PM001_-_Week_1_Lecture.ppt

For your seminar: Read your lecture slides. Do some research on a social science discipline of your choice, make some notes and bring them to the seminar for discussion. Buy the key textbook and familiarise yourself with its contents. * References Benton, T. and Craib, T. (2001) Philosophy of Social Science. Basingstoke: Palgrave. Bryman, A. (2004) Social Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Delanty, G. and Strydom, P. (2003) Introduction: What is the philosophy of social science? in G. Delanty and P. Strydom (eds.) Philosopies of Social Science. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Eriksen, T. H. (2004) Small Places, Large Issues. London: Pluto Press. Hughes, J. A. (1990) The Philosophy of Social Research. London: Longman. Marsh, I. et. al. (2009) Sociology. Harlow: Pearson. Saunders, M, Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2009) Research methods for business students. Harlow: Prentice Hall. Smith, M. J. (2003) Social Science in question. London: Sage. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Social Science Principles PM 001 Week 1 Lecture: A Brief Introduction to the Social Sciences * Aims of the Course: Examine the history of social science Introduce social scientific methods and theories Define key concepts in social science Provide opportunities to apply social theories to contemporary social phenomena * Lecture One: A Brief Introduction to Social Science What is Social Science? How do social scientists study ‘society’? The disciplines of Social Science Some key concepts in the study of the social sciences * What do social scientists study? Social scientists study human societies and people in social relations – They are especially concerned with people’s relationships to… other people ‘society’ and social institutions traditions, cultures, and ideas ‘nature’ or the external world * These relationships between people, societies, traditions, ways of thinking, etc. are the social phenomena which social scientists try t