Universität Wien
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400019 SE Case Studies and Comparisons (2023W)

Methods seminar

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 40 - Doktoratsstudium Sozialwissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
ON-SITE
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. 15 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Friday 01.12. 09:45 - 11:15 C0628A Besprechung SoWi, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 19.01. 09:45 - 15:30 Seminarraum 11 Vernetzungsraum für Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Saturday 20.01. 09:45 - 15:30 C0628A Besprechung SoWi, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Friday 26.01. 09:45 - 15:30 Seminarraum 11 Vernetzungsraum für Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Saturday 27.01. 09:45 - 15:30 Seminarraum 11 Vernetzungsraum für Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Case studies have a long tradition in the social sciences. While it was long time taken for granted that researchers know how to do case study research, recent decades have seen a significant methodological appraisal and also criticism. This course aims to introduce students to these methodological debates and familiarize them with the most widely used case study research designs: congruence analyses and process tracing, typology research, focused comparisons, and qualitative comparative analysis. We will also discuss criteria for case selection and methods of data collection and analysis.
The course is suitable for students from all social sciences, but readings will focus mostly on the debates in political science and macrohistorical sociology. It is particularly suitable for students in an early phase of their doctoral project who plan to do a case study based project, and for any student wishing to familiarize themselves with methodological debates and design in case study research. The course will combine three elements: reading and discussion of methodological writings, discussion of the design of published case study research, and presentation and discussion of student projects.
Language: the readings and discussion will be in English: Students can submit written German language work but should be ready to present the main points in English.

Assessment and permitted materials

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Seminar presence and participation: Students must not miss more than 2 seminars. In-class participation should demonstrate the familiarity with the key readings. (40% of the grade)
Two papers discussing the research design of published case study research. The papers should be two-three pages long, and you will also be asked to present them in class (30 % percent of the grade)
Presentation of parts of your dissertation (depending on where you are in the process this can be the concept, a chapter, or the summary of your findings). The focus of the presentation should ideally be on the research design (30% of the grade).
Please note that all written material (the papers and material of the dissertation that you will present) should be submitted at least a week prior to the class to give everyone the possibility to read it before.

Examination topics

Reading list

(A detailed list of readings and the syllabus will be posted on the moodle page).
Beach, Derek, and Rasmus Brun Pedersen. 2016. Causal Case Study Methods: Foundations and Guidelines for Comparing, Matching, and Tracing. University of Michigan Press.
Mahoney, James, and Kathleen Thelen. 2015. Advances in Comparative-Historical Analysis. Cambridge University Press.
Munck, Gerardo L., Richard Snyder, and Gabriel Abraham Almond. 2007. Passion, Craft, and Method in Comparative Politics. JHU Press.
Ragin, Charles C. 2014. The Comparative Method: Moving Beyond Qualitative and Quantitative Strategies. Univ of California Press.
Stake, Robert E. 1995. The Art of Case Study Research. SAGE.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Tu 23.01.2024 10:06