Universität Wien
Warning! The directory is not yet complete and will be amended until the beginning of the term.

230166 SE Research(ing) Practices: Methods and Concepts (2013W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 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

  • Friday 04.10. 09:30 - 11:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien (Kickoff Class)
  • Friday 11.10. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 08.11. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 15.11. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 22.11. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 29.11. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 06.12. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 13.12. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 17.01. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 24.01. 09:30 - 11:30 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 31.01. 09:30 - 11:00 Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

In recent years, we witness a turn to practices in STS which has changed both the conceptions of science and technology as well the modes of researching and analyzing them. Social orders, knowledge, science, bodies, technologies, power etc. are understood to be enacted in practices. This has methodological consequences as it directs our attention to what is actually done and instructs us to proceed empirically. Against this background this seminar focuses on why and how to research practices. Aside from looking at how these phenomena can be conceptualized in a practice-based approach, we will pay particular attention to the methodological consequences and look at how we can research and analyze practices and what methods are suitable. We will examine, discuss and reflect upon the basic assumptions underlying different qualitative research approaches to practices.
'Research(ing) practices' does not only refer to our focus on practices but points to a reflection of our own research as a practice. STS has shown how sciences and their methods construct the way how we understand and act upon the world. By that, methods cannot be considered as mere tools that can be applied to study and understand the world. Methods enact the object of study in a certain kind of way.

Assessment and permitted materials

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

This course offers an introduction to theoretical concepts and methods in the 'practice turn' in STS. At the end of the course, participants will have developed an understanding of why and how to focus on practices when researching science and technology, which methodologies and methods follow from a focus on practices, how theoretical approaches we choose are entangled with the methods we apply, and how we can think about our own analyses as practices and reflect upon them.

Examination topics

In a workshop like character this course should enable participants to engage with and try out different methods and research approaches. In the first part of the seminar we will read and discuss a few case studies on a range of examples to work out a practice-based approach and reflect on its methodological implications. In a second part we will explore different methods and develop a sensibility to what they actually do in our research. In a third part participants gain the possibility to engage in small empirical projects to apply, test and reflect upon methods and concepts.

Reading list

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:39