This course offers the applied part to the introductory course on empirical social research. The course is designed to assist students in deepening their knowledge and skills acquired in the lecture.

In this course, students will learn the essentials of social research and discuss a selection of both qualitative and quantitative methods frequently used in empirical social research. Several strengths and weaknesses of these quantitative and qualitative research technologies will be discussed. Inter alia, the course will answer the following questions: How can we measure (unobservable) social phenomena? What happens if measurement error occurs? Which research designs exist? Which method is applied best to which settings? When does a research design (not) allow for valid inferences? What is the relationship between theory and empirical research?

These and more questions will be discussed at the example of experimental research, survey research, or regression analysis using observational data. The focus of this course lies in developping a critical point of view regarding the choice of research design.

After successfully participating at this course, students will have a basic overview of different empirical research methods in social sciences. As a consequence, students will be able to understand empirical research articles better and suggest how to best address a research question. This course also aims to foster critical thinking such that students learn to evaluate empirical research and their validity. 

In brief, students will acquire the skills needed to

• distinguish different empirical research methods used in social research,
• understand the scope of quantitative research methods, and
• evaluate the methodological approach of contemporary research articles.

In line with standard rules for absence in practice courses (VUE), attendance in at least 70% of the announced course units is required. Options to compensate for absences exceeding 30 % are not provided.

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