2026 (Current Year) 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 (W9-716)
Class: -
Course Code: SHS.L453
Number of credits: 020
Course offered: 2026
Offered quarter: 1-2Q
Syllabus updated: Mar 23, 2026
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, peer review

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 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 AI	Summarize your experiences and thoughts on AI and research.
Class 3	Group work on previous assignment Explanation of the Social and Human Sciences Course presentation Lecture on Introduction, Chap.1 and 2	Read Introduction, Chap.1 and 2 of the textbook. Examine the argumentation formality of research in your field, and illustrate and verbalize its structure.
Class 4	Observe the Plot and Interim PresentationsGroup work on previous assignment Lecture: Chap.3	Read Chap.3 of the textbook. Find 3 papers related to your research, confirm and organize their subjects and objects, and then, using the results and textbook content as references, review and reconsider the subject and object for your currently planned master's thesis research.
Class 5	Observe the Plot and Interim Presentations	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. Organize your impressions of the Plot and Interim Presentations, and summarize what you thought could be applied to your own research.
Class 6	Group work on previous assignment Lecture: Chap.4 and 10	Read Chap.4 of the textbook. Find at least 10 studies related to your research and list them in the way commonly used in your 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 research and be able to explain it.
Class 8	Group work on the previous assignment Research ethics Lecture: Chap.5 and 7	Read Chap.5 and 7 of the textbook. Examine the methodology and methods of the research corresponding to your planned subject and object, and be able to explain them.
Class 9	Group work on the previous assignment Lecture: Chap.8	Read Chap.8 of the textbook. Make a mind map for the research plan.
Class 10	Listen to the research process of doctoral students	Summarize your impressions of the presentations of the doctoral students and 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 the slides for the final presentation.
Class 12	Practice for the final presentation	Refine the final presentation slides and practice the presentation.
Class 13	Final presentation	Organize what was learned through the presentation and Q&A session.
Class 14	Review of the final presentation Peer review of research proposal	Make a research proposal.

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.

Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).

Takashi Takao takao [at] ila.titech.ac.jp
Takeo Suzuki t.suzuki [at] ila.titech.ac.jp

Office hours

At any time. Contact by e-mail.

Other

None in particular.