The Institute for Qualitative Social Research at the Sigmund Freud University combines the implementation of qualitative research projects with state-of-the-art and practice-oriented methodological training. In addition, the Institute offers support in the conceptualisation and realisation of qualitative-reconstructive research projects in individual and group settings.
A special feature of the Qualitative Social Research section at the Sigmund Freud University is the close link between research and teaching, and the constant reflection and further development of qualitative methodology and practice. With teaching based on real research projects, students are introduced to research practice at an early stage, in addition to the theoretical introduction to qualitative methodology. Interested students also have the opportunity to write their qualification theses in connection with ongoing projects of the Institute and thus immerse themselves more deeply in practice.

Head: Ass.-Prof.in Dr.in Katharina Hametner; katharina.hametner@sfu.ac.at

Areas of Activity

  • Academic teaching
  • Research activities
  • Consulting on methods
  • Research workshop 
  • Workshop talks

Teaching

Teaching Team

  • Sara Birgani, MSc.
  • Mag.a Monika Gritsch
  • Ass.-Prof.in Dr.in Katharina Hametner
  • Ass.-Prof. MMag. Dr. Stefan Hampl
  • Florian Knasmüller, MSc
  • Dr.in Sara Paloni
  • Emelie Rack, MSc
  • Barbara von Rechbach, MA, BFA
  • Univ.-Ass.in Natalie Rodax, PhD.
  • Univ.-Ass. Dr. phil. Markus Wrbouschek
  • Irina Zamfirescu, BSc. MSc.

Bachelor’s programme Vienna (German / English programme)

VO Einführung in die qualitativen Methoden I / LE Introduction to Qualitative Methods I
The lecture imparts basic knowledge of qualitative research methodology and introduces the qualitative research process. The focus of the lecture is on the processes of observation, linguistic data collection and data documentation.

VO Einführung in die qualitativen Methoden II / LE Introduction to Qualitative Methods II
The lecture imparts basic knowledge of qualitative research methodology and introduces the qualitative working process. The focus of the lecture is on methods of qualitative data analysis. In addition, the lecture deals with possibilities of processing and presenting qualitative research results.

PS Einführung in qualitativen Methoden I / PS Introduction to Qualitative Methods I
The exercise course introduces the research practice of qualitative research in a hands-on manner. The focus is on the development of practical competences in the scope of qualitative field research, data collection and transcription. These competences are taught by means of project-based teaching.

PS Einführung in qualitative Methoden II / PS Introduction to Qualitative Methods II
The exercise course introduces the research practice of qualitative research in an hands-on manner. The focus is on procedures for evaluating qualitative data. In the joint interpretation of empirical material, students learn basic competences for qualitative evaluations (e.g. content analysis, documentary method, discourse analysis). These competences are taught in project-based lessons.

Master’s programme Vienna (German / English programme)

VO/UE Forschungsmethoden und Evaluation: Qualitative Methoden I / ILC Research Methods and Evaluation – Qualitative Research Techniques I
The exercise course combines the refreshment and consolidation of methodological knowledge from the Bachelor’s programme with in-depth practical research training in methodological skills. Students are guided to implement their acquired knowledge in the project-based exercise course. In addition to collecting their own material, the focus lays on the ethical and practical handling of data in research.

VO/UE Forschungsmethoden und Evaluation: Qualitative Methoden II / ILC Research Methods and Evaluation – Qualitative Research Techniques II
The consecutive continuation of the VO/UE aims to deepen the students’ acquired research skills in qualitative evaluation methods by presenting concrete research projects. In the context of the exercise, evaluation skills as well as the preparation and presentation of results will be further developed. In this step, the introduction to the publication of qualitative-reconstructive findings is central.

(Teaching-)Research Projects

Current Research Projects

Research-based Teaching

The research-based teaching at the Institute for Qualitative Social Research offers practice-oriented training and consolidation of qualitative-reconstructive research skills. Due to the connection to real research projects, students gain insights into all phases of the qualitative research process and can thus be introduced to the scientific practice of qualitative social research at an early stage.

Qualitative Methods Consultation

The Institute for Qualitative Social Research offers methodological assistance on practical research questions and decisions. You will be supported at different points of the research process in planning and/or implementing qualitative research projects. The methodological advice ranges from design conceptualisation to data analysis and presentation results.
The methodological consultation team draws on many years of experience in supervising qualification theses, conducting commissioned research (e.g. Arbeiterkammer Vienna), developing and conducting teaching research projects (e.g. Divided Lifeworlds) as well as designing and implementing projects funded by third parties (On the Construction of the Muslim Woman in the Field of Freedom and Coercion) and self-financed studies (e.g. Cultures of Psychosocial Concern).

