Course Information

Course Code: SOZ732006 (MA Soz7a)
Schedule: Thursdays 14:00–18:00 (Double sessions)
Location: Room O.13.15
Institution: Bergische Universität Wuppertal
Semester: Summer 2024
Instructor: Dr. Timur Ergen (ergen@uni-wuppertal.de)

This seminar belongs to Module 7 of the Master of Sociology program. It teaches practical skills and reflective knowledge useful for conducting independent social science research projects. The course combines findings from interdisciplinary science research with philosophical and sociological questions. A key focus is the question of how productive sociological research problems are constituted and how they can be developed.

The seminar addresses key questions about what constitutes scientific progress and scientific facts, how scientific procedures are constituted in different disciplines, the selection of research objects and consequences for generating new knowledge, and the writing, revision, and publication process in the social sciences.

Required Book: Krause, M., 2021. Model Cases. On canonical research objects and sites. University of Chicago Press.

Course Materials
  • Complete Syllabus — Full course syllabus with detailed information and requirements

Assessment

Students are expected to participate regularly and orally in class sessions and create six memos (approximately 700 words each). Memos 1–4 summarize texts on topics (1) Progress, (2) Creativity, (3) Stylized Facts & (4) Model Cases in concise and precise form. Focus should be on: a) theoretical foundations, b) data and methods used, c) central findings and d) connections to previously read texts.

These four session memos are due Tuesday evening at 8:00 PM in the week of the respective session. Memo 5 develops a research problem by June 20, 2024. Memo 6 discusses opportunities, limits and problems in developing Memo 5 with Large Language Models (LLMs). Memo 6 is due Tuesday of the 7th session week.

Memos are graded on a scale of 1–3: 1 = tasks carefully completed; 2 = errors or significant gaps exist; 3 = insufficient, memo failed. Two of the six memos can be revised if failed.

Memo Submission Overview:

  1. May 14 (Scientific Progress)
  2. May 14 (Scientific Creativity)
  3. June 11 (Stylized Facts)
  4. July 2 (Model Cases)
  5. June 20 (Research Problem)
  6. July 16 (LLMs)

Oral Examination: 30-minute oral examinations covering all sessions of MA Soz 7a. Exam dates announced during summer semester 2024. Registration required with ZPA.

Session 1: Einführung

April 11, 2024, 14:00–16:00

Introduction to the seminar structure and requirements.

Session 2: Workflow Tools

April 18, 2024

Required Reading:

  • Healy, K., 2020. The Plain Person’s Guide to Plain-Text Social Science. Working Paper.

Session 3: Question- & Problem-Finding in der Soziologie

April 25, 2024, 14:15–18:00

The course meets at 14:15 for a session from MA 7b, followed by an individual session for MA 7a.

Required Readings:

  • Merton, R., 1959. Introduction: Notes on Problem-Finding in Sociology. S. IX-XXXIV in R. Merton, L. Broom & L Cottrell, Jr. (Hg.), Sociology Today: Problems and Prospects. Basic Books.
  • Tilly, C., 2006. Selecting a Dissertation Topic: Range and Scope. Presentation prepared by Sina Mossayeb.
  • Mears, A., 2017. Puzzling in Sociology: On Doing and Undoing Theoretical Puzzles. Sociological Theory 35, 2, 138–146.

Session 4: Wissenschaftlicher Fortschritt & Wissenschaftliche Kreativität

May 16, 2024, 14:00–18:00

Wissenschaftlicher Fortschritt:

  • Kuhn, T. S., 2002. The Road Since Structure. Philosophical Essays, 1970-1993. Chicago University Press (Kap. 1 & 4).
  • Abbott, A., 2016. Structure as Cited, Structure as Read. S. 167–181 in L. Daston & R. Richards (Hg.), Kuhn’s ‘Structure of Scientific Revolutions’ at Fifty: Reflections on a Science Classic. Chicago University Press. (Video recording: https://vimeo.com/74726577).

Wissenschaftliche Kreativität:

  • Simonton, D. K., 2004. Creativity in Science. Change, Logic, Genius, and Zeitgeist. Cambridge University Press, S. 40–52.
  • Heinze, T., 2012. Was sind kreative Forschungsleistungen? Konzeptuelle Überlegungen, Beispiele aus der Wissenschaftsgeschichte und bibliometrische Befunde. Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie 64, 583–599.

Session 5: Stilisierte Fakten & Modellfälle I

June 13, 2024, 14:00–18:00

Stilisierte Fakten:

  • Hirschman, D., 2016. Stylized Facts in the Social Sciences. Sociological Science 3: 604–626.

Modellfälle und kanonische Forschungsgegenstände I:

  • Krause, M.. 2021. Model Cases. On Canonical Research Objects and Sites. University of Chicago Press, Intro & Kap. 1–3 (S. 1–68).

Session 6: Modellfälle II & Experimentelle Forschungslogiken in Nachbardisziplinen

July 4, 2024, 14:00–18:00

Modellfälle und kanonische Forschungsgegenstände II:

  • Krause, M., 2021. Model Cases. On Canonical Research Objects and Sites. University of Chicago Press, Kap. 4–5 & Conclusion (S. 69–128).

Experimentelle Forschungslogiken in Nachbardisziplinen:

  • Angrist, J.D. & J.-S. Pischke, 2010. The Credibility Revolution in Empirical Economics: How Better Research Design is Taking the Con out of Econometrics. Journal of Economic Perspectives 24, 2, 3–30.
  • Druckman, J. N., D. P. Green, J. H. Kuklinski & A. Lupia, 2006. The Growth and Development of Experimental Research in Political Science. American Political Science Review 100, 4, 627–636.

Session 7: Der Peer review-Prozess & Abschlussdiskussion und Prüfungsvorbereitung

July 18, 2024, 14:00–18:00

Der Peer review-Prozess in der internationalen Soziologie:

  • Khan, S. R., 2019. Habits, Canvases, and Conversations: How I Think about Publishing. Sociologica, 13, 1, 21–27.
  • Ergen, T. & S. Kohl, 2022. Rival Views of Economic Competition. Socio-economic Review 20, 3, 937–965.

Early manuscript forms and correspondence will be analyzed to discuss the paper development, peer review and revisioning process.