Headings denoted with an asterisk ( * ) is retrieved from the course syllabus version Autumn 2021
Content and learning outcomes
Course contents
The following is an incomplete list of topics covered in the course.
Scientific knowledge
Hypothesis testing
Observations and measurements
Experiments
Models
Statistical reasoning
Causes and explanations
Qualitative methods
Engineering design
Intended learning outcomes
The course provides an introduction to the theory and methodology of science and is intended for the beginning PhD student. One aim is to supply the basic concepts needed for placing the techniques and knowledge acquired in the student’s other courses or research in the wider context of the natural sciences. Another aim is to provide the basic intellectual tools that allow for a reasoned and critical assessment of results and methods from the wide variety of disciplines that the student is likely to encounter during his or her continued career in research and/or in professional life.
The course is mainly focused on the general theoretical and methodological issues that arise in the natural and technological sciences; but basic theoretical issues, techniques and problems from the social sciences are also covered to provide the student with a wider outlook. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental problems common to the natural sciences and on the general strategies, methods and concepts that modern science has developed to address these problems.
After having completed the course, the student should, with regards to the theory and methodology of science, both orally as well as in writing, be able to:
Identify definitions and descriptions of concepts, theories and problem areas, as well as identify the correct application of these concepts and theories.
Account for concepts, theories and general problem areas, as well as apply concepts and theories to specific cases.
Critically discuss the definitions and applications of concepts and theories as they applies to specific cases of scientific research.
Learning activities
9 pre-recorded video lectures. For each lecture, except lecture 1, there is a non-mandatory quiz and a text transcription. The videos are included in the schedule but can be watched at another date or time.
3 seminars. Each seminar is about the contents of some of the video lectures and some course texts. Before each seminar there is a mandatory quiz. The seminar consists of instruction and group discussions. The seminars start course week 3, one seminar each week.
Detailed plan
This course includes the following eleven lectures. They are all available as videos on Canvas to watch whenever you want. Their place in the schedule is a suggestion of when you might view it.
Introduction and scientific knowledge (26 minutes)
Scientific inferences (59 minutes)
Observation and measurement (76 minutes)
Experiments (49 minutes)
Models (62 minutes)
Statistics (62 minutes)
Explanations and causes (81 minutes)
Engineering design (76 minutes)
Qualitative methods (93 minutes)
From the second lecture onward, there is an associated optional quiz of 15 questions. If you complete the quiz with at least 14 points, you will get 0,5 bonus points for the exam. You can attempt to complete the quiz as many times as you like until it closes. This quiz closes at the end of the week where the lecture is scheduled (Sunday, 23:59, of each week). This is to incentivise studying throughout the course, rather than only at the end. Bonus points collected during this period are valid for the exam and the re-exam belonging to this period.
This course includes these three mandatory seminars.
Definitions, operationalizations and hypotheses (course week 3)
Designing a scientific study (course week 4)
Interpretation, analysis, and evidence (course week 6)
For each seminar, there are texts to read and a quiz to complete before you take the seminar. You need 14 points on the quiz before attending. If you attend without having scored 14 points on the quiz, you are not sufficiently prepared, and you will not be marked as attending. You can take the quiz as many times as you want before your seminar.
You will take one seminar each seminar week. There is more information about the seminars in the document “Seminar information” on Canvas.
Expected workload: 8 hours per week.
Schedule: www.kth.se/schema. Chose "Course" and search for your course code. Note that for each seminar, there are several groups. Some groups may be cancelled. Furthermore, the seminars share content with courses AK2030 & AK2036, so there are usually other groups to attend if you have scheduling issues. Contact course administration after the start of the course.
Preparations before course start
Literature
Literature
There are two main course texts:
Justified Method Choice - Scientific Methodology for Scientists and Engineers by Till Grüne-Yanoff. Based on the video lectures.
The Art of Doing Science by Sven Ove Hansson.
In addition, there are three supplemental texts:
Some Issues in the Philosophy of Technology, by Sven Ove Hansson.
