SS 2011

Seminar

53 141

Master

(UNI 3, 001; Institut für Sozialwissenschaften)

Priv.-Dozent Dr. Bernhard Weßels

The seminar deals with political behaviour in an international comparative perspective. Research on political behaviour more and more develops from a discipline showing national differences to a discipline explaining differences in political behaviour and the calculus of voting across countries. The crucial questions and aspects are the institutional context and other structural context factors. How do these factors shape political behaviour and decisions? Do institutional incentives work as intended by the institution builders? The seminar deals with studies on political attitudes, participation, and choice using macro-micro designs.

The seminar's webpage can be accessed by moodle (black board system of the Humboldt-University)
http://moodle.hu-berlin.de/course/view.php?id=17264

WS 2010/11

BGSS Seminar

53 147

(UNI 3, 003; Institut für Sozialwissenschaften)

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Merkel / Priv.-Dozent Dr. Bernhard Weßels

This course is organized in three modules.
Module I: Social Science Concepts - Construction and Implications (Session 2 - 5)
This module gives a brief introduction into the comparative method and deals with logical issues of social science concepts. Social science concepts are the theoretical key and practical tool for any social research. Concepts are the intermediaries between the empirical world (data) and analysis. Concepts make theories operational for research. The structure of concepts, concept clarity, and concept-measurement consistency are crucial for any analysis. Methodological issues will be discussed in a logical, partly formalized way in order to make clear implicit assumptions of concepts and their application in empirical comparative analysis. This module aims to enable the participants to apply analytical concepts to comparative analysis.

Module II: Comparative Logic, Causality, and Multi-level Theories (Sessions 6 - 10)
This module introduces into classical and new approaches to comparative logic and analysis. It deals with Mill’s classical approaches of method of agreement and difference, Przeworski’s most similar and most different system designs, and their critics. Secondly, the question of causality, the role of theory, data, and comparison will be evaluated. Thirdly, the module introduces into the application of multi-level theories in comparative research. This module should enable participants to apply comparative logic in order to explore causality in multi-level contexts.

Module III: Qualitative and Quantitative, Small n and Large n Comparison (Sessions 11 - 15)
The limits and advantages of both, qualitative and quantitative, small n and large n approaches in comparative research will be explored from methodological and practical perspectives. This includes questions on generalizability and theory building, issues of case selection, and the comparison of typological and numerical approaches to comparative analysis. This module aims to enable participants to conceptualize comparative research of any of the two types and to understand their differences and similarities.

The seminar's webpage can be accessed by moodle (black board system of the Humboldt-University)
http://moodle.hu-berlin.de/course/view.php?id=14932

SS 2010

BGSS Seminar

53 115

(UNI 3, 001; Institut für Sozialwissenschaften)

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Merkel / Priv.-Dozent Dr. Bernhard Weßels

The seminar is devoted to the necessary theoretical base (theories of democratization) for any scientific research on regime change, transition to and consolidation of democracy.

The seminar's webpage can be accessed by moodle (black board system of the Humboldt-University)
http://moodle.hu-berlin.de/course/view.php?id=12721

WS 2009/10

BGSS Seminar

53 138

(UNI 3, 001; Institut für Sozialwissenschaften)

Advanced Methods III - The Logic of Social Science Concepts

Priv.-Dozent Dr. Bernhard Weßels

This course aims at two goals: 1) providing knowledge about the logic of social science concepts and their implications for case selection and analysis; 2) reflecting methodological issues of “Small N“ and case studies (as compared to “Large N“-studies). The emphasis of the course lies on conceptual and logical issues related to approaches, models, and research designs. Methodological issues will be discussed in a logical, partly formalized way in order to make clear implicit assumptions in concepts and designs, and to provide tools for the operationalization of complex research questions. Section 1 of the course deals with social science concepts and their implications, section 2 reflects research designs (case studies; large vs. small N; case selection), section 3 multi-level theories and their testing. The course is oriented toward the practical problems scholars face when setting up a larger research. The course addresses problems and topics, which are not limited to a particular research design (small/large N) but common to any kind of theory-guided research. It also connects to a number of major topics in comparative research. The literature to read is problem-oriented using examples mainly from comparative politics, research on democracy and democratization studies. The course is open to Ph.D. students and introductory year students of the BGSS and fast track master students.

