150163 SE Bachelor's Colloquium (M8) (2022S)

The Bachelor's Colloquium aims to support students in identifying a suitable research topic for a Bachelor’s thesis, addressing knowledge gaps, formulating scientifically relevant research questions, selecting an appropriate methodology, theoretical apparatus, and source materials, and writing the thesis. It is also intended as a peer-support forum where participants assist each other in shaping the research process and critically review each other’s work-in-progress under the guidance of the course leader. It is recommended that students choose a topic or disciplinary area they have already familiarized themselves with during their degree programme (e.g., as part of a seminar). The course is practically-oriented and student-focused, thus active participation is essential for the successful achievement of its learning outcomes.

The first part of the colloquium focuses on how to identify a suitable topic, formulate a research question, situate the question in the current state of research, undertake a literature review, find and correctly reference appropriate sources, and evaluate, select, and apply suitable theories and methods. The main part is dedicated to the presentation, discussion, and peer-review of individual research projects. The final part consists of one-to-one consultations with the course leader to receive feedback on the exposé and seek advice on outstanding questions before proceeding to write and submit the thesis.

Participants will be required to give presentations in order to track progress and receive regular feedback throughout the process of research design and implementation, and to act as discussants/peer-reviewers of the work of other participants.

Sessions will be conducted mostly in English, but students are free to write the exposé and the thesis in their preferred working language (English or German).