Universität Kassel: Moodle-18-21

Methodology for social research today carries specific demands. Since social processes have become more global and complex, we need innovative methods to analyze and understand social reality. The division of quantitative and qualitative methods is no longer suitable for a comprehensive grasp of social relationships. Nonetheless, there is a pressing need to look deeper into social phenomena that influence the reality of people around the globe. It demands the use of qualitative approaches to unveil, understand and deliver in-depth analyses of people’s experiences, expectations and the way individuals and groups value their social realities.

The course introduces and explores the most common method of data collection used in qualitative research: interviews. The overall aim of this course is to discuss the characteristics of different types of qualitative interviews and to focus on issues regarding interviewing in practice. The students will also learn how to define and justify the selection of interview types and how to design their own methodologically coherent research strategy. Based on the theoretical part of the class, the students will form working groups and are expected to carry out their own qualitative research.

Students participating in this seminar are encouraged to apply for a research scholarship (up to 1,500€) in order to conduct their own empirical research projects (individually or in groups).

Ablage Arbeitsmaterial Seminar.