The seminar's webpage can be accessed by moodle (black board system of the Humboldt-University)
http://moodle.hu-berlin.de/course/view.php?id=11416

SS 2009

BGSS Seminar

53 130

(UNI 3, 003; Institut für Sozialwissenschaften)

Advanced Theories: Theories of Democratization, Part II

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Merkel / Priv.-Dozent Dr. Bernhard Weßels

This seminar is a succession of part I, winter term 2008/09. Part I was devoted to the necessary theoretical base (theories of democratization) for any scientific research on regime change, transition to and consolidation of democracy.
Part II is devoted to methods of empirical research on democratization and will apply theories and concepts of the empirical analysis of democratization (comparative analyses, case studies).

The seminar's webpage can be accessed by moodle (black board system of the Humboldt-University)
http://moodle.hu-berlin.de/course/view.php?id=9628

WS 2008/09

BGSS Seminar

53 130

(UNI 3, 205; Institut für Sozialwissenschaften)

Advanced Theories: Theories of Democratization, Part I

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Merkel / Priv.-Dozent Dr. Bernhard Weßels

This seminar runs over two semesters. Part I is devoted to the necessary theoretical base (theories of democratization) for any scientific research on regime change, transition to and consolidation of democracy.
Part II (SS 2009) will be devoted to methods of empirical research on democratization and will apply theories and concepts of the empirical analysis of democratization (comparative analyses, case studies).

The seminar's webpage can be accessed by moodle (black board system of the Humboldt-University)
http://moodle.hu-berlin.de/course/view.php?id=8390

WS 2007/08

Master "Europäische Gesellschaften"

M1-30202

55/302b

(Garystr. 55,

Institut für
Soziologie)

 Europäische Integration und politische Gemeinschaft

Seminarplan

und Kommentierung u. Anforderungen

Mi, wö., 14.00-16.00

Organisation, Vorlagen f. Seminarsitzung

(Nur mit User-Name und Password)

Materialien, LINKS

WS 2006/07

15362 HS

55/121

(Garystr. 55,

Institut für
Soziologie)

 Wahlsystem und Wahlverhalten: Das deutsche "Mixed System" im Vergleich

Seminarplan

und Anforderungen

Mi, wö., 14.00-16.00

Organisation, Vorlagen f. Seminarsitzung

(Nur mit User-Name und Password)

Materialien, LINKS

WS 2005/06

15 732 HS

Institut für
Soziologie (IfS)

Europäische Integration und politischer Konflikt

Seminarplan und Anforderungen

ACHTUNG: entgegen der Ankündigung im VV und KVV (Stand 18.10.) wie gehabt Mittwoch, aber
16-18, Raum 301

Organisation, Aktuelles

Vorlagen f. Seminarsitzung

Materialien, LINKS

WS 2004/05

15334 HS

Europawahlen und europäische Integration – Deutschland in europäischer Perspektive
 

ACHTUNG: es bleibt vorerst beim alten Raum:

OEI/302b

Seminarplan

Anforderungen

Reader: „Copyplanet Berlin“, Kastanienallee 32, 10435 Berlin, 448 41 33; Mo.-Fr. 9-18; Sa. geschlossen, So. 15-18

und Copyshop Brümmerstraße

Organisation, Aktuelles

Vorlagen f. Seminarsitzung

Materialien, LINKS

SS 2004

15384 HS

Neuere Ansätze in der Wahlforschung: "Unified Model" und internationaler Vergleich

Seminarplan

Seminarziele/Anforderungen

Reader: Copy Center Brümmerstr.

Vorlagen f. Seminarsitzung

Materialien, LINKS

WS 2003/04

15 105 PS

Politisches Handeln und politische Partizipation: Verhaltenstheoretische Erklärungsansätze und empirische Befunde

Seminarplan

Reader: Copy-Center-Adresse

Vorlagen f. Seminarsitzung

Materialien, LINKS

SS 2003

15 221 HS

Interessengruppen im politischen System der Bundesrepubik Deutschland: Theorien - Strukturen - Einfluss

Achtung, Terminänderungen
Seminarplan

Vorlagen f. Seminarsitzung

WS 2002/03

Lehrerweiter-

bildung Sozialkunde

Demokratie und Recht

Seminarplan

Vorlagen f. Seminarsitzung

Materialien, LINKS

SS 2002

15 086 PS

Wahlen und Parteien in der Bundesrepublik

Seminarplan

Vorlagen f. Seminarsitzung

Materialien, LINKS

WS 2001/02

15 074 PS

Interessenvermittlung und politische Repräsentation in der Bundesrepublik

Seminarplan

Materialien, LINKS

Vorlagen f. Seminarsitzung

Wahlsysteme, Wahlverhalten und politische Repräsentation im internationalen Vergleich