Teaching
Empirical social research is fascinating because it allows direct contact with people and often leads to surprising findings. This professorship, together with the Professorship for Methods of Political Science, offers a wide range of topics on quantitative methods for students from bachelor to doctoral level. It is important to us that in addition to a comprehensive understanding of empirical social research methods, students acquire practical skills in data collection and evaluation during the course of their studies.
We especially welcome final projects that use empirical data analysis to cover a research topic. These generally take the form of theory-based, secondary analysis of representative survey data that takes the current state of research into account. In exceptional cases, students may be allowed to conduct their own survey as part of a final project if the research subject matter requires it. We are flexible with regard final project topics; however, they must be approved by the first examiner.
You must successfully complete a follow-up seminar (BA), or a basic or specialization module (MA) with a term paper for final projects to be accepted by an advisor or co-advisor. These seminars provide inspiration for topics, detailed information about conducting empirical analysis, and an opportunity to present and discuss findings.
Please bring a 2-page expose to office hours for preliminary discussion of the topic.The expose should include the provisional title (and your name), the most relevant questions, ideas about the data basis and analytic methods, and a bibliography with the most relevant literature. The expose serves as a basis for discussion. It doesn’t have to be exhaustive and may significantly change during the work process.