300591 Same Same, but Different? Understanding and Communicating Methods Across Disciplines (MC: Sozialstruktur und soziale Ungleichheit) (S) (WiSe 2026/2027)

This seminar explores how research methods are understood, described, and applied across different academic disciplines. While methods in fields such as the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities often appear fundamentally different, this course critically examines to what extent these differences reflect distinct practices—or simply different terminologies and traditions.

Using concrete examples from a range of disciplines, participants will compare methodological approaches and identify underlying similarities and differences. Participants are invited to bring examples of their own research methods, which will serve as key material for joint analysis and discussion throughout the seminar.

A central focus of the seminar is on interdisciplinary communication: How can researchers effectively explain their methods to scholars from other fields? Where do misunderstandings arise, and how can they be addressed?

The seminar is designed to be highly interactive, combining short inputs with group work, discussion, and hands-on exercises. Participants will reflect on their own methodological approaches, learn to “translate” them for interdisciplinary audiences, and develop strategies for more effective cross-disciplinary exchange.