2020 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Social and Human Sciences Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
Graduate Methodologies in Science, Technology and Society S1
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Masashi Shirabe / Hideto Nakajima / Yakup Bektas / Yoshimi Takuwa / Hironori Ayabe / Makoto Goto /
- Class Format
- Lecture (Zoom)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Tue (W9-407)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- SHS.S461
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2020
- Offered quarter
- 1-2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
In this seminar-style course, basic research methods for the academic fields of 1) history of science, 2) history of technology, 3) philosophy of science, 4) science and technology studies, and 5) science and engineering ethics are introduced and examined. It is also expected that basic concepts and technical terms in the above fields are acquired through critical readings of important works.
Course description and aims

By successfully completing this course, the students will be able to
1) explain basic research methods of the following academic fields, history of science, history of technology, philosophy of science, STS (social studies of science and technology, or science, technology, and society), and science and engineering ethics
2) write an original research paper in one of the above mentioned fields.
Keywords
History of science, history of technology, philosophy of science, �STS (social studies of science and technology, or science, technology, and society), research methods
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Contents of the course will be decided in consultation with the students, considering the interests and readiness of the students
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Course Guidance Introduction to the fields | ・Prepare a report on one's interests, readiness, and others |
| Class 2 | Research methods for history of science 1 | ・Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review |
| Class 3 | Research methods for history of science 2 | ・Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review |
| Class 4 | Periodisation of technology | ・Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review |
| Class 5 | System technology in the ancient | write a short review ・Make a presentation based on the review |
| Class 6 | Technology during Hellenism | ・Decide the subject and research method of one's paper |
| Class 7 | Neo Platonism | ・Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review |
| Class 8 | The development of research for Medieval technology | ・Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review |
| Class 9 | Twelfth Century Renaissance | ・Make an oral presentation on the progress of the original research |
| Class 10 | Emergence of universities | Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review |
| Class 11 | Theory of the Scientific Revolution | Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review |
| Class 12 | Research methods for science and engineering ethics | FCritically examine the reading assignment and write a short review |
| Class 13 | Research methods for science and engineering ethics | Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review |
| Class 14 | Presentations based on the final drafts | ・Make an oral presentation based on the final draft |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Hideto Nakajima, Science in Society (in Japanese), NHK Books
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Please see referenced books in the text book above.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Term paper 60%, comment sheet at the end of lectures 40%
Related courses
- LAH.T202 ： History of Science B
- LAH.T302 ： History of Science C
- LAH.T203 ： History of Technology B
- LAH.T303 ： History of Technology C
Prerequisites
Graduate level knowledge for history of science and technology, and philosophy of science