Module manager: Victor Dura Vila
Email: V.Dura-Vila@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This research engagement and preparation module is designed to give students studying History and Philosophy of Science as part of their degree programme an essential toolkit for conducting their own research in these areas. This is a skill-based module in which you will learn to engage philosophically and historically with the sciences, including learning about a range of research methods.
The module has two main objectives. The first is to enable you to effectively engage philosophically and historically with the sciences; the second is to help you develop the research skills required to conduct independent research in the history and philosophy of science.
Specifically, the objectives are:
- To develop critical awareness of what the history and philosophy of science are, in the academic context; and how they relate both to each other and to the sciences.
- To enable you to understand how to conduct a research project in the history and/or philosophy of science (e.g. project planning, question design, drafting, implementation of feedback).
- To develop the intellectual skills required for undertaking a successful research project in the history and/or philosophy of science (e.g. analytical, interpretive, critical, reflective).
- To enable you to identify historical and philosophical problems and questions within the sciences.
These objectives will be achieved through:
- Interactive lectures and seminars grounded in theory and practice where you are introduced to core historical and philosophical methods as they apply to the sciences and encouraged to critically reflect on your own skill development.
- Independent study, individually and in groups, where you will study and analyse a past or ongoing research project conducted by academics in history and/or philosophy of science and identify a research question of your own and plan a research project aimed at answering the question using appropriate sources and methodologies.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
LO1: Critically analyse, devise and articulate some philosophical and/or historical research question that arise for the sciences.
LO2: Critically analyse, devise and articulate historical or philosophical research methodologies appropriate to answering such questions.
LO3: Identify an appropriate range of source materials in the history and/or philosophy of science, and/or in science, to bring to bear on answering one such question.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
LO4: Communicate your ideas and understanding clearly and concisely, using appropriate academic language (Academic and Work Ready skill)
LO5: Develop a coherent and detailed research and writing plan for a research project (Academic, Work Ready, and Sustainability skill)
LO6: Collaborate and contribute to a group project (Academic and Work Ready Skill)
LO7: Identify and analyse your strengths and weaknesses as an independent learner (Academic and Work Ready skill)
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminars | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Practicals | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 171 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 29 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Each student is invited to complete ONE piece of formative work which will receive written feedback.
The piece of formative work will consist of a plan for the structured essay, focussing on any elements of the structured essay that they feel they need most help with.
For the group podcast, students will submit a researched storyboard and plan for the podcast ahead of recording and will participate in a group meeting with the module leader. Verbal formative feedback on progress towards the group podcast will also be given during practical sessions.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Group Project | Group podcast or video | 30 |
| Assignment | Essay | 70 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
The structured essay resit will be an improved version of the original submitted work. Group podcast: If a whole group is resitting, a revised podcast on the same topic. If an individual is resitting, then they will give an individual recorded presentation on the same topic.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team