Universität Wien

210131 SE M11: FOP Research Practice (2021W)

Representation and Inequality

12.00 ECTS (4.00 SWS), SPL 21 - Politikwissenschaft
Continuous assessment of course work
ON-SITE

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Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 35 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 05.10. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Tuesday 12.10. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Tuesday 19.10. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Tuesday 09.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Tuesday 16.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Tuesday 23.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Tuesday 30.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Tuesday 07.12. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Tuesday 14.12. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Tuesday 11.01. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Tuesday 18.01. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Tuesday 25.01. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Modern democracy today is fundamentally representative democracy. A set of representatives is chosen through elections where citizens can select representatives based on their past performance, their policy promises and their leadership capabilities. The centrality of elections to modern democracy has led researchers and practitioners to focus on these events as the fundamental determinant of representation. Thereby, the equality of representation is central for a high quality of representation, in the sense that all citizens’ views are equally represented. However, various forms of inequality in representation exist throughout modern democracies, such as economic, gender, or social inequality, which could lead to Politikverdrossenheit amongst voters.
In this research practice seminar we will thus deal with representation and inequality. How do citizens get represented? Are there inequalities in representation? If so, on which dimensions? And which consequences do they have on the citizens’ evaluation of the quality of democracy?
These questions will lead us through the research practice seminar. Students should develop an own research proposal in this research area and search for empirical data that allow answering their research questions. This can be done by either using secondary data (e.g., European Social Survey, various National Election Studies) or developing and implementing new research instruments (e.g., online survey, text analysis of party programmes or news media reporting).
The goals of the research practice seminar are threefold. First, students become acquainted with theories and recent research on representation and inequality. Second, they learn how to develop a research proposal. Third, student become familiarized with empirical research methods in political science, both with regards to data collection and data analyses. They can then be applied to their own research proposal.

Assessment and permitted materials

• Attendance and active collaboration in class
• Presentation of readings during classes
• Presentation of two research outlines during class and acting as discussant on other students’ research outlines
• Developing an online survey on a research question on representation
• Conducting empirical data analysis on a topic related to representation in form of a blog post
• Seminar Paper (4.000 to 5.000 words excluding the references list)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

• Attendance and active collaboration in class (10%)
• Presentation of readings during classes (10%)
• Presentation of two research outlines during class and acting as discussant on other students’ research outlines (20%)
• Developing an online survey on a research question on representation (15%)
• Conducting empirical data analysis on a topic related to representation in form of a blog post (15%)
• Seminar Paper (4.000 to 5.000 words excluding the references list till March 31, 2022) (30%)
Please note: In order to complete the seminar with a positive grade students have to pass all seminar parts with a positive assessment.

Examination topics

Reading list

Will be announced in the first unit.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 18.10.2021 14:08