Search result: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2018

Public Policy Bachelor Information
Bachelor Studies (Programme Regulations 2018)
1. Semester
Remaining Core Courses of the Bachelor Programme
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
853-0205-00LProseminar I: Political Methodology Restricted registration - show details
Only for Public Policy BA
O3 credits2SD. Kolcava, M. Wicki
AbstractTeaching of formal requirements of scientific work (philosophy of science with a focus on the social sciences); literature reviews and the basics of conducting independent research on short as well as simple topics; basics of conceptualizing research designs for politically relevant questions and hypotheses.
Learning objective1) Understanding the goal and the basic procedures of (empirical social sciences) scientific work (philosophy of science, theory building, research design, as well as the correct employment of sources, data and literature).
2) Identification of relevant research questions.
3) Creating a common basis for a thorough and systematic analysis of these.
ContentPolitical Methodology I seeks to introduce students to the basics of scientific work and procedures in the social sciences, which in turn shall allow them - also in conjunction with Political Methodology II - to conduct work that fulfills satisfactory standards of research quality throughout their further studies.
With regard to Political Methodology I, this seminar primarily focuses on the philosophy and theory of (empirical social) sciences, its structure, and procedures. The seminar emphasizes substantive contents and ways of presenting them, research and, conceptual work. Additionally, it deals with the basis of establishing research designs with politically relevant questions and hypotheses.
LiteratureBehnke, Joachim und Nathalie Behnke. 2006. Grundlagen der statistischen Datenanalyse -- Eine Einführung für Politikwissenschaftler. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag.
Diekmann, Andreas. 2007. Empirische Sozialforschung - Grundlagen, Methoden, Anwendungen. Reinbek: Rowohlts Taschenbuch Verlag.
Maier, Michaela und Hans Rattinger. 1999. Methoden der sozialwissenschaftlichen Datenanalyse. München/Wien: Oldenbourg Verlag.
Plümper, Thomas. 2008. Effizient Schreiben. München/Wien: Oldenbourg Verlag.
Schnell, Rainer, Paul B. Hill und Elke Esser. 2008. Methoden der empirischen Sozialforschung. München/Wien: Oldenbourg Verlag.
Prerequisites / NoticeEach student will be graded by two exercises (50% each).

1) Source analysis and acquisition: based upon a research question that will be given by the lecturer, the student shall collect a comprehensive list of the relevant literature and summarize that with her/his own words.

2) Critical analysis of sources: based upon a research article that the student chooses on her/his own, the student shall write a critical analysis of that, which mirrors frame and structure of scientific writing

Submission dates will be communicated in the first meeting.
853-0064-00LMilitary Sociology IO3 credits2VA. Rinaldo, O. Schneider
AbstractBeside of the most important terms of sociology, demographic changes and the related value and structure change will be analysed. The second part focuses on organizational sociology. Thirdly, the course examines to which extent armed forces can be considered as organizations like any other and to which extent they constitute a special case from an organizational and normative point of view.
Learning objectiveRecognize and explain current changes (social change) in modern society (individualisation, pluralisation); describe demographic changes in Switzerland; explain the structures of societies; define issues and fields of research in modern military sociology and explain the foundations of organisational sociology; explain the military in terms of organisational sociology and identify specific traits of the military as an organisation.
ContentSocietal change; organizations as societal phenomena; aims, structures, environments of organizations; specifics of the military as an organization; impacts of technological and societal changes on the armed forces in modern societies.
LiteratureA reader with a set of texts will be handed out.
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