Thesis Research Colloquium and Tutorials

Course in the Module "Socio-Legal Research and Thesis Seminar" (7 ECTS)

Contents of the module:

This course includes different components. On the one hand, it consists in concentrated classes in research methodology, which introduce into qualitative and quantitative research methods, illustrate the different approaches, and tackle questions of research design, ethical aspects of the research, and how to write a research proposal. On the other hand, the course involves an ongoing thesis seminar, which gives input on academic writing (e.g., citation, reading and writing techniques), includes exercises (e.g., writing literature reviews), but mostly focuses on helping the students develop research questions, approaches, and proposals for their own Master’s thesis projects. The course also helps to develop a critical mindset regarding the relation of research, power and knowledge.

Learning objectives:

By completing this course, students gain an orientation in the methods and requirements of empirical social research and improve their understanding of and competence in academic writing. They will be able to distinguish different research methods, illustrate them in concrete applications, and discuss their socio-legal relevance. They will be able to recognise and reproduce different genres or writing styles, work systematically towards relevant research questions and proposals on their own, and critically reflect on their (possible) contributions.