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 F1
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Masashi Shirabe / Hideto Nakajima / Yakup Bektas / Yoshimi Takuwa / Shunzo Majima / Akihisa Setoguchi
- Class Format
- Lecture (Zoom)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Tue (Zoom)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- SHS.S462
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2020
- Offered quarter
- 3-4Q
- 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 ・Make a presentation based on the review |
| Class 3 | Research methods for history of science ② | ・Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review ・Make a presentation based on the review |
| Class 4 | Research methods for history of technology ① | ・Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review ・Make a presentation based on the review |
| Class 5 | Research methods for history of technology ② | ・Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review ・Make a presentation based on the review |
| Class 6 | Presentation on the subject and research method of the original paper by the students | ・Decide the subject and research method of one's paper ・Prepare a presentation on the subject and research method of the paper |
| Class 7 | Research methods for philosophy of science ① | ・Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review ・Make a presentation based on the review |
| Class 8 | Research methods for philosophy of science ② | ・Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review ・Make a presentation based on the review |
| Class 9 | Work-in-progress presentations | ・Make an oral presentation on the progress of the original research |
| Class 10 | Research methods for STS ① | ・Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review ・Make a presentation based on the review |
| Class 11 | Research methods for STS ② | ・Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review ・Make a presentation based on the review |
| Class 12 | Research methods for science and engineering ethics | ・Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review ・Make a presentation based on the review |
| Class 13 | Research methods for science and engineering ethics | ・Critically examine the reading assignment and write a short review ・Make a presentation based on the 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)
To be decided in consultation with the students enrolled.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
To be decided in consultation with the students enrolled.
Evaluation methods and criteria
１） A short report on research methods and presentation（20%）
２） An oral and written work-in-progress report （１０％）
３） Final draft and presentation of the original report （30%）
４）Reviews on basic and classic works in the fields (30%）
5) Active participation in class discussion（10%）
Related courses
- LAH.T302 ： History of Science C
- LAH.T303 ： History of Technology C
- LAH.T304 ： Science and Technology for Society C
- LAH.T305 ： Ethics in Engineering C
- SHS.S461 ： Graduate Methodologies in Science, Technology and Society S1
- SHS.S441 ： Graduate Lecture in Science, Technology and Society S1A
- SHS.S442 ： Graduate Lecture in Science, Technology and Society S1B
- SHS.S443 ： Graduate Lecture in Science, Technology and Society F1A
- SHS.S443 ： Graduate Lecture in Science, Technology and Society F1A
- SHS.S444 ： Graduate Lecture in Science, Technology and Society F1B
Prerequisites
It is desirable to have taken the above mentioned courses.