41318 - Methods of Empirical Social Sciences Modulübersicht

Module Number: 41318 - module is no longer offered from WS 2010/11
Module Title:Methods of Empirical Social Sciences
  Methoden der empirischen Sozialforschung
Department: Faculty 4 - Environmental Sciences and Process Engineering
Responsible Staff Member:
  • Prof. Dr.phil.habil. Schluchter, Wolfgang
Language of Teaching / Examination:English
Duration:1 semester
Frequency of Offer: On special announcement
Credits: 4
Learning Outcome:This is an introductory module in Methods of Social Science. The objective of the module is to convey a basic understanding of the techniques of quantitative and qualitative research. The module is split in a theoretical and a practical part. The theoretical part will be thought in class introducing students to basics of research praxis (30 hours). In the course of the semester each student will prepare his/her own project to research on, which accounts for the practical part (90 hours). Students may work in groups, that will regularly report their own project´s advance.

The module shall enable students to work out own hypotheses, create a research plan, do the field work and analyse the collected data. This provides students with the methodlogical tools to convey their own research, well before they start their final Bachelor, Master, Diploma or PhD Thesis.

Students may come up with their own topics or choose one out of several offered fields of research. According to the chosen method certain knowledge of German language is necessary (to a lesser degree for quantitative methods).
Contents:- Basics of qualitative methods
- Basic of quantitative methods
- basics of developing a research design
- basics of data analysing
Recommended Prerequisites:basic knowledge of German language, motivation to work self organised
Mandatory Prerequisites:None
Forms of Teaching and Proportion:
  • Seminar / 2 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Self organised studies / 90 Hours
Teaching Materials and Literature:The required literature will be announced at the beginning of each semester.
Module Examination:Unspecified - Specification from winter semester 2016/17 required!
Assessment Mode for Module Examination:Students will realise in the course of the semester their own research projects, either in groups or individual. The research shall be presented in a presentation in the last meeting 1st of February. Additionally each student has to write a summary of the research carried out or write at least one part of a group work.
Evaluation of Module Examination:Performance Verification – graded
Limited Number of Participants:None
Part of the Study Programme:
  • no assignment
Remarks:This complementary module is offered only in WS 2009/10.
VLVZ 410615 SE Methods of empirical social sciences
Module Components:None
Components to be offered in the Current Semester:
  • no assignment
Follow-up Module/s: Phase-out module since: 01.10.2010