Valid from: Spring 2025
Decided by: Gudbjörg Erlingsdóttir (fek-ger)
Date of establishment: 2022-01-18
Division: Technology and Society
Course type: Third-cycle course
Teaching language: English
The aim of the course is to give the PhD students an insight into the connection between specific research methods, assumptions in the philosophy of science and theories used in research at the Department of Technology and Society. The methods and methodological concerns that are in focus are relevant for the research subjects Technology and Society (TETOSF00) and Industrial Environmental Economics (TEMIMF00).
Knowledge and Understanding
For a passing grade the doctoral student must
Competences and Skills
For a passing grade the doctoral student must
Judgement and Approach
For a passing grade the doctoral student must
The course introduces ways to do and understand research within different research traditions, with a specific focus on interdisciplinary research approaches to the relation between society and technology. The doctoral students are introduced to discussions and traditions in theory of science and how these relate to, and affect, research design, theory and choice of method. These discussions relate both to traditions within natural sciences and social sciences. The course is made up of three parts: 1. A general introduction to methodology and research as practice. In this part we introduce and discuss concepts such as ontology, epistemology and methodology, how they are related and what practical implications they have for the research process, in particular in relation to choice of method. 2. Research in practice: the role of methods in the research process. We focus on a number of relevant methods that are being used within the research area at Technology and Society, such as interviews, observation, life cycle analysis, action research and techno-economic modelling. The methods are discussed in relation to the concepts introduced in part 1. 3. Self-reflection: the doctoral student’s own work and methods. During the course the doctoral students will reflect on their own choice of methods and how they are being used in practice.
Chalmers, A.F. (1999). What is this thing called science?, Open University Press. (Excerpts are compulsory and will be provided as pdf) Chambers, B. (2019). To Be Taught, If Fortunate, Hodder & Stoughton. (A novella.) Hacking, I. (1983/2010). Representing and intervening, Cambridge University Press (Excerpts are compulsory and will be provided as pdf) Mays, T. & Perry, B. (2022). Social Research: Issues, Methods and Process (5th edition). Open University Press/McGraw-Hill. Laws, J. (2004). After Method: Mess in Social Science Research. (Excerpts are compulsory and will be provided as pdf) Smith, Linda Tuhiwai. (2021). Decolonizing Methodologies : Research and Indigenous Peoples. Third edition. Zed Books. (Excerpts are compulsory and will be provided as pdf) Additional texts might be added. Further references that are recommended for self-study will be provided at the course start.
Types of instruction: Lectures, seminars, exercises, self-study literature review. The course exists of a combination of seminars in person and online. The seminars consist of a combination of lectures, group discussions and assignments. In the seminars, important concepts related to theory of science and methods will be introduced and discussed. Different positions and perspectives will be covered. These will be concretised using different examples of methods and will be related to the research projects of the course participants. The course has a significant emphasis on self-studies, critical reflections and writing.
Examination formats: Written report, written assignments.
Active participation at seminars (at least 80 %).
Introductory reflection about presumptions about the course and research in general.
Written essay, reflecting on one's own research.
Oral opposition on another essay.
Final reflection about take-aways from the course.
Grading scale: Failed, pass
Examiner: Associate senior lecturer Alexandra Nikoleris
Admission requirements: Enrolled in one of the following PhD subjects: Technology and Society (TETOSF00), Transport and Road Technology (TEVTTF02), Environmental and Energy Systems Studies (TEFMIF00), Real Estate Science (TEVFTF00) or Industrial Environmental Economics (TEMIMF00).
Assumed prior knowledge: Introductory doctoral studies. At least one year of studies is recommended.
alexandra.nikoleris@miljo.lth.se or karin.winter@tft.lth.se
Start date: 2025-03-03.
Start date is approximate.
End date: 2025-06-19
Course pace: Not specified
Course coordinator: Alexandra Nikoleris <alexandra.nikoleris@miljo.lth.se>
Web page: https://canvas.education.lu.se/courses/33989