230148 SE Social Science Methods for STS Research (2016W)
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
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).
- Registration is open from We 07.09.2016 09:00 to Su 25.09.2016 23:59
- Deregistration possible until Su 23.10.2016 23:59
Details
max. 25 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
Monday
03.10.
12:00 - 13:30
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
(Kickoff Class)
Monday
03.10.
14:30 - 16:30
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Monday
10.10.
14:30 - 16:30
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Monday
17.10.
14:30 - 16:30
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Monday
24.10.
14:30 - 16:30
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Monday
31.10.
14:30 - 16:30
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Monday
07.11.
13:30 - 16:30
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Monday
14.11.
14:30 - 16:30
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Monday
21.11.
14:30 - 16:30
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Monday
28.11.
14:30 - 16:30
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Monday
05.12.
14:30 - 16:30
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Monday
12.12.
13:30 - 16:30
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Monday
09.01.
14:30 - 16:30
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Monday
16.01.
14:30 - 16:30
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Monday
30.01.
13:00 - 16:30
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Tuesday
31.01.
09:30 - 13:00
Seminarraum STS, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/6. Stock, 1010 Wien
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Assessment and permitted materials
To pass the seminar, students are expected to complete the following tasks:
- Read and discuss the required readings, participate in the in-class activities
- Complete the in-class assignments in the research studios
- Gather practical experiences by doing and transcribing one qualitative interview
- Prove their knowledge of the discussed methods and their ability to apply it to specific questions in a written test
- Apply the methods to the four cases discussed across the introductory courses, and develop a research exposé in their case group
- Adhere to the general standards of good academic practiceFieldwork practice
Each student will plan, conduct and transcribe one qualitative interview. The general topic for the interviews is 'everyday experiences with technologies and scientific knowledge'. Within this broader topic, students are expected to pick an area of particular interest to them.
After choosing a topic, students will construct a research question for their project. The question should be answerable, or at least addressable, by doing one qualitative interview. Then, students will (a) develop an interview guideline related to the interview question and (b) sketch the profile of a person which might be an interesting interview partner. In doing so, first decide the general format of the interview (narrative, semi-structured, problem-centered….) and then develop specific questions in relation to your research interest. Document which questions you chose, why, and what you would like to learn by asking them.
In a next step, find a suitable interview partner. Students are strongly advised not to interview fellow students, close friends or relatives. The interview can be done in English or German.
Conduct and record the interview. Recording can be done with most current smartphones or tablets, or a dedicated digital recording device. Please note that voice recorders for student use are available from the teaching assistants. The interview should be between 45 and 60 minutes.
Do a verbatim transcription of the entire interview (max. 60 minutes; if the interview is longer you may skip segments you find less interesting). For our purposes, it is sufficient to transcribe all that has been said into written language. Tracking pauses and overlaps is not necessary, nor is phonetic transcription.
Until 13th January 2016, students will hand in the full transcript as well as a 6-10 page report about their fieldwork experiences. The report is expected to document students’ fieldwork process, from their reasons for the initial choice of topic, over the development of the questionnaire to their experience in doing and transcribing the interview. It must include the actual questionnaire used. In conclusion, reflect what you have learnt in this exercise, also in relation and maybe addition to the literature on research methods we read and discuss in class.Test
On 20th January 2016, there will be a written test to assess students’ knowledge of the topics discussed in the course, and their ability to apply the acquired knowledge to specific research questions and settings. Test questions will relate to the mandatory literature and the lecturers’ presentations and slides. There will be shorter more factual questions as well as longer questions for which students are expected to discuss concepts and methods learned in the course, or to apply them to specific empirical settings. The questions will only focus on the general methodological argumentation of the texts read, never on the empirical examples they use. For this test, students are not allowed to use any reference material other than a paper English language dictionary.Research Exposé
For details of this assignment, please see the handout 'case based learning approach'. Deadline for submitting the research exposé via Moodle: 22nd January 2016, 23:55.
