Selected Topics on Scientific and Empirical Methods

Introduction and consolidation

A generally valid description of the acquired competences for the semester abroad cannot and should not be defined due to the large number of partner universities and the choices they offer, in order to guarantee freedom for students. The learning out-comes are based on the fundamentals and in-depth knowledge of the individual disciplines in the field of scientific and empirical methods. The national credits are converted individually into ECTS points corresponding to performance where appropriate.

As an example, the students have acquired the following competences:

The students are able to:
• Describe and apply relevant quantitative and qualitative scientific methods in the subject area
• Display and independently apply tools and methods to support data collection and analysis.
• Illustrate and critically reflect on results in a comprehensible way

Scientific and Empirical Methods (WIS.1)

Due to the large number of partner universities and the choice of scientific and empirical methods they offer, a generally valid description of the course content for the semester abroad cannot and should not be defined in order to guarantee students freedom of choice. The content of the courses is oriented towards the fundamentals and in-depth knowledge of the individual disciplines in the field of scientific and empirical methods.

As an example, this module has the following course contents:

• Qualitative and quantitative scientific methods:
o Questionnaire
o Interview
o Qualitative and quantitative content analysis
o Field and laboratory study (focus experiment, A/B test and simulation)
• Tools and examples:
o Data collection
o Data analysis
o Visualization of results
• Description and critical reflection of results

A generally valid description of the course content for the semester abroad cannot and should not be defined due to the large number of partner universities and the choices they offer, in order to guarantee freedom for students. Depending on the course content of the semester abroad at the partner universities, correspondingly adapted specialist literature is required.

As an example, this module is based on the following specialist literature:

• Bortz, J. und N. Döring, 2006. Forschungsmethoden und Evaluation. Berlin: Springer
• Flick, U., E. Kardorff und I. Steinke, 2007. Qualitative Forschung. Rowohlts Enzyklopädie
• Lamnek, S., 2010. Qualitative Sozialforschung. Berlin: Beltz
• Przyborski, A. und M. Wohlrab-Sahr, 2010: Qualitative Sozialforschung. München: Oldenbourg

Students are subject to the respective examination modalities of the partner university.

German

5

0

0.0

The respective partner university determines the teaching methods.

3

Asc. Prof. (FH) Dipl.-Ing. Christian Huber

2

WIS.2

integrated lecture

Compulsory

none