This course on qualitative and quantitative research methods will provide a general introduction about 1) methodological underpinnings of research methods 2) research designs 3) different forms of methods and field analysis 4) modelling and simulation and finally about 5) the combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches. The course focuses on differences and similarities in both methods. Moreover, we discuss quality assessment and possibilities of potential synthesis among different approaches in a fruitful manner.

On the one hand, students will get introduced into contemporary discourses on methods by carrying out and presenting literature reviews. On the other hand, they will experiment with some basic examples from field analysis and modelling/simulation (Computational Social Science), thereby building foundational knowledge for a further applied deepening in the winter term.

80% attendance of the class is required! If you miss a class, please inform us in advance!

Grading:

• Class participation (30%)

• Oral presentation (30%)

• Individual seminar paper reflecting on different methods (40%)

SEEP courses do not allow creation of assignments, exam answers or other assessed work using generative AI (e.g. ChatGPT).  All such work is expected to be the original work by the student concerned and is assessed as such.  Work copied from a generative AI source is equivalent to plagiarism and will be treated as such.