Ontology, epistemology and methodology of the International Relations discipline 1600-SZD-N-OEM-SM
**Course Outline: Ontology, Epistemology, and Methodology of IR Discipline**
1. **Introduction to the Course**
Organization, content, literature, and requirements.
2. **Origins and Subject Matter of IR as a Social Science Discipline**
The concept of “international”, “international system”, and “international society”.
3. **How to Structure the Subject Matter of the IR Discipline**
“Level of analysis” and “agency-structure” approach.
4. **IR Sub-disciplines**
5. **The Concept of Global IR**
6. **“Differentia Specifica” of IR Discipline**
The role of metatheory and philosophy of science.
7. **IR Ontology**
How to define it and ontological position.
8. **Epistemology**
Epistemological position.
9. **IR Epistemology: Positivist Theories**
10. **IR Epistemology: Post-positivist Theories**
11. **Methodology and Research Methods**
Classification.
12. **Research Procedures**
Literature review, research questions, selecting dependent and independent variables.
13. **Deduction and Induction Strategy in Research**
Explaining vs. understanding.
14. **Forming Theories and Inferences**
Causality and forecasting in IR discipline.
15. **Student’s Research Project Presentation**
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge (W; in Polish: “wiedza”) (the graduate knows and understands)
WG_03 the methodology of scientific research in the field of the social sciences
Skills (U; in Polish: “umiejętności”) (the graduate is able to)
UW_01 Take advantage of knowledge from different academic fields, in particular the social sciences to creatively
identify, formulate and innovatively solve complex problems or perform research tasks, especially:
− define the aim and subject of scientific research in the field of the social sciences, formulate a research
hypothesis,
− develop research methods, techniques and tools and use them creatively,
− Draw conclusions on the basis of research results
UO_01 plan and implement one’s own and team’s research or creative projects, in the field of the social sciences,
also in the international community
Social competences (K; in Polish” “kompetencje społeczne”) (the graduate is ready to)
KK_03 recognise the value of knowledge in solving cognitive and practical problems within a specific discipline in the
field of the social sciences
Assessment criteria
Evaluation criteria: presence, presentation, class activity
- max 2 absences
- students activity during the classes.
- quality of the research proposal
Bibliography
1.Hollis Martin and Smith Steve, Explaining and Understanding in International Relations, Oxford,1991.
2.Jackson Patrick T. The conduct of Inquiry in International Relations .Philosophy of Science and its implications for the Study of World Politics, Routledge 2011.
3. Additional list of scientific articles will be presented on first class.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: