Literature Review

Core Task

Carry out a critically evaluative literature review (2000/2500 words) on one of the following topics:

The general theme of ethics or moral philosophy, referring to the theories of utilitarianism (Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill)

Suggested Readings

Holtug, N. (2002).  ‘The Harm Principle’. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, Vol. 5, No. 4 (Dec., 2002), pp. 357-389

Long, D. (1990). ‘”Utility” and the “Utility Principle”: Hume, Smith, Bentham, Mill’, Utilitas, 2(1): 12–39.

Mill, J. S. (1998). Utilitarianism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Kymlicka, W. (2002). Contemporary Political Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Chapter 2.

Sartorius, R. (1969). ‘Utilitarianism and Obligation’, The Journal of Philosophy, Vol. 66, No. 3 (Feb. 13, 1969), pp. 67-81.

The positivist approach versus the interpretivist approach to social science, focussing on the work of Emile Durkheim and Max Weber.

Suggested Readings

Hund, John (1982). Are Social Facts Real? The British Journal of Sociology, Vol. 33, No. 2 (Jun., 1982), pp. 270-278

Turner, Stephen Park. (1995). Durkheim’s “The Rules of Sociological Method”: Is It a Classic? Sociological Perspectives, Vol. 38, No. 1, Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Émile Durkheim’s “The Rules of Sociological Method” (Spring, 1995), pp. 1-13

Koch, A. M. (1994) “The Ontological Assumption of Max Weber’s Methodology” Texas Journal of Political Studies, 17 (1): 5-21

The feminist approach to social sciences, highlighting the relationship between this approach and the

Core Task
Carry out a critically evaluative literature review (2000/2500 words) on one of the following topics:

The general theme of ethics or moral philosophy, referring to the theories of utilitarianism (Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill)

Suggested Readings
Holtug, N. (2002). ‘The Harm Principle’. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, Vol. 5, No. 4 (Dec., 2002), pp. 357-389
Long, D. (1990). ‘”Utility” and the “Utility Principle”: Hume, Smith, Bentham, Mill’, Utilitas, 2(1): 12–39.
Mill, J. S. (1998). Utilitarianism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kymlicka, W. (2002). Contemporary Political Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Chapter 2.
Sartorius, R. (1969). ‘Utilitarianism and Obligation’, The Journal of Philosophy, Vol. 66, No. 3 (Feb. 13, 1969), pp. 67-81.

The positivist approach versus the interpretivist approach to social science, focussing on the work of Emile Durkheim and Max Weber.
Suggested Readings
Hund, John (1982). Are Social Facts Real? The British Journal of Sociology, Vol. 33, No. 2 (Jun., 1982), pp. 270-278
Turner, Stephen Park. (1995). Durkheim’s “The Rules of Sociological Method”: Is It a Classic? Sociological Perspectives, Vol. 38, No. 1, Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Émile Durkheim’s “The Rules of Sociological Method” (Spring, 1995), pp. 1-13
Koch, A. M. (1994) “The Ontological Assumption of Max Weber’s Methodology” Texas Journal of Political Studies, 17 (1): 5-21

The feminist approach to social sciences, highlighting the relationship between this approach and the feminist political movement

Suggested Readings
Crasnow, Sharon (2009). Is Standpoint Theory a Resource for Feminist Epistemology? An Introduction, Hypatia, Vol. 24, No. 4 (Fall, 2009), pp. 189-192
Held, Virginia (1985). Feminism and Epistemology: Recent Work on the Connection between Gender and Knowledge, Philosophy & Public Affairs, Vol. 14, No. 3 (Summer, 1985), pp. 296-307
Maffie, James (1995). Naturalism, Scientism and the Independence of Epistemology, Erkenntnis (1975-), Vol. 43, No. 1 (Jul., 1995), pp. 1-27

Find and read a wide variety of scholarly sources on the topic; choose 5 sources related to different theories/approaches to review, and write an overall evaluation of the sources.
Structure
The literature review (2000/2500 words) includes:
o SECTION 1 (Introduction- approx.. 100 to 150 words)
A short description of the topic of the literature review
o SECTION 2-6 (approx.. 300 words – 350 words per source)
5 critical evaluations on academic literature relevant to your topic
o SECTION 7 (Conclusion-appr. 400 to 600 words).
A summary review of the analysed issue based upon your literature research and its application to practice. In this section you should aim to synthesise information from the five annotations that you have used in Sections 2-6 in order to identify and compare common issues and/or differences related to the literature review topic.

Each review will include:
o A short statement that explains the main focus or purpose of the academic source
o A short summary of the theories or arguments covered in the academic source
o Critical analysis of the academic source (e.g. reliability of the text, credibility of the author, poor features, left-out content, weaknesses in argument)
o Citation details using the appropriate citation style
Theory and/or task resources required for the assessment:
 Introduction to Social Sciences Research
 Qualitative versus Quantitative Methods of Social Research
 How to write a literature review
 Introduction to Ethics
 Ethical Theory (Utilitarianism): Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill
 Positivism (2): Durkheim
 Interpretivism (2): Weber
 Critical Approaches: Feminism
You will find and read a wide variety of scholarly sources on the topic from your own research and within class; choose 5 articles related to different theories/approaches to review, and write an overall evaluation of the sources

Learning Outcomes Assessed:
The following learning outcomes are assessed in this task:
• Critically apply social science theories in real world situations
• Evaluate a range of academic theories and methodological approaches and explain how they inform and influence different perspectives
• Critique the methodology and theoretical frameworks of a piece of academic research within their specialist area

Assessment Mark:
Your literature review will be marked for:

Content
Clearly summarises a range of relevant sources with reference to theories, identifying key points and reflecting the content of the literature in depth.

Critical Analysis
Evidence of accurate comprehension of each source. Analysis evaluates each source’s contribution to the academic debate on the chosen topic with reference to theories, approaches and how these have informed and influenced different perspectives

Sources
Evidence of rigorous and academically grounded selection; justification of the selection reflecting understanding of the chosen topic; sufficient use of in-text citations and references

Presentation
The overall presentation of the literature review conforms to the UK academic conventions, including application of the relevant referencing style; Academic style is used well and the review is well organised and coherent with good use of language.