One needs to understand the social nature of research, the forms knowledge takes to be true, to actually produce his/her first piece of research. Rooted in the traditions of science and technology studies, grounded theory and qualitative sociology, the seminar will provide to the students all the theories, methods and tools needed to analyze the products of science and conduct their own research in social sciences. By opening a dialogue with sources taken as a research object, and working on diverse corpora, we will face epistemic challenges that are always both methodological and highly political! This course is project-based and expects to broaden minds and to teach useful research skills, working on thematics that will be collectively defined to meet the students' interests.
Learning Outcomes
1. To teach useful methodological skills (using up-to-date qualitative and digital tools) to build and analyze research corpora in social sciences.
2. To broaden minds on the practice and social nature of research, an objective required for future academics, but also in many international organizations that somehow deal with research or technology.
3. Mapping controversial situations and topics with a production of white papers and databases, to be able to act in uncertainty.
Professional Skills
1. Research & Analysis - Collecting and analyzing information to increase understanding of a topic or issue
2. Critical thinking - Engaging in reflective and independent thinking
3. Teamwork - Working with a group of people to achieve a shared goal or outcome in an effective manner
Thomas TARI
Séminaire
English
- Attendance: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
- Reading and Preparation for Class: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
- Research and Preparation for Group Work: 4 hours a week / 96 hours a semester
Spring 2024-2025
Students will each individually produce two five-page papers. The first one will depict a scientific controversy of their choice, while the second will describe a related process of quantification / categorization (emergence of a social group or a concept) at stake, underlining how alternative expertises or sociotechnical perspectives have an impact on the controversy. The first paper will be expected around the sixth week of class, the deadline for the final work is week 13.
The classes will be highly interactional, discussing some research corpora created for the course, or debating the mandatory texts to read every week.
4. Martin, A., Lynch, M., 2009. Counting Things and People: The Practices and Politics of Counting. Social Problems 56, 243–266
1. Bowker, G.C., Star, S.L., 2000. The Case of Race Classification and Reclassification under Apartheid, in: Sorting Things Out - Classification & Its Consequences. MIT Press, Cambridge, pp. 195–225.
3. Haraway, Donna. Situated Knowledges: The Science Question in Feminism and the Privilege of Partial Perspective. Feminist Studies, vol. 14, no. 3, 1988, pp. 575–599.