2024 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Social and Human Sciences Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences

Translational Project in Social and Human Sciences 1

Academic unit or major: Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
Instructor(s): Takashi Takao / Takeo Suzuki
Class Format: Exercise (Face-to-face)
Media-enhanced courses: -
Day of week/Period (Classrooms): 5-6 Fri
Class: -
Course Code: SHS.L453
Number of credits: 020
Course offered: 2024
Offered quarter: 1-2Q
Syllabus updated: Mar 14, 2025
Language: Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

In this class, students will gain an understanding of the entire master's research process and acquire the basic research skills necessary for their research activities. After confirming what a thesis or science is, students will understand a series of research processes such as selection of a subject/object, review of previous research, selection of methodology/methods, creation of a research plan, making up a structure, data collection and analysis, writing, and presentation, using their own research as material.
The aim is for students to understand the research process and to formulate their own research interests into a research plan. In addition, through discussions among students from different fields of expertise, the course aims to broaden their perspectives and cultivate their communication skills to communicate their research to people from different fields of expertise.

Course description and aims

Understand the entire master's research process.
Acquire the basic skills necessary for research activities.
Formulate one's own research interests into a research plan.
Communicate one's research to people in different fields of expertise.

Keywords

research skills, research, previous research, research methods, research plans, presentations, group work

Competencies

Specialist skills
Intercultural skills
Communication skills
Critical thinking skills
Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Classes will be conducted in Japanese, with English supplementation as necessary. The first half of each class will be group work, and the second half will be a lecture.

Course schedule/Objectives

	Course schedule	Objectives
Class 1	Self-introduction Learning in graduate school	Organize, examine, and write about why you entered graduate school, what you want/aim to do, and what specific actions you intend to take toward that end.
Class 2	Intellectual production and research ethics Lecture on Introduction, Chap.1 and 2	Read Introduction, Chap.1 and 2 of the textbook. Organize and summarize what a thesis is and what science is. Examine the argumentation formality of research in your field, and illustrate and verbalize its structure.
Class 3	Group work on the previous assignment Explanation of the schedule and image of the Social and Human Sciences Course presentation Lecture: Second half of Chap.8	Read the second half of Chap.8 of the textbook. Select one presentation of the Plot and Interim Presentations from the titles, research in advance the content inferred from the title, and prepare one question.
Class 4	Observe the Plot and Interim Presentations	Organize your impressions of the Plot and Interim Presentations, and summarize what you thought could be applied to your own research.
Class 5	Share about the Plot and Interim Presentations Lecture: Chap.3	Read Chap.3 of the textbook. Reconsider and organize the subject and object of your master's thesis research.
Class 6	Group work on previous assignment Lecture: Chap.4 and 10	Read Chap.4 of the textbook. Make a list of at least 10 studies related to your own research and organize them in the way commonly used in your own research field.
Class 7	Group work on the previous assignment Lecture: Chap.6	Read Chap.6 of the textbook. Decide on one previous study that will be the basis of your master's thesis research and be able to explain it to others.
Class 8	Group work on the previous assignment Lecture: Chap.5 and 7	Read Chap.5 and 7 in the textbook. Examine the methodology and methods of the research corresponding to your planned subject and object, and be able to explain them to others.
Class 9	Group work on the previous assignment Lecture: First half of Chap.8	Read the first half of Chap.8 of the textbook. Make an alpha version of the research plan referring to the textbook.
Class 10	Listen to the research process of doctoral students	Summarize your impressions of the presentations of the doctoral students and summarize what you thought could be applied to your own research.
Class 11	Group work on previous assignment Lecture: Chap.9, 11, and Conclusion	Read Chap.9, 11, and Conclusion of the textbook. Make an alpha version of the slides for the final presentation.
Class 12	Group work on previous assignment Presentation methods, slides, speaking style, note-taking	Finish slides for final presentation and practice presentation.
Class 13	Final presentation	Organize what was learned through the presentation and Q&A session.
Class 14	Review of final presentation Reflection on the class as a whole and on life during summer vacation	Final assignment: Write about what you learned in class, your impressions, etc., and summarize your research plan at this stage.

Study advice (preparation and review)

Textbook(s)

Eiji Oguma, Kiso Kara Wakaru Rombun No Kakikata, Kodansha Gendai Shinsho, 2022.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

The information will be introduced in class as appropriate.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Attendance and assignments for each session 50%
Final presentation and final assignment 50%

Related courses

SHS.L451 ： Translational Project in Social and Human Sciences S1
SHS.L452 ： Translational Project in Social and Human Sciences F1

Prerequisites

Priority will be given to students in the Social and Human Sciences Course. Students from other courses will be accepted if there is room. Please contact the instructor (Takao or Suzuki) by e-mail before the first class.

Other

None in particular.