290087 PS Introduction into Qualitative Data Collection (2008W)

Over the last few years qualitative methods have gained importance within geography as well. With the new curriculum of 2007 this hands-on introduction into the main qualitative methods of data collection is being held as a compulsory course for all bachelor students within the basic methodology block. It aims at enabling students and practitioners to set up their own qualitative research into visual, verbal and textual data. With this goal in mind, this course focuses on methods of open observation and open interviews, and their documentation.
In the years 2003 to 2007, these methods have been applied within a research project with and on foreign students at Vienna's universities. This took the form of narrative interviews and participant-observation reports. The topic of this year's empirical research will be announced when the term starts.