LFU:online

Institut für Organisation und Lernen Institut für Organisation und Lernen

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Albrecht Becker Univ.-Prof. Dr. Albrecht Becker, +43 512 507 71410
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Julia Brandl Univ.-Prof. Dr. Julia Brandl, +43 512 507 71450

433901

SE Methodologie

SE 3

7,5

see Curriculum

Block

semestral

Englisch

PhD students are supposed to contribute to scientific progress. This course will help you develop and enhance your knowledge concerning the methodological foundations of research in the social sciences to the extent of being able to understand and critically evaluate the impact of applying certain ontological and epistemological approaches to a research problem as well as taking a reasoned decision of what methodological option to prefer for your own research work.

By the end of the course you will have studied a range of methodologically different approaches to social scientific work, analyzed exemplary high-level research papers in terms of their methodological position, discussed and evaluated the impact of the various ontological and epistemological positions on the selected research methods and the research findings, developed and defended your own ontological and epistemological position and specified what it means for your future research.

This course provides you with ample opportunities for active learning. It is based on the idea of involved, explorative learning in an open class environment. It deploys a mixture of individual preparation work, short lectures, presentations, group work, and discussions. The instructors see themselves as learning coaches and mentors, rather than as lecturers. To make this work, you are requested to complete some reading prior to class, engage in critical thinking, and draw your own conclusions. You may also want to bring up contradictory thoughts of yours and discuss them in class. You will present your assignments, ideas, summaries, group works, etc. in an open and supportive atmosphere of collective learning. Learning is a process of joint discovery. By drawing on the knowledge and experience that we all bring to class, as well as the additional knowledge to be gained from texts and other sources, we jointly shape and expand our understanding of the field of methodology. The instructors will help make this joint learning process an exciting and involving one for all of us. The course is designed to be of high relevance for your own future research work. Consequently, you should take something with you through asking, discussing, and commenting on the topics.

2 group summaries of a social sciences approach and comparative critical notes on other approaches (40%) 1 individual comparative article review (30%) 1 individual reflection (30%)

Most of the texts we will be reading are from Baert, P. & Da Silva, F.C. (2010). Social theory in the twentieth century and beyond (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Polity Press. For some of the meetings you will have to read additional papers; this will be indicated in the detailed schedule.

The course syllabus and a reader with texts are available at the Department of Organisation and Learning, SOWI Bulding 3rd floor (http://www.uibk.ac.at/iol/info/anschrift.html).

11.03.2013