Course for international guest/part time students
- Faculty
- Faculty of Economics
- Organization
- GTK Department of Marketing and Argumentation Theories
- Code
- GTI21AN821EN
- Title
- Transdisciplinarity and Expertise
- Usual semester
- Spring
- Published semester
- 2024/25/2
- ECTS
- 3
- Language
- en
- Description
- The course offers an introduction to the growing literature on expertise and transdisciplinary research and innovation strategies. Topics include the ‘public understanding of science’, the ‘fractal model of expertise’, as well social and cognitive biases, 21st century skills, and all the tools you need to survive in a post-truth world. The covered problem-spaces will be illustrated with case studies, ranging from ‘wicked problems’ for sustainable development, through crisis-response in pandemic to pseudoscience, and more. The lectures trigger reflection of the students on their worldviews and epistemologies, on their understanding of the nature of science, and difficulties to make decisions under deep uncertainty. Students by the end of the course will have improved their ability to interpret information relevant for (business) decision making by a deeper understanding of media-mechanisms, the nature of science in society, and the challenges of picking reliable expertise to solve complex problems.
- Learning outcomes
- The lectures trigger reflection of the students on their worldviews and epistemologies, on their understanding of the nature of science, and difficulties to make decisions under deep uncertainty. Intended Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of this course, students should be able to: Students by the end of the course will have improved their ability to interpret information relevant for (business) decision making by a deeper understanding of media-mechanisms, the nature of science in society, and the challenges of picking reliable expertise to solve complex problems. Links to Sustainable Development Goals: On successful completion of this course, students should be able to connect topics taught to the SDGs Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation (SDG 9) Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns (SDG 12) Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all (SDG4)
- Course content
- The course offers an introduction to the growing literature on expertise and transdisciplinary research and innovation strategies. Topics - the ‘public understanding of science’, scientific & media literacy - nature of science, nature of science is society (NOS, NOSIS) - the ‘fractal model of expertise’, the 'periodic table' of expertise - social and cognitive biases, 21st century skills, life-long learning. -'wicked problems’ and 'clumsy solutions' for sustainable development & innovation, sustainable consumption and production - crisis-response in pandemic; pseudoscience, fringe-science, post-truth The covered problem-spaces will be illustrated with case studies.
- Assessment method
- (Following general course assessment criteria for ELTE FoE courses). The course consists of 12 sessions (lecture/seminar) and 2 midterm exams (there are no video sessions). A total of 100 points can be earned throughout the term. Out of this, 90 points can be obtained by writing midterm exams during the term to secure the exam eligibility and an additional 10 points can be obtained on lectures and home assignments. Students may use any of these exercises (15-20 points) and to get the max. 10 obtainable extra points to get an offered grade. Active student participation in lectures and seminars (e.g., presentations, reports on group projects, homework reviews etc.) will be appreciated. A student is eligible for the examination above 30 points (or if at least the first midterms is above 50%) and may be offered a grade above 60 points. Based on the total of 100 points obtained during the term students may be offered a grade. Offered grades can only be obtained above 60 points, and the grade limits are the following: 60-69 satisfactory, 70-84 good, 85-100 excellent. If a student does not receive or does not accept his/her offered grade but fulfils the exam eligibility requirements (i.e. has earned a minimum of 30 points), he/she can complete the course by taking the exam. Under normal circumstances, written exams must be organised at the Exam Centre. The grade limits on the exams: 50-54 sufficient, 55-69 satisfactory, 70-84 good, 85-100 excellent. Points received during the teaching period are not added to the exam points.
- Bibliography
- Short compulsory readings may be posted on the moodle page for specific midterms or optional exercises. General literature (may change during first run of the course in 2021/22 Autumn): Collins, Harry M. & Robert Evans. 2007. Rethinking expertise. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Collins, H, 2018. „Studies of Expertise and Experience” Topoi 37, 67–77 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11245-016-9412-1 Collins et al. Experts and the will of the people, 2020. Drezner, Daniel. 2017. The Ideas Industry: How Pessimists, Partisans, and Plutocrats are Transforming the Marketplace of Ideas.Oxford University Press Leefmann, Jon & Lesle, Steffen. (2020). Knowledge from Scientific Expert Testimony without Epistemic Trust. Synthese. 10.1007/s11229-018-01908-w. Íñiguez-Berrozpe, Tatiana & Boeren, Ellen. (2020). 21st Century Skills for All: Adults and Problem Solving in Technology Rich Environments. Technology, Knowledge, and Learning. 25. 929-951. 10.1007/s10758-019-09403-y. Reich, Zvi & Lahav, Hagar. (2020). What on Earth do Journalists Know? A New Model of Knowledge Brokers’ Expertise. Communication Theory. 31. 10.1093/ct/qtaa013. Väliverronen, Esa & Laaksonen, Salla-Maaria & Jauho, Mikko & Jallinoja, Piia. (2020). Liberalists and data-solutionists: redefining expertise in Twitter debates on coronavirus in Finland. Journal of Science Communication. 19. 1-21. 10.22323/2.19050210. Marchau, V.A.W.J., Walker, W.E., Bloemen, P.J.T.M., Popper, S.W. (Eds.) 2019. Decision Making under Deep Uncertainty From Theory to Practice https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030052515 Stern, Marc J (2018) Social Science Theory for Environmental Sustainability: A Practical Guide. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. ISBN: 978-0-19-879318-2. Kostas Kampourakis, & Kevin McCain (2019) Uncertainty: How it makes science advance. Oxford University Press, New York, NY. ISBN: 978-0-19-087166-6