Category Archives: Research Design

8th International Research Workshop “Methods for PhD” near Flensburg, September 28-October 3, 2014

Empirical research is seeking through methodological processes to discover, hopefully, nontrivial facts and insights. Beside choosing a topic and grounding an idea in theory, empirical research consists of gathering and analysing data as well as presenting results in scientific contexts in order to contribute new issues to the body of acquired knowledge – not only to someone‘s own but also to that of others.

Our workshop tackles these steps of your research project:

  • Gathering data via (un)structured interviews and analysing standardized survey data,
  • using the computer for qualitative and quantitative data analysis.

These steps will strengthen the cooperation in empirical research to boost and streamline ones project.

The regular workshop fee is 399 Euro (including meals and accommodation). The workshop fee is 249 Euro without accomodation at Sankelmark (only meals are included).

It is possible to get a certificate on 5 credit points (according to the European Credit Transfer System).

In detail the following courses will be offered:

Parallel Courses in the morning (September 28-October 1):

  • Data Analysis with R
  • Data Analysis with Stata
  • Qualitative Research Methodology and Design Strategy
  • Expert Interviews
  • Introduction to German Data Sets

Parallel Courses in the afternoon (September 28-October 1):

  • Spatial and Panel Econometrics
  • Questionnaire Design
  • Qualitative Compartive Analysis (QCA) and Fuzzy Sets
  • Structural Equation Modelling with R
  • Case Study Research

Parallel Courses at the SDU (October 2):

  • Introduction to MaxQDA
  • Network Analysis
  • Mixed Methods
  • Academic Writing
  • Theoretical and Applied Aspects of Survey Sampling

PLEASE notice that every course has just a certain amount of participants!

For further information, especially lecturers & program, organizers and registration visit our website.

For any questions don’t hesitate to contact the workshop committee.

The International Research Workshop is organised by

  • Prof. Dr. Wenzel Matiaske, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Helmut-Schmidt-University/University of Federal Armed Forces and Research Professor at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin)
  • Asst. Prof. Dr. Simon Fietze, Department of Border Region Studies, University of Southern Denmark, Campus Sønderborg
  • Dr. Heiko Stüber, Institute for Employment Research (IAB), The Research Institute of the Federal Employment Agency in Nuremberg

The workshop is supported by

  • Vidensregion/Wissensregion Syddanmark * Schleswig-Holstein (Interreg 4A)
  • University of Flensburg
  • University of Hamburg, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences
  • University of Hamburg, School of Business
  • Leuphana University Lüneburg, Faculty of Economics
  • GESIS – Leibniz Institute of the Social Sciences
  • Werkstatt für Personal- und Organisationsforschung e.V.
  • German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) at the DIW Berlin

Mixed Methods

Institution: see Organisers & Acknowledgements

Programme of study: International Research Workshop

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Udo Kelle & Dr. Elke Goltz (Helmut-Schmidt-University/University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg)

Date: Thursday, 02/10/14 from 09.30-18.00 h

Max. number of participants: 22

Credit Points: 5 CP for participating in the whole IRWS

Language of instruction: English

Contents:

The course will give an overview about current debates regarding the integration of qualitative and quantitative methods in social research and about the most important (agreed-upon and contested) issues in the field. We will discuss different forms of mixed methods, reasons for using such designs and criteria for the assessment of the quality of designs and findings from mixed methods studies. Since mixed methods designs are used to compensate for specific limitations of qualitative or quantitative (mono)methods special emphasis is laid on problems of qualitative and quantitative research –problems of operationalization and measurement, problems of statistical inference, of generalizability and sampling, of (causal) explanation, theory testing and theory generation, both in qualitative and quantitative research. We will demonstrate how such problems can be detected and dealt with in a mixed methods design. Finally, it will be shown how qualitative and quantitative findings from a mixed methods study can be meaningfully integrated and how convergent, contradictory and complementary findings can be dealt with.

Required basic knowledge: Basic knowledge and skills in social research methods and methodology (qualitative and quantitative) equivalent to the level of a Bachelor degree in a Social Science discipline

You have to register for the 8th International Research Workshop to participate in this course.

Case Study Research

Institution: see Organisers & Acknowledgements

Programme of study: International Research Workshop

Lecturer: Dr. Kamil Marcinkiewicz (University of Hamburg)

Date: Monday, 29/09/14 – Wednesday, 01/10/14 from 14.30-18.00 h

Max. number of participants: 20

Credit Points: 5 CP for participating in the whole IRWS

Language of instruction: English

Contents:

The case study research is frequently applied in the social sciences. It is particularly popular among political scientists, especially those specializing in area studies. The ubiquity of the case study research contrasts with the scarcity of theoretical reflection on its core methodological aspects. Also the benefits of comparative analyses are often underestimated. In this course participants will have an opportunity to learn more about what the case study research is, what are its weakness and strengths and how should we go about the core question in designing a case study: selection of cases. The course combines lectures with practical exercises and discussion of students’ projects.

Recommended literature and pre-readings:

  • Gerring, J. (2007). Case Study Research: Principles and Practices (pp. 17-63). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • George, A. L., & Bennett, A. (2005). Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences (pp. 1-34). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
  • Rueschemeyer, D. (2003). Can One or a Few Cases Yield Theoretical Gains? In J. Mahoney and D. Rueschemeyer (Eds.), Comparative Historical Analysis in the Social Sciences (pp. 305-337) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Hall, P.A. (2008). Systematic Process Analysis: When and How to Use it. European Political Science, 7(3), 304-317.

You have to register for the 8th International Research Workshop to participate in this course.

Weiterbildung: How to Design a Mixed Methods Research with Validity

The workshop will take place from 9:00 a.m. till 1 p.m., on Wednesday, 19th of March 2014 in Aula at Helmut-Schmidt-University / University of the Federal Armed Forces of Germany (Hamburg)

The primary purpose of this workshop is to introduce workshop attendees to mixed methods research (MMR). An emphasis will be placed on high quality design and validity issues in mixed methods research.  A secondary purpose is to discuss with workshop attendees how mixed methods research can be used to address their research interests and research questions.

Dr. Burke Johnson will briefly cover the following topics, but he will emphasize research design and validity issues:

  • Introduction and definitions of MMR
  • Intellectual history of MMR
  • Philosophies and paradigms in MMR
  • Three major types of MMR: Quantitatively driven, qualitatively driven, and interactive MMR
  • Research questions
  • Major methods of data collection in empirical research
  • Major research methods in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research
  • Sampling methods in MMR
  • Validity or legitimation design in MMR
  • How to determine the dimensions for designing an MMR research study
  • Data analysis in MMR
  • Report writing and publishing in MMR.

Please find further information on the course and application on this website.