Do you have questions about your own projects?
Contact us at qualitative.methoden@sfu.ac.at

Qualitative Methods Consultation Team

Ass.-Prof.in Dr.in Katharina Hametner
Katharina Hametner received her doctorate in psychology from the University of Vienna. She has been teaching in the fields of qualitative methods, philosophy of science and social psychology since 2008. Her research focuses on the social psychology of migration, racism research and qualitative social research.
Teaching focus: Qualitative methods, social psychology, philosophy of science

 

Ass.-Prof. MMag. Dr. Stefan Hampl
Stefan Hampl is Vice Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at Sigmund Freud University Vienna. He studied commerce (Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration) and psychology (University of Vienna). Doctorate in the field of cultural and media psychology; teaching at the University of Vienna, Sigmund Freud University and the Ferdinand Porsche FernFH; reviewer of Culture & Psychology; co-developer of the Documentary Method; author of relevant texts on qualitative methods, TV shows, TV series and films as well as on the image policy of euro banknotes. Current research project: The cultural heritage of Wilhelm Reich in Ukraine and Romania (Galicia & Bukovina). www.wilhelmrei.ch
Teaching focus: cultural and media psychology, qualitative methods, participatory research

Univ.-Ass.in Natalie Rodax, MSc.
Natalie Rodax is a psychologist and works as a university assistant (prae-Doc) at Sigmund Freud University, where she teaches research methods in psychology (qualitative social research), bachelor thesis preparation and scientific writing, and heads the bachelor’s programme in psychology.
Her research expertise lies in the areas of psychosocial (current research focus: feminist-psychological research topics) and methodological research (current research focus: introspection in psychological research).

Univ.-Ass. Dr. Markus Wrbouschek
Markus Wrbouschek is a psychologist and trainer in adult education. Since 2016, he has been a research associate at the Faculty of Psychology at SFU and a member of the coordination team of the Master’s focus ‘Social Psychology and Psychosocial Practice’. After studying psychology at the University of Vienna, he taught qualitative methods at various universities and worked on several qualitative research projects. From 2012 to 2015, he worked as a trainer in the field of vocational orientation and career counselling. His work focuses on qualitative research methodology and the social psychology of new employment relationships.
Teaching focus: Qualitative methods, social psychology

Our service

The methodological consulting service is available to SFU students, SFU staff and others working on qualitative projects and covers the following range of services:

FOR SFU STUDENTS:

For SFU students, we offer an “Qualitative Method Consultation Hour”. Each consultation is a 45-minute unit that serves to advise students on their own projects (for example, in the context of qualification theses at Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD level). To make an appointment, please send a request to qualitative.methoden@sfu.ac.at.

We offer advice in the following areas:

  • Support regarding study design and survey planning
  • Support with data analysis
  • Support in the preparation and presentation of results in final theses

The methodological advisory service cannot take over any specific steps for you, but will guide you towards independent research practice. We would like to point out that the assistance offered is not to be understood in competition with or as a substitute for consultation with the supervisors of the final theses.

FOR SFU STAFF:

For SFU staff we offer “Qualitative Methodology Consultation”. Each counselling session lasts 45 minutes and serves to support your own projects. To make an appointment, please send an enquiry to qualitative.methoden@sfu.ac.at.

We offer assistance in the following areas:

  • Support with regard to study design and survey planning, training in survey methods
  • Support in data evaluation and training in evaluation methods (especially for documentary methods, content analysis according to Mayring, discourse analysis and ground analysis).
  • Support in the preparation and presentation of results in final theses
  • In case of special methodological questions, we can individualise the above-mentioned offer upon request. Please contact us at qualitative.methoden@sfu.ac.at.

METHODOLOGICAL ADVICE FOR EXTERNAL PERSONS:

The above range of services is available upon request. We will be happy to provide you with an offer. Please contact us with your request at qualitative.methoden@sfu.ac.at.
A consulting session lasts 45 minutes.

Research Workshop

The Institute offers a Qualitative Research Workshop for methodological and evaluation-related concerns that arise in the context of qualification theses (Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD level) and research projects. Empirical material and methodological designs can be discussed.

Information and registration: qualitative.methoden@sfu.ac.at

Overview Research Workshop SoSe2023 (PDF)

Workshop Talks

At the Institute for Qualitative Social Research, workshop talks on current methodological questions take place once per semester. Each workshop begins with a thematic input. This is followed by an exchange about current experiences and challenges in research projects and plans.

