Registration ends 07.4.2026 at 23:59 h

This course is dedicated to primary research methods for studying the arts and their organization. It gives an introduction to crafting your own research projects, a capacity that will be needed for future term papers, but especially when it comes to writing your bachelor thesis. Beyond that, developing an understanding for research methods is essential for dealing with the research literature you will be confronted with throughout your studies.

This course increases awareness for the basic operation of identifying a research question while at the same time reflecting on the information needed to answer the question and the availability of this information. What kind of procedures or techniques do I know of and are doable for me to gather the information? How do I have to adapt a certain method to make it work in a certain context?

We will focus on three methods: the qualitative interview, participant observation and its digital variant that I will call, following Rosenblat’s study on Uber, digital muckraking. There will be a general introduction to each approach as well as exemplary studies. This will be followed by a micro-exercise for each method to be worked on immediately and handed in prior to the next session.

The course allows students to develop a basic understanding for the relationship between research question, methods and their adaptation, and doability. The hands-on exercises enable them to gain an understanding of a method via the experience of performing it.

Further information on teaching evaluation: https://www.leuphana.de/en/teaching/quality-management/evaluation/course-evaluation.html