) Logic, Routledge, New York (6-26)
Week 6
Logic of science: deductive and inductive logic
Skyrms, Brian: (2000) Choice and Chance, Wadswhorth,
London. (12-50)
Week 7
Confirmation and Bayesian statistics
Rosenberg, Alex: (2012) Philosophy of science, a
contemporary introduction, Routledge, New York. (179-218)
Week 8
Mid-Term Test
Week 9
Research in practice I.
Week 10
Debate analysis and dialectics I.
Week 11
Debate analysis and dialectics II.
Week 12
Writing skills and research reports
Schimmel, Joshua: (2011) Writing Science, Oxford University
Press, Oxford. (26-35; 95-104)
Week 13
Preparing for scientific presentations and workshops
Week 14
Workshop of student presentations – end-term exam