SOC30220 Science and Society

Academic Year 2023/2024

Science is one of the most important yet widely misunderstood institutions of the modern world, and this module provides and introduction to the social-scientific study of science. Prior to the 1970s, science remained a largely mysterious and semi-sacred institution sheltered from systematic research and investigation. Yet since then a rapidly expanding field of social studies of science has emerged that has drawn together sociologists, historians, philosophers and anthropologists in attempts to understand the nature of science and its place in the modern world. The module introduces students to this emerging field of study and research and will examine a range of topics that lie at the heart of the social-scientific study of science. These include: science in popular culture, competing approaches to the study of formal organised science, the nature of laboratories and experimental practices, the significance of technologies and artefacts, scientific communities and controversies, scientific literacy and public communication, and the politics of science and science policy. The module is organised in such a way that lectures, seminars and assessment are integrated and mutually-reinforcing, while the use of case studies will be prominent as a way of introducing students to the questions, issues, answers and approaches employed in the social-scientific study of science.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the module students should have acquired the following capacities:
1. Knowledge of the field of Science and Technology Studies, including the ability to outline the major approaches to the social study of science;
2. Comprehension of the major theories of science and technology, including the ability to identify, distinguish and compare different research projects such as 'the strong programme' and 'actor-network-theory';
3. Knowledge of a series of case-studies of scientific innovation, failure and controversy, and a capacity to analyse and assess the arguments and conclusions based upon these studies;
4.Capacity to evaluate and judge cultural representations of science and claims about the nature of scientific activity and authority;
5. Ability to identify the relationships between science and technology and to construct arguments and interpretations based on empirical case studies and informed by theoretical frameworks

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

22
Specified Learning Activities

10
Autonomous Student Learning

80
Total

112
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Not yet recorded
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Examination: 2 hour End of Term Exam 2 hour End of Trimester Exam Yes Graded No

60
Essay: 2000 word Essay Week 5 n/a Graded No

40

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Spring
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 13:00 - 13:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 17:00 - 17:50
Spring