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§ 5 (1) 3. b 2 PS Applied Methods of Social Science

Students acquire the ability to deal with current empirical studies and to apply the first steps of a research process (formulation of a research issue, data collection, method reflection) autonomously in terms of quality and/or quantity or method.

Dieses Proseminar richtet sich vor allem an die Studierenden des BA POLITIKIWSSENSCHAFT.

This course introduces the basic methods and techniques of empirical social sciences. In the first part, we discuss basic theoretical and methodological concepts and principles. In a second part, the participants gain an overview of the central phases of an empirical analysis. The identification and formulation of an interesting research question and its feasibility will play a central role in that second part. It closes by definitions of measurement, scaling, quality criteria and operationalization. The third block is devoted to quantitative and qualitative research designs. The course closes by introducing basic methods of data collection and analysis.

Introduction of key concepts by the lecturer; joint readings and discussions; working on assigned tasks in small groups.

Exam (90 minutes) in final session

Grundlegende Literatur zur Veranstaltung

Diekmann, A. (2014). Empirische Sozialforschung: Grundlagen, Methoden, Anwendung (9th ed.). Reinbek bei Hamburg, Germany: Rowohlt Verlag.

Kellstedt, P. M. & Whitten, G. D. (Eds.). (2013). The fundamentals of political science research (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

King, G. & Keohane, R. & Verba, S. (1994). Designing social inquiry: Scientific inference in qualitative research. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Opp, K. (2014). Methodologie der Sozialwissenschaften: Einführung in Probleme ihrer Theorienbildung und praktischen Anwendung (7th ed.). Wiesbaden, Germany: Springer VS.

Schnell, R. & Hill, P. B. & Esser, E. (2013). Methoden der empirischen Sozialforschung (10th ed.). Munich, Germany: Oldenbourg.

Van Evera, S. (1997). Guide to methods for students of political science. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

Weiterführende Literatur

Behnke, J. & Behnke, N. (2006). Grundlagen der statistischen Datenanalyse. Eine Einführung für Politikwissenschaftler (1st ed.). Wiesbaden, Germany: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.

Brady, H. E. (Ed.). (2010). Rethinking social inquiry: Diverse tools, shared standards (2nd ed.). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

Kühnel, S. & Krebs, D. (2014). Statistik für die Sozialwissenschaften: Grundlagen, Methoden, Anwendungen (7th ed.). Reinbek bei Hamburg, Germany: Rowohlt Verlag.

Gschwend T. & Schimmelfenning, F. (Eds.). (2007). Forschungsdesign in der Politikwissenschaft: Probleme, Strategien, Anwendungen. Frankfurt, Germany: Campus-Verlag.

Morton, R. B. (1999). Methods and models: A guide to the empirical analysis of formal models in political science. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

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