This course introduces the logic of social science inquiry, theory building, and the fundamentals of social science research design. The course focuses on the various steps of empirical social science research, such as

- the formulation of theory and the derivation of predictions

- designing the research process

- developing operational definitions

- data collection

- data analysis.

After successfully participating at this course, students will have an overview of different empirical research methods in social sciences and understand the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. Students will have gained the necessary skills to act both as informed “consumers” of empirical articles and as “producers” of small-scale research projects.

Students will acquire the skills needed to

• Formulate theoretical frameworks and derive testable predictions from them.
• Design an appropriate research process to investigate a given question.
• Develop reliable operational definitions for latent concepts and variables.
• Apply systematic methods for data collection.
• Analyse data using basic quantitative techniques.

Attendance in this course is compulsory in line with standard rules for absence in practice courses (VUE). More detailed information on absenteeism will be explained in the first unit.

Students are required to attend the first constitutive session of the seminar.

The course relies on a mix of learning techniques including lectures and practical exercises within the modules. 

Overall course performance will be evaluated based on two components:
- Module(s) (50 %)
- A written essay at the end of the semester (50 %).

Grading / Notenschlüssel:

0-50%: Insufficient; 50.1-62.5% Sufficient; 62.6-75% Satisfactory; 75.1-87.5% Good; 87.6-100% Excellent

Academic Conduct

Plagiarism is a serious academic offense with serious consequences. Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else's ideas as your own, either verbatim or in your own words. Please familiarize yourself with the concept of plagiarism.

The use of AI is not permitted unless otherwise indicated

Requirements: Course language is English. As readings and slides are in English, students need at least good passive language skills to follow the course. Basic methodological knowledge is highly welcome but not required for this course.

Course enrollment is on the basis of "first-come, first-served” principle. If you have registered but cannot participate in the course, please de-register via LPIS during the registration period so that your course is available to students on the waiting list. If there is a waiting list for enrollment in the course, students at the waiting list will be notified after the end of the enrollment period, and will be allocated to available places. Students will be ranked by their study progress not by their rank on the waiting list. This procedure, however, is not to be understood as a place guarantee.

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