This course introduces sociological thinking and research. It covers social theory, methodology, empirical and analytical research methods and selected examples of sociological research. The aim is to learn fundamental problems in the social sciences and how they are addressed.
Objective
The students of this course should learn to understand selected fundamental problems in the social sciences and how these problems are addressed with laboratory experiments, field experiments, surveys, analytical models and simulation approaches. Students are expected to address one selected research problem by identifying the key literature and developing a research plan. This research plan is presented in a talk and submitted as a written report.
Content
The social sciences aim at describing and explaining social phenomena. The aggregation of micromotives to macrobehavior plays a crucial role in understanding the complexities of social systems. The course presents core problems and phenomena in the social sciences, such as decision making, group dynamics, social norms, signaling theory, migration, social networks, crowd behavior, crime and conflict and teaches how these problems are addressed with appropriate methodologies.
Literature
Coleman, J. S. (1990), Foundations of social theory, The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge; London.
Schelling, T. C. (1978), Micromotives and macrobehavior, Norton, New York.
Further references will be given in the lecture.
Performance assessment
Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Repetition possible without re-enrolling for the course unit.
Admission requirement
Active participation in the course.
Additional information on mode of examination
Students can (a) either address one selected research problem by identifying the key literature and developing a short research plan or (b) conduct an empirical or computer-based project. The empirical project would involve data collection, the computer-based project the generation of simulation code to study the behavior of certain mathematical models. For both alternatives, students are expected to give a talk and submit a written report.
Learning materials
No public learning materials available.
Only public learning materials are listed.
Groups
No information on groups available.
Restrictions
There are no additional restrictions for the registration.