- Read and discuss the required readings, participate in the in-class activities
- Complete the in-class assignments in the research studios
- Gather practical experiences by doing and transcribing one qualitative interview
- Prove their knowledge of the discussed methods and their ability to apply it to specific questions in a written test
- Apply the methods to the four cases discussed across the introductory courses, and develop a research exposé in their case group
- Adhere to the general standards of good academic practiceFieldwork practice
Each student will plan, conduct and transcribe one qualitative interview. The general topic for the interviews is 'everyday experiences with technologies and scientific knowledge'. Within this broader topic, students are expected to pick an area of particular interest to them.
After choosing a topic, students will construct a research question for their project. The question should be answerable, or at least addressable, by doing one qualitative interview. Then, students will (a) develop an interview guideline related to the interview question and (b) sketch the profile of a person which might be an interesting interview partner. In doing so, first decide the general format of the interview (narrative, semi-structured, problem-centered….) and then develop specific questions in relation to your research interest. Document which questions you chose, why, and what you would like to learn by asking them.
In a next step, find a suitable interview partner. Students are strongly advised not to interview fellow students, close friends or relatives. The interview can be done in English or German.
Conduct and record the interview. Recording can be done with most current smartphones or tablets, or a dedicated digital recording device. Please note that voice recorders for student use are available from the teaching assistants. The interview should be between 45 and 60 minutes.
Do a verbatim transcription of the entire interview (max. 60 minutes; if the interview is longer you may skip segments you find less interesting). For our purposes, it is sufficient to transcribe all that has been said into written language. Tracking pauses and overlaps is not necessary, nor is phonetic transcription.
Until 13th January 2016, students will hand in the full transcript as well as a 6-10 page report about their fieldwork experiences. The report is expected to document students’ fieldwork process, from their reasons for the initial choice of topic, over the development of the questionnaire to their experience in doing and transcribing the interview. It must include the actual questionnaire used. In conclusion, reflect what you have learnt in this exercise, also in relation and maybe addition to the literature on research methods we read and discuss in class.Test
On 20th January 2016, there will be a written test to assess students’ knowledge of the topics discussed in the course, and their ability to apply the acquired knowledge to specific research questions and settings. Test questions will relate to the mandatory literature and the lecturers’ presentations and slides. There will be shorter more factual questions as well as longer questions for which students are expected to discuss concepts and methods learned in the course, or to apply them to specific empirical settings. The questions will only focus on the general methodological argumentation of the texts read, never on the empirical examples they use. For this test, students are not allowed to use any reference material other than a paper English language dictionary.Research Exposé
For details of this assignment, please see the handout 'case based learning approach'. Deadline for submitting the research exposé via Moodle: 22nd January 2016, 23:55.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Grading Scheme
The grading scheme is based on a total of 100 points. These points will be awarded in relation to students’ performance in meeting the course learning aims in the different obligatory tasks.
The maximum number of points to be acquired for each task is:
Test: 30 points, assessed individually
Research studio assignments: 10 points, assessed as group work
Fieldwork practice: 20 points, assessed individually
Written and oral presentation of the Research Exposé: 30 points (20 result, 10 process), assessed as group work
In class participation: 10 points, assessed individuallyMinimum requirements
A minimum of 50 points is necessary to successfully complete the course. Failure to meet the attendance regulations, to deliver course assignments on time or to adhere to standards of academic work may result in a deduction of points.Delays and formal issues
Every time a student misses a deadline 5 points will be deducted from their individual account. The only exception to this rule is if there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfill the task on time on the student's side. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner.
After missing a deadline, the lecturer will set a second deadline for handing in the assignment. If this second deadline is again not met, the course may be graded as a 'fail' (5).
Each paper which is handed in with major formal shortcomings or to the formal requirements sketched above, will result in 5 points being deducted from the student’s account. For group work, the same penalties will apply to each member of the respective group.Grades
100-87 points: Excellent (1)
86-75 points: Good (2)
74-63 points: Satisfactory (3)
62-50 points: Sufficient (4)
49-0 points: Unsatisfactory (5) (fail)Attendance
Presence and participation is compulsory. Absences of four hours at maximum are tolerated, provided that the lecturer is informed about the absence. Absences of up to eight hours in total may be compensated by either a deduction of grading points or/and extra work agreed with the lecturer. Whether compensation is possible is decided by the lecturer.
