LFU:online

We will do a research project to a subject referring to the compulsary moduls of the curriculum (§ 5 Abs. 2 Z. 5 bis 8). The students will learn to design and conduct an empirical sociological research project (see curriculum).

Which Crisis? Whose Crisis?

Financial Crisis, economic crisis, euro crisis, social crisis, ecological crisis, climate crisis, food crisis...Everyone talks about crisis. But what does it mean? Which social phenomenon is referred to? Who talks about „crisis“ and who is hit by it? When can you speak about a „crisis“ sociologically? How does it differ from terms like „social problem“ oder „risk“?

In the following two semesters we will explore the social phenomen of „crisis“ empirically in small research groups. We will use a reconstructive methodology for our research and use methods like the grounded theory (winter semester 2013/14)as well as narrative interviews and sequential analysis (summer semester 2014)

During the first semester (winter semester 2013/14) we analyzed documents of the political system of Germany and the EU concerning the financial- and economic crisis (1st), the ernergy-crisis (2nd) and the Euro-crisis (3rd). The aim was to observe in how far semantics of crisis are dependent from their context.

During this second semester  (summer semester 2014) we will do biographical-narrative interviews with people of different milieus in Innsbruck to continue observing the dependency of semantics of crisis from their contexts (here: different milieus).

Introduction lecture, discussion, presentation, moderation

as well as

personal and group based practical exercises in small groups (writing of small texts, elevation, preperation, analysing and interpretation of qualitative data (specifically: conduct a narrative interview, transcription, sequential analysis)).

Continuous assessment (based on regular written and/or oral contribution by participants): written abstracts of literature, conducting an interview/ transcription/ sequential analysis and research report; oral presentation and discussion/moderation.

Literature:

Oevermann, Ulrich (2009): Biographie, Krisenbewältigung und Bewährung, in: Sylke Bartmann/ Axel Fehlhaber/ Sandra Kirsch/ Wiebke Lohfeld (Hg.): "Natürlich stört das Leben ständig". Perspektiven auf Entwicklung und Erziehung, Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften: 35-56.

positive completion of the compulsory modules according to § 5 Para 1 No 3, 4 and 11.

This course will be given with the help of OLAT.