Events in the Summer Semester 2023

Date: 28 March 2023, 5pm (in German)
Anja Brehm – Autoethnografie und “starke Reflexivität” in der qualitativen Sozialforschung

The event takes place in cooperation with the research area “Education and Inequality” of the Institute of Educational Science, University of Vienna.

Borrowing Equipment / MAXQDA Licenses

Borrowing Equipment

In the lending office (Testausgabe – Freudplatz 1, 5th floor, room 5017) of the Faculty of Psychology you can borrow:

  • Recording devices
  • Foot pedals for transcriptions
  • Clip-on microphones

Hours: Monday and Thursday from 5-6pm.
To borrow a device, you must register in advance at diagnostik@sfu.ac.at.

Please note that when borrowing a device, you undertake to return it undamaged and on time and, in the case of recording devices, completely cleansed of data in the test edition. When borrowing a device, you also agree to respect data protection.

MAXQDA Licenses for Qualification Theses

In the context of qualification theses, it is possible to have the costs for a student license of the software for qualitative data analysis “MAXQDA” (limited to 6 months) reimbursed. Two criteria must be met:

1) The thesis is a qualitative qualification thesis
2) The supervisor considers the use of MAXQDA to be necessary for the thesis.

If these criteria apply, the license can be purchased independently, and then a form for reimbursement can be requested at the Study Service Center (psychologie@sfu.ac.at). For the reimbursement, the confirmation of the supervisor is required on the form.

Recommended Reading

Please note that the books listed below are in German. 

  • Bergold, J. & Thomas, S. (2010). Partizipative Forschung. In: G. Mey, & K. Mruck, (Hrsg.), Handbuch Qualitative Forschung in der Psychologie. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. 333-344.
  • Bohnsack, R., Loos, P., Schäffer, B., Städtler, K. & Wild, B. (1995). Die Suche nach Gemeinsamkeit und die Gewalt der Gruppe. Hooligans, Musikgruppen und andere Jugendcliquen. Opladen: Leske und Budrich.
  • Bohnsack, R., Nentwig-Gensemann, I. & Nohl, A.-M. [HrsgInnen.] (2007). Die dokumentarische Methode und ihre Forschungspraxis. Grundlagen qualitativer Sozialforschung. 2.Auflage.Wiesbaden: Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
  • Bohnsack, R., Przyborski, A. & Schäffer, B. (2010). Das Gruppendiskussionsverfahren und seine Forschungspraxis. 2. Auflage. Opladen: Budrich.
  • Breuer, F. (2010). Wissenschaftstheoretische Grundlagen qualitativer Methodik in der Psychologie. In: G. Mey, & K. Mruck, (Hrsg.), Handbuch Qualitative Forschung in der Psychologie. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. 35-49.
  • Flick, U. (2002). Qualitative Forschung. Theorie, Methoden, Anwendung in Psychologie und Sozialwissenschaften. 2.Auflage.Hamburg: Rowohlt.
  • Hampl, S. (2016). Videoanalysen von Fernsehshows und Musikvideos. Ausgewählte Fallbeispiele zur dokumentarischen Methode. Opladen: Barbara Budrich.
  • Hopf, C. (1978). Die Pseudo-Exploration – Überlegungen zur Technik qualitativer Interviews in der Sozialforschung. In Zeitschrift für Soziologie, 7 (2). 97-115. [im SIGI zu finden!]
  • Jäger, S. (2012). Kritische Diskursanalyse. Eine Einführung. Münster: UNRAST.
  • Keller, R. (2007). Diskursforschung. Eine Einführung für SozialwissenschaftlerInnen. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag.
  • Mayring, P. (2010). Qualitative Inhaltsanalyse. Grundlagen und Techniken. Weinheim & Basel: Beltz.
  • Mey, G. & Mruck, K. [Hrsg.] (2010). Handbuch Qualitative Forschung in der Psychologie. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften
  • Przyborski, A, & Wohlrab-Sahr, M. (2014). Qualitative Sozialforschung. Ein Arbeitsbuch. München: Oldenburg
  • Przyborski, A. (2004). Gesprächsanalyse und dokumentarische Methode. Qualitative Auswertung von Gesprächen, Gruppendiskussionen und anderen Diskursen. Wiesbaden: Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.

Links

Contact

Mail: qualitative.methoden@sfu.ac.at

Institute for Qualitative Social Research
Faculty of Psychology
Sigmund Freud University Vienna
Freudplatz 1, room 5007, 5th floor
1020 Vienna