Universität Wien
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230148 SE Social Science Methods for STS Research (2017W)

8.00 ECTS (3.00 SWS), SPL 23 - Soziologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 02.10. 12:30 - 14:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien (Kickoff Class)
  • Wednesday 04.10. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 11.10. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 18.10. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 25.10. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 08.11. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 15.11. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 22.11. 09:30 - 12:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 29.11. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 06.12. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 13.12. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 10.01. 09:30 - 12:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 17.01. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 24.01. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Tuesday 30.01. 09:30 - 17:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

In common understanding, research methods are the tools social scientists employ to study, represent and understand the social world. Picking the right method to study a research question is crucial for doing successful research, and requires in depth knowledge of the different tools available, and of their possibilities and limits. However, particularly for STS scholars, using and developing methods needs to involve more than just finding the right tool for the job. One of the most central goals of STS is to study how sciences and their methods construct the way we understand and act upon the world, and the political consequences this has. Representing ‘social realities’ thus always also means to perform them and to intervene in them. Hence, a central challenge for STSers is to reflect on the performativity of method, that is on how our use of methods impinges on how we account for our objects of inquiry - and which versions of reality are foregrounded and which are rendered invisible by particular ways of describing the social. As such, learning how to do methods in STS always also entails working on one’s own reflexive capacities and epistemological positions. Focussing on methods of qualitative research, this course will give students the opportunity to gain an overview of some of the main tools available to social scientists, to discuss how STS scholars have applied these tools, to critically evaluate the possibilities and limits of these approaches, and also to gather some very first experiences in applying them.

Learning aims
to acquire basic knowledge of the most common (qualitative) social science research methods to be able to read and summarize methods texts to read and discuss how STS researchers have employed these methods to be able to ask first simple research questions and to pick methods suitable to answer them
to gather first practical experiences in applying social science research methods to understand why reflexivity in using and developing methods is of key importance particularly to STS researchers

Assessment and permitted materials

To pass the seminar, students are expected to complete the following tasks:
Read and discuss the required readings, participate in the in-class activities
Complete the in-class assignments in the research studios
Gather practical experiences by doing and transcribing one qualitative interview
Prove their knowledge of the discussed methods and their ability to apply it to specific questions in a written test
Apply the methods to the cases discussed across the introductory courses, and develop a research exposé in their case group
Adhere to the general standards of good academic practice

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The grading scheme is based on a total of 100 points. These points will be awarded in relation to students’ performance in meeting the course learning aims in the different obligatory tasks.
The maximum number of points to be acquired for each task is:

Test: 30 points, assessed individually
Research studio assignments: 10 points, assessed as group work
Fieldwork practice: 20 points, assessed individually
Development and written and oral presentation of the Research Exposé: 30 points (20 result, 10 process), assessed as group work
In class participation: 10 points, assessed individually

Minimum requirements
A minimum of 50 points is necessary to successfully complete the course. Failure to meet the attendance regulations, to deliver course assignments on time or to adhere to standards of academic work may result in a deduction of points.

Grades
100-87 points Excellent (1)
86-75 points Good (2
74-63 points Satisfactory (3)
62-50 points Sufficient (4)
49-0 points Unsatisfactory (5) (fail)

Examination topics

Reading list

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:39