SSPS4402: Semester 1, 2026

Units SSPS4402 Semester 1 2026 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

SSPS4402: Philosophy of Social Science Research

Semester 1, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

What exists in the world? What, and how, can we know about what exists in the world? In this unit, we explore these fundamental questions about being and knowing in the context of debates about philosophy and methodology in the social sciences. We examine how these debates about being and knowing shape and inform decisions about research and research design (methodology). We further explore the politics of knowing and knowledge production, thinking otherwise about knowledge production and its cultivation. We also explore the possibilities for thinking beyond existing debates, focusing on debates about biases of methodologies, Indigenous knowledge, and decolonisation of the social sciences.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Political Economy
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	144 credit points including FASS3999 or equivalent
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Beatriz Carrillo Garcia, beatriz.carrillogarcia@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written work	Reflective Response to Peer Presentation Reflection on another group's presentation through written and/or creative methodologies	20%	Multiple weeks	1000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Portfolio or journal	Reading diary Notes/reflections on required weekly readings, submitted in any 5 weeks between Weeks 2 and 12	15%	Multiple weeks	5 x 200 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Oral presentation Deliver a presentation and facilitate class discussion	30%	Multiple weeks	10 min (1,000 words equivalent)	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Positionality paper Draft positionality paper	0%	Week 05 Due date: 29 Mar 2026 at 23:59	500 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
In-person written or creative task	Short Essay Respond to an essay question in final class of semester	35%	Week 13 Due date: 27 May 2026 at 13:00 Closing date: 27 May 2026	1000 words	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85-100	Exceptional
Distinction	75-84	Very high standard
Credit	65-74	Good standard
Pass	50-64	Acceptable standard
Fail	0-49	Does not meet learning outcomes to an acceptable standard

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Knowledge creation in historical and sociopolitical context	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 01	Knowledge creation in historical and sociopolitical context	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 02	Reflexivity and positionality	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Reflexivity and positionality	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Post-positivism in the Social Sciences	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Post-positivism in the Social Sciences	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Critical realism	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Critical realism	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	Poststructuralism	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Poststructuralism	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Decolonising Knowledge, Methods and Methodologies - Introductions	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Decolonising Knowledge, Methods and Methodologies - Introductions	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Decolonising Knowledge, Methods and Methodologies 2	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Decolonising Knowledge, Methods and Methodologies 2	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Decolonising Knowledge, Methods and Methodologies 3	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Decolonising Knowledge, Methods and Methodologies 3	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Decolonising Knowledge, Methods and Methodologies 4	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Decolonising Knowledge, Methods and Methodologies 4	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Decolonising Knowledge, Methods and Methodologies 5	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Decolonising Knowledge, Methods and Methodologies 5	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Decolonising Knowledge, Methods and Methodologies 6	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Decolonising Knowledge, Methods and Methodologies 6	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Reflexivity revisited	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Reflexivity revisited	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	The future of social sciences knowledge production Final Essay (in-class)	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	The future of social sciences knowledge production Final Essay (in-class)	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library’s reading list system Leganto, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Explain the roles of and relationship between, theory, methodology and research design in different types of social science.
LO2. Identify and defend the ontological assumptions that students bring to research.
LO3. Articulate the epistemological position that informs their research.
LO4. Articulate and criticise historical and contemporary debates, and ongoing controversies, about knowledge production in the social sciences, especially in relation to decolonisation.
LO5. Coherently articulate how their social positionality influences their ontology and epistemological position.
LO6. Develop key research skills including critical reading, note-taking, oral presentation and reflexive practices.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

In response to student feedback, we will take the following steps to further enhance the unit: - broaden the range of theoretical perspectives to enrich critical engagement; - integrate creative practices into both classroom activities and assessments; - clarify assessment instructions and rubrics to ensure transparency and accessibility. Looking ahead, we remain committed to applying relational pedagogies that support both intellectual rigor and emotional wellbeing. Our aim is to cultivate a learning space that encourages ethical research practices, critical self-awareness, and a deeper understanding of the transformative role of research in society.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links