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DA2205 Introduction to the Philosophy of Science and Research Methodology 7.5 credits

Administer About course

Information per course offering

Termin

Information for Autumn 2026 scimet26 programme students

Course location

KTH Campus

Duration
24 Aug 2026 - 11 Jan 2027
Periods

Autumn 2026: P1 (3 hp), P2 (4.5 hp)

Pace of study

25%

Application code

10741

Form of study

Normal Daytime

Language of instruction

English

Course memo
Course memo is not published
Number of places

Min: 1

Target group
Open for all programmes from year 3 and for all master's programmes as long as it can be included in your programme.
Planned modular schedule
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Schedule
Schedule is not published

Contact

Examiner
No information inserted
Course coordinator
No information inserted
Teachers
No information inserted

Course syllabus as PDF

Please note: all information from the Course syllabus is available on this page in an accessible format.

Course syllabus DA2205 (Autumn 2026–)
Headings with content from the Course syllabus DA2205 (Autumn 2026–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )

Content and learning outcomes

Course contents

  • Basic concept of philosophy of science: scientific knowledge, nature of explanation, causality, scientific paradigms.
  • Research methodology: scientific reasoning, hypothesis testing, modelling and simulation.
  • History of computers and computing technology.
  • Research ethics.
  • Reading, writing and evaluation of scientific text.

Intended learning outcomes

After passing the course, the student should be able to

  • explain and analyse scientific methods relevant for research in computer science
  • present the foundational issues in the methodology and philosophy of science, especially as regards the natural, technological and computational sciences
  • identify and critically review scientific literature within these subjects
  • identify and critically evaluate definitions and descriptions of concepts, theories and problem areas
  • evaluate a research work in the context of computer science and computational technology
  • identify and discuss ethical problems associated with scientific research
  • plan and write a technical report within the subject

in order to

  • understand the nature of scientific research and evaluate scientific results
  • be ready to undertake scientific research work.

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites

  • Knowledge in basic computer science, 6 credits, corresponding to completed course DD1338/DD1320-DD1328/DD2325/ID1020/ID1021 or completed course components KONT and LABD in DD1326. 
  • Knowledge in probability theory and statistics, 6 credits, corresponding to completed course SF1910-SF192 5/SF1935 or completed course component TEN1 within SF1910/SF1925/SF1935.

Recommended prerequisites

Courses in Scientific computing (Numerical Analysis and Computer science).

Literature

You can find information about course literature either in the course memo for the course offering or in the course room in Canvas.

Examination and completion

Grading scale

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

  • HEM1 - Assignments, 1.5 credits, grading scale: P, F
  • HEM2 - Assignments, 3.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
  • TEN1 - Examination, 3.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, 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.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

TEN1 is a written exam.

Examiner

Profile picture Josephine Sullivan

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

Course room in Canvas

Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.

Offered by

EECS/Computational Science and Technology

Main field of study

Computer Science and Engineering

Education cycle

Second cycle

Supplementary information

In this course, the school's honor code is applied, see:

https://www.kth.se/en/eecs/utbildning/hederskodex/inledning-1.17237