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46737-01 - Seminar: Experimental Research Methods in Social Science (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers | Iljana Schubert (iljana.schubert@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | This seminar will teach different experimental research techniques, such as lab experiments, field experiments and survey experiments, in the social sciences. It will include practical aspects which will focus on design, data collection and basic data analysis. Each seminar session will be divided into individual presentations and group work to develop, collect data on and analyse a small scale experiment within groups of 2-4 people. |
| Learning objectives | To understand what experimental research methods are and how to design experiments in social sciences. Gain some experience designing experiments, collecting some data and understanding basic analysis. |
| Bibliography | Announced in class. |
| Comments | Please note entry requirements. For details see online course directory/section "application" = Anmeldung. MSD 2017 Students who have chosen the focus area in natural sciences or in economics transfer the CP to the FASR module (learning agreement, template available on the website MSD/downloads MSD 2017). For the students with focus area in social science it's mandatory to attend one class in methods, see information in the medium-term syllabus. If they attend this seminar on a voluntary basis, they can accredit the CP either for the published module or transfer them to the FASR module (learning agreement). This seminar is offered by MSD. Dr. Iljana Schubert is a senior researcher and lecturer of the Sustainability Research Group, Dep. Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. She holds a teaching assignment. |
| Admission requirements | Limited number of participants (25), Students of the MSD (incl. MSD preparation semester) and JIDSD have a first priority, those of the listed programs (see list of modules) have a second priority. If you study something different you must do a master's degree within the Department of Social Sciences/Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and may attend the seminar in case of vacancies (= third priority). MSD 2017 We strongly recommend that MSD students who have chosen the focus area in natural sciences or in economics only take this course after having completed at least 8 CP of the “Complementary Knowledge in Social Sciences” module. We recommend that non-MSD (excl. JIDSD) students have already taken one of the following lectures (= credit points already acquired) during a former semester: - 11513: Sustainability: A new Societal Paradigm? - 41829: Perspectives of Social Sciences on Sustainability. If you have not passed either of these classes, you must contact the lecturer until the first day of the teaching period, i.e. in spring semester 2026 until 16. February 2026 at the latest to assess if you have sufficient background knowledge to be admitted. |
| Course application | Please note entry requirements (for details see section "admission requirements". Course enrollment on online services should be completed by the beginning of the teaching period (withdrawal possible until Monday of teaching week five). |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-täglich | Tuesday | 08.15-12.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 03.03.2026 | 08.15-12.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Tuesday 17.03.2026 | 08.15-12.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Tuesday 31.03.2026 | 08.15-12.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Tuesday 14.04.2026 | 08.15-12.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Tuesday 28.04.2026 | 08.15-12.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Tuesday 12.05.2026 | 08.15-12.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Tuesday 26.05.2026 | 08.15-12.00 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Modules |
Modul: Erweiterung Gesellschaftswissenschaften M.A. (Master's degree subject: Political Science) Modul: Methoden der Soziologie und der Gesellschaftswissenschaften: quantitativ (Master's degree subject: Sociology) Module: Methods for Analyzing Changing Societies (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources) Module: Preparation Master's Thesis in Social Sciences (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development) Module: Societal Approaches (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Compulsory attendance in presence, required readings. Individual presentation and small group experimental research project report. Details according to information of I. Schubert. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | University of Basel |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Nachhaltigkeitsforschung |