Propaedeutics

Propaedeutics (from Greek propaideúein, “to teach beforehand”) means the introduction to the language and methodology of a discipline. Scientific propaedeutics (Wissenschaftspropädeutik) is the guided approach to scientific ways of thinking and working, to methods of gaining knowledge, and to epistemology and the philosophy of science.

Aims and scope

Scientific propaedeutics introduces how secured knowledge is produced — and where its limits lie. Rather than requiring independent research from the outset, it offers an initial, exemplary insight into scientific working methods and critical reflection. In sport and exercise science this matters twice over: a university sport degree is, above all, a scientific degree, and future teachers are additionally required to anchor scientific working as a mandatory element of upper-secondary teaching (KMK; Thuringian sport curriculum).

The scope of this course spans the full arc from the question “Why science at all?” to the concrete tools of empirical research. It covers the definition and mandate of scientific propaedeutics, the character of sport science as an empirical cross-sectional discipline, the foundations of scientific work and good scientific practice, the search for and appraisal of evidence (PICO, PubMed, study types, levels of evidence), the reading and writing of scientific papers, the classical scientific method (theories, hypotheses, operationalisation, design), and the basics of study design and statistics (2×2 designs, scales of measurement, test selection, confidence intervals).

The course deliberately distinguishes description from prescription and trains the eye for the naturalistic fallacy — the unwarranted step from what is to what ought to be. Throughout, the emphasis is on transparent, methodically traceable reasoning that can be scrutinised by others, which is what sets science apart from non-testable forms of knowledge.

Language

The framework of this course (navigation, dashboards, tutorials) is written in English, while the lectures themselves are available in German.