In most cases, the publication of academic articles fails due to a lack of impact. Often, however, research questions have the potential to make such an impact, but the authors do not convey it effectively.

In this seminar, students therefore engage with their own dissertation projects and those of their peers, with a focus on impact and consistency.

Students write and present their work, particularly with regard to the contribution they intend to and are able to make (given the theoretical framework and research design), and they critically examine the contribution and consistency of their colleagues’ work in order to learn from it for their own projects.

By the end of the seminar, students will be able to:

Identify and articulate the intended academic contribution of their dissertation project in relation to relevant theoretical debates and empirical gaps.

Assess the consistency between research question, theoretical framework, research design, data, analysis, and claimed contribution.

Develop convincing arguments for the relevance and impact of their dissertation research for a scholarly audience.

Present their dissertation project clearly and critically, with particular attention to contribution, coherence, and publication potential.

Evaluate dissertation projects from the perspective of scholarly contribution and coherence and apply these insights to strengthen their own research design and argumentation.

As this seminar relies heavily on personal interactions between students and faculty, presence in all sessions is required. You are not allowed to miss more than 25% of the total seminar time.

The course's didactic approach rests on two pillars: the participants 1) engage with and develop the impact and consistency of their own dissertation 2) engage with and review peers' dissertation/research projects.

The overall seminar grade is based on three individual assessments:

• Presentation (written/orally) impact/contribution of dissertation/research project (60%)
• Evaluation impact/contribution of peer’s dissertation/research project (25%)
• Contribution to general discussions (15%)

For this course we have the following scale:

• < 60%                               fail (5)
• 60% bis 69,99%              sufficient (4)
• 70% bis 79,99%              satisfactory (3)
• 80% bis 89,99%              good (2)
• >= 90%                             excellent (1)

Enrollment in the PhD/docotral program
Topical fit (in in doubt, please contact Astrid Reichel)

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The seminar takes place in-person. However, in exceptional cases hybrid options are possible.