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This course introduces you to social science research methods and techniques. You will learn the theoretical foundations for as well as the preparation and implementation of research design. It will focus on the basics and first steps required in analyzing quantitative and qualitative research projects

The course is organized into two parts. During the first half of the seminar, students will focus on quantitative research. During the second half of the seminar, students will conduct qualitative social research.  In both parts of the seminar, students will focus on research formulation, conceptualization, operationalization, sampling, data collection and analysis, as well as writing up their research projects. As a result, students will learn and practice the basic steps necessary in conducting quantitative and qualitative empirical studies.

Part I

Part I of the course will focus on quantitative research methods. Students will choose a research topic, narrow the topic to a researchable project, find academic research journal articles relating to their topics, use these articles to formulate a research project consisting of a research question, hypothesis, research and questionnaire design. Students will pre-test their questionnaires, then enter the data from their pre-tested surveys into SPSS and conduct some preliminary data cleaning and analyses. Finally, students will write a research portfolio or a reflection paper.

Part II

Part II of the course will focus on qualitative research methods. Students will choose a research topic, narrow the topic to a researchable project, find academic research journal articles relating to their topic, use these articles to formulate a research project consisting of a research question, research design, as well as interview guide consisting of questions based on thematic formulations. Students practice interviewing each other in class in order to improve their interview guides. In addition, students will get a brief introduction to  Atlas.ti. Finally, students will write up a research portfolio or a reflection paper paper.

In addition to working on their research projects, students will reflect critically on various approaches and methods of empirical social research.

The active participation of all students is essential to the course’s success. Therefore, I encourage everyone to actively participate in class discussion, as these discussions will help students to better understand the course material.

All students are required to hand in a search portfolio and a reflection paper at the end of the course.

Lehrveranstaltungsprüfung gemäß § 7 Satzungsteil, Studienrechtliche Bestimmungen

 Students will be graded on:

a.     class participation,

b.     reflection paper, and

c.     research portfolio.

Students’ Final Evaluations: Grades for the entire course will be assigned as follows:

1 – Sehr gut                            90% and above
2 – Gut                                   80% - 89%
3 – Befriedigend                    70% - 79%                 
4 – Genügend                        60% - 69%
5 – Nicht genügend               59% and lower 

Reading list:

The Craft of Research, Fourth Edition (2016) by Wayne Booth, Gregory C. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, Joseph & William T. Fitzgerald. (ISBN# 022623973X)

Methodical Thinking: Basic Principles of Social Research Design (2013) by Donileen R. Loseke.  (ISBN# 978141299720)

Additional course material will be posted on the course Moodle website.

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