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Empirical Methods in Social Science Research


Module name (EN):
Name of module in study programme. It should be precise and clear.
Empirical Methods in Social Science Research
Degree programme:
Study Programme with validity of corresponding study regulations containing this module.
Midwifery Science, Bachelor, regulation 01.10.2021
Module code: HEB-16
SAP-Submodule-No.:
The exam administration creates a SAP-Submodule-No for every exam type in every module. The SAP-Submodule-No is equal for the same module in different study programs.
P311-0154
Hours per semester week / Teaching method:
The count of hours per week is a combination of lecture (V for German Vorlesung), exercise (U for Übung), practice (P) oder project (PA). For example a course of the form 2V+2U has 2 hours of lecture and 2 hours of exercise per week.
4S (4 hours per week)
ECTS credits:
European Credit Transfer System. Points for successful completion of a course. Each ECTS point represents a workload of 30 hours.
5
Semester: 4
Mandatory course: yes
Language of instruction:
German
Assessment:
Term paper, 15 - 20 pages, graded

[updated 26.10.2026]
Applicability / Curricular relevance:
All study programs (with year of the version of study regulations) containing the course.

HEB-16 (P311-0154) Midwifery Science, Bachelor, regulation 01.10.2021 , semester 4, mandatory course
Workload:
Workload of student for successfully completing the course. Each ECTS credit represents 30 working hours. These are the combined effort of face-to-face time, post-processing the subject of the lecture, exercises and preparation for the exam.

The total workload is distributed on the semester (01.04.-30.09. during the summer term, 01.10.-31.03. during the winter term).
60 class hours (= 45 clock hours) over a 15-week period.
The total student study time is 150 hours (equivalent to 5 ECTS credits).
There are therefore 105 hours available for class preparation and follow-up work and exam preparation.
Recommended prerequisites (modules):
HEB-1


[updated 06.07.2025]
Recommended as prerequisite for:
HEB-21
HEB-32


[updated 06.07.2025]
Module coordinator:
Prof. Dr. Barbara Cattarius
Lecturer:
Prof. Dr. Barbara Cattarius


[updated 06.07.2025]
Learning outcomes:
Overall qalification objectives: Q4, Q9, Q10, Q11
 
After successfully completing this module, students will:
 
-        Be able to describe and explain various social science research methods and their terminology.
-        Have gained an understanding of the importance of research for midwifery practice and professional development.
 
-        Be able to understand, evaluate, and plan research processes based on qualitative and quantitative studies.
-        Be able to identify quantitative and qualitative research methods and explain the methods used to analyze the corresponding data.
 
-        Be able to develop specific research questions and hypotheses, derive initial theories, and outline possible methods for testing them.
 
-        Be able to take ethical considerations into account in research and be familiar with the relevant laws and regulations.
-        Be able to present and discuss research findings both orally and in writing.

[updated 26.10.