LFU:online

The introductory seminar course (PS) “Applied Methods of Social Sciences”, in combination with the lecture on the same topic, trains the students in applying empirical methods. The students will be able

- to make a reasonable selection of empirical methods

- to understand the different principles of methodical approaches

- to project and validate a research design

- to realize their own research design

- to prepare and elaborate their own data

- to analyse the own research results

- to reflect the own research process critically

Core themes of this course in qualitative and quantitative methods are poverty, unemployment, Welfare State and social participation. The course aims at providing advanced knowledge of interview-based qualitative research designs, quantitative survey methodology and qualitative and quantitative data-analysis and interpretative methods.

Based on empirical data provided, methodological and methodical principles of qualitative and quantitative research will as well be discussed as practically applied to data-organization, data-editing and data-interpretation for scientific purposes. Students’ willingness to participate in teamwork and actively work with data provided by the lecturers is demanded. Since the data mainly are in spoken German sufficient knowledge of the German language is a precondition.

Introduction to procedures of data-interpretation and -analysis by keynote speeches from the lecturers (aiming at leading participants to perform qualitative research on their own). Participants will have to rework proposed literature independently, work on data in teamwork and orally present respective findings.

Preconditions to successfully complete the course: two essays about selected texts, one report about the methods of data interpretation and respective findings as discussed during the lectures.

Kruse, Jan (2014): Qualitative Interviewforschung. Ein integrativer Ansatz. Weinheim: Beltz Juventa (Grundlagentexte Methoden).

Przyborski, Aglaja; Wohlrab-Sahr, Monika (2008): Qualitative Sozialforschung. Ein Arbeitsbuch. München: Oldenbourg Verl.

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