The Scientific Method, SASF10, 7.5hp

Spring term 2020


Den svenska versionen av denna kurs har kurskod MNXA19

  • Introductory meeting

    Tuesday the 21nd of January, at 13:15 - 15:00, in lecture room Andromeda, Astronomy

  • Schedule (preliminary)

  • Literature

    Alan F. Chalmers
    What is this thing called science? 3rd or 4th edition
    University of Queensland Press, Open University press, 4th revised edition, Hackett, 1999.

    Suggestions for additional reading.

  • Lectures

    The course is based on a series of lectures. These are not directly connected to the course literature, but are mainly intended to inspire to studies and discussion. The lectures are typically given every Thursday in the Andromeda room in the Astronomy building 13:15-13:00.

  • Group discussions

    Normally, each lecture is followed the day after (on Fridays) with group discussions in the Theory Lab at Theoretical Physics. In each group there is an appointed discussion leader and an appointed rapporteur. The discussion leader should prepare by making detailed notes from the lecture so that the discussion can be led in a meaningful way. The rapporteur should take notes from the discussion, to be able to make both a oral and written summary.

  • Seminars

    The course literature (Chalmers) is treated in a series of student seminars in the beginning of the course, where the students give short lectures about different chapters in the book.

  • Interviews

    The students will perform interviews with active researchers to find out how they actually work with science, which method they use (if any). The interviews are then described in written reports which are discussed with other students.

  • Essays

    Each student chooses one book to read and writes a short essay about it, from a philosophy-of-science perspective. The essays are then discussed with other students.

  • Important deadlines

    • Noon Tuesday the 4th of Febriary Choice of book for essay.
    • Noon, Tuesday the 4th of February: Choice of subjects and draft of questions for interviews.
    • Noon, Tuesday the 11th of February: Comments on interview questions.
    • Noon, Tuesday the 25th of February: Near-final draft of interview report.
    • Noon, Monday the 2nd of March: Feedback on draft interview report.
    • Noon, Monday the 2nd of March: Near-final draft of essay.
    • Noon, Friday the 6nd of March: Feedback on essay draft.
    • Noon, Friday the 6nd of March: Final interview report.
    • Noon, Thursday the 12th of March: Final essay.

    Please note: Several assignments will be reviewed by your fellow students, it is therefore very important that you respect deadlines. If you for whatever reason cannot meet one of the deadlines, you must notify the course responsible before that deadline, otherwise it will be assumed that you are no longer following the course. A student who has not met the first two deadlines will be asked to unregister from the course if he/she do not intend to follow it.

    All hand-ins should be submitted via the Canvas system. Please make yourselves acquainted with that system well before the first deadline.

  • Examination

    The grades in this course is pass or fail. To pass, each student must successfully complete the following obligatory course elements:
    • An oral presentation at a seminar
    • Oral feedback to a presentation at a seminar
    • Act as group discussion leader at least once
    • Active participation in at least six group discussions
    • A written report from a group discussion
    • A written report from interviews
    • Oral and written feedback on an interview report
    • An essay
    • Oral and written feedback on an essay

  • Course eveluations

  • Course responsible

    Leif Lönnblad, Leif.Lönnblad@thep.NOSPAM.lu.se, tel 046-2227780.


    Last Modified $Date: 2019/09/24 18:49:28 $ by Leif Lönnblad
    webmaster@thep.NOSPAM.lu.se