All are available in the file format pdf from the Canvas pages. They cannot be bought as physical books, but you are welcome to print them. On the Canvas page “Reading instructions” you can see which sections to read for the lectures. There are also texts for the seminars, see the document “Seminar information” on Canvas.
Support for students with disabilities
Students at KTH with a permanent disability can get support during studies from Funka:
In course evaluations for previous periods, students wanted to pass on the following advice.
This course is different from many other courses in an engineering degree, and often requires a slightly different approach.
It is a good idea to follow along with the course structure, such as watching lectures when they are scheduled and completing the quizzes.
It is useful to take careful notes during the lectures. However, this increases the viewing time of the videos, so you need to plan for that.
Taking time to prepare for the seminars and actively engaging in the seminars makes it much easier to understand the course concepts and pass the exam.
Examination and completion
Grading scale
P, F
Examination
SEM1 - Seminar, 1.0 credits, Grading scale: P, F
TENA - Digital examination, 2.0 credits, Grading scale: P, F
Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.
The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.
A student may request a home exam, with the maximum grade of E, if two requirements are fulfilled: (1) This is the last remaining exam left before graduation. (2) It is not possible for the student to attend the written exam because the student is, at the point of the request, residing outside of Sweden and will be residing outside of Sweden for at least twelve months following the request. The examiner approves or denies these requests.
The section below is not retrieved from the course syllabus:
Seminar ( SEM1 )
There are three seminars, all mandatory. To pass a seminar you need to:
read the required material
watch the required videos
pass a seminar quiz
actively participate in the seminar
During a seminar you should be able to explain the course concepts for that seminar and use them correctly as well as discuss their definitions and uses with peers. The seminars are learning activities and thus is is acceptable to, for example, have misunderstood a concept when preparing for the seminar. The teachers are there to help. However, it is not acceptable to attend the seminar without proper preparation or to remain quiet during the entire seminar.
Exam ( TEN1 )
The examination is based on the 9 lectures and the 3 seminars, as well as the course literature. It is given in Canvas on the date and time indicated in the schedule. It consist of three parts. The first part is a multiple choice part asking you to identify the definitions and applications of course concepts. The second part is an essay part where you are to submit computer written answers to two problems. In this part you are asked to account for the course concepts, apply them to examples and discuss their definitions. The third part is an essay part where you choose one out of three problems where you are asked to account for, apply and discuss course concepts.
The exam is open-book, which means that one is allowed to use the course literature when answering the questions. Plagiarism is not allowed and any citations, even from the course literature, must be marked as such. Co-operation is not allowed.
During the course there are 8 non-mandatory quizzes, one for each video lecture. These quizzes tests the students ability to identify the correct definition and application of the course concepts. Passing these quizzes awards bonus points, 0,5 point per lecture. These points are added to the part 1 exam score and capped at the maximum for that part. These points are valid for the exam and re-exam belonging to the period and year when they were collected. One may collect points valid for another exam by re-registering for that period and re-taking the quizzes.
Alternatives to missed activities or tasks
If you are unable to attend one or more of the seminars, there are compensation seminars towards the end of the course. Alternatively you may re-register and attend the remaining seminars at a later date. Please inform the course administration when you have passed all seminars.
If you miss or fail the exam, you may take a re-exam.
Ethical approach
All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.
Further information
Regarding the pandemic
We are planning to host all three seminars on-campus, and the exam online. Note that this might change, depending on KTH recommendations. Please contact the course coordinator if you are not in Sweden or in a risk group.
Please e-mail course coordinator with all matters, both administrative and content questions. Contact through e-mail is preferred, please do not use the Canvas messaging system. You may communicate in either Swedish or English. Please state your course code, since I handle several courses.
Please e-mail course coordinator with all matters, both administrative and content questions. Contact through e-mail is preferred, please do not use the Canvas messaging system. You may communicate in either Swedish or English. Please state your course code, since I handle several courses.