Universität Wien

400015 SE Experiments in the Social Sciences (2022S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 40 - Doktoratsstudium Sozialwissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

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. 15 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 08.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 1, Währinger Straße 29 1.UG
  • Tuesday 15.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 1, Währinger Straße 29 1.UG
  • Tuesday 22.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 10, Währinger Straße 29 2.OG
  • Tuesday 29.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 10, Währinger Straße 29 2.OG
  • Tuesday 05.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 10, Währinger Straße 29 2.OG
  • Tuesday 26.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 10, Währinger Straße 29 2.OG
  • Tuesday 03.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 10, Währinger Straße 29 2.OG
  • Tuesday 10.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 10, Währinger Straße 29 2.OG
  • Tuesday 17.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 10, Währinger Straße 29 2.OG
  • Tuesday 24.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 10, Währinger Straße 29 2.OG
  • Tuesday 31.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 10, Währinger Straße 29 2.OG
  • Tuesday 14.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 10, Währinger Straße 29 2.OG
  • Tuesday 21.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 10, Währinger Straße 29 2.OG
  • Tuesday 28.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 10, Währinger Straße 29 2.OG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The scientific experiment is a central way to advance knowledge in the empirical social sciences. By randomly assigning participants to experimental groups, experiments allow to make claims regarding causality. In short, if one is interested in understanding causality it makes much sense to conduct experiments. In this course we address the scientific experiment, how and when it can be used, what pitfalls to take into account, how to analyze data, and how to interpret results. We focus on statistical power, design of stimuli, and above all causality.

We will explore these topics by reading and discussing texts, through inputs by me, short summaries of the readings by you, running concrete analyses in R, and most of all in engaging with your work, your phd projects, and your individual perspectives. Throughout the semester, each student will give a short summary of one of the papers we discuss. Everyone is expected to participate actively in the discussions.

In the hands-on part of the seminar (Analyzing Experiments), we will analyze experiments using R -- a basic understanding of R is recommended. If R is new, I recommend reading introductory texts (https://r4ds.had.co.nz; https://github.com/jobreu/r-intro-gesis-2021, Day 1 and 2) or videos (e.g., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvKETZ6kr9Q).

1. Organisation
2. What is a scientific experiment in the social sciences
3. Analyzing Experiments: Theory
4. Causality
5. Analyzing Experiments: ANOVA
6. Analyzing Experiments: Regression
7. Analyzing Experiments: SEM
8. Designing Experiments: Set-up
9. Designing Experiments: Statistical Power
10. Reporting results
11. Open Space
12. Conclusion

Assessment and permitted materials

- Everyone participates actively in the course. Willingness and openness to take part in the discussion are a prerequisite.
- During the semester, everyone picks a text and gives a short summary (5 to 10 minutes).
- Essay at the end, in which the central personal insights of the course are presented. Also, how they can be used and transferred to the phd projects.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

- Active participation (25%)
- Presentation of text (25%)
- Essay (50%)

Examination topics

NA

Reading list

• Coleman, R. (2019). Designing experiments for the social sciences: How to plan, create, and execute research using experiments. SAGE Publications.
• Field, A. P., & Hole, G. (2003). How to design and report experiments. Sage publications Ltd.
• Gelman, A., Hill, J., & Vehtari, A. (2020). Regression and Other Stories (1st ed.). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781139161879
• Klimmt, C., & Weber, R. (2013). Das Experiment in der Kommunikationswissenschaft. In W. Möhring & D. Schlütz (Eds.), Handbuch standardisierte Erhebungsverfahren in der Kommunikationswissenschaft (pp. 125–144). Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-531-18776-1_7
• Koch, T., Peter, C., & Müller, P. (2019). Das Experiment in der Kommunikations- und Medienwissenschaft: Grundlagen, Durchführung und Auswertung experimenteller Forschung. Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-19754-4

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 21.03.2022 14:09