Absences of more than eight hours in total cannot be compensated. In this case, or if the lecturer does not allow a student to compensate absences of more than four hours, the course cannot be completed and is graded as a ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfil the attendance requirements on the student’s side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.Important Grading Information
If not explicitly noted otherwise, all requirements mentioned in the grading scheme and the attendance regulations must be met. If a required task is not fulfilled, this will be considered as a discontinuation of the course. In that case, the course will be graded as ‘fail’, unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfill the task on the student's side. In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.
If any requirement of the course has been fulfilled by fraudulent means, be it for example by cheating at an exam, plagiarizing parts of a written assignment or by faking signatures on an attendance sheet, the student's participation in the course will be discontinued, the entire course will be graded as ‘not assessed’ and will be entered into the electronic exam record as ‘fraudulently obtained’. Self-plagiarism, particularly re-using own work handed in for other courses, will be treated likewise.
The grading scheme is based on a total of 100 points. These points will be awarded in relation to students’ performance in meeting the course learning aims in the different obligatory tasks.
The maximum number of points to be acquired for each task is:
Test: 30 points, assessed individually
Research studio assignments: 10 points, assessed as group work
Fieldwork practice: 20 points, assessed individually
Written and oral presentation of the Research Exposé: 30 points (20 result, 10 process), assessed as group work
In class participation: 10 points, assessed individuallyMinimum requirements
A minimum of 50 points is necessary to successfully complete the course. Failure to meet the attendance regulations, to deliver course assignments on time or to adhere to standards of academic work may result in a deduction of points.Delays and formal issues
Every time a student misses a deadline 5 points will be deducted from their individual account. The only exception to this rule is if there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfill the task on time on the student's side. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner.
After missing a deadline, the lecturer will set a second deadline for handing in the assignment. If this second deadline is again not met, the course may be graded as a 'fail' (5).
Each paper which is handed in with major formal shortcomings or to the formal requirements sketched above, will result in 5 points being deducted from the student’s account. For group work, the same penalties will apply to each member of the respective group.Grades
100-87 points: Excellent (1)
86-75 points: Good (2)
74-63 points: Satisfactory (3)
62-50 points: Sufficient (4)
49-0 points: Unsatisfactory (5) (fail)Attendance
Presence and participation is compulsory. Absences of four hours at maximum are tolerated, provided that the lecturer is informed about the absence. Absences of up to eight hours in total may be compensated by either a deduction of grading points or/and extra work agreed with the lecturer. Whether compensation is possible is decided by the lecturer.
Absences of more than eight hours in total cannot be compensated. In this case, or if the lecturer does not allow a student to compensate absences of more than four hours, the course cannot be completed and is graded as a ‘fail’ (5), unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfil the attendance requirements on the student’s side (e.g. a longer illness). In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence to their claims if necessary. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.Important Grading Information
If not explicitly noted otherwise, all requirements mentioned in the grading scheme and the attendance regulations must be met. If a required task is not fulfilled, this will be considered as a discontinuation of the course. In that case, the course will be graded as ‘fail’, unless there is a major and unpredictable reason for not being able to fulfill the task on the student's side. In such a case, the student may be de-registered from the course without grading. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate this in a timely manner, and to provide relevant evidence. Whether this exception applies is decided by the lecturer.
If any requirement of the course has been fulfilled by fraudulent means, be it for example by cheating at an exam, plagiarizing parts of a written assignment or by faking signatures on an attendance sheet, the student's participation in the course will be discontinued, the entire course will be graded as ‘not assessed’ and will be entered into the electronic exam record as ‘fraudulently obtained’. Self-plagiarism, particularly re-using own work handed in for other courses, will be treated likewise.
Examination topics
Reading list
Association in the course directory
Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:39
- to acquire basic knowledge of the most common (qualitative) social science research methods
- to be able to read and summarize methods texts
- to read and discuss how STS researchers have employed these methods
- to be able to ask first simple research questions and to pick methods suitable to answer them
- to gather first practical experiences in applying social science research methods
- to understand why reflexivity in using and developing methods is of key importance particularly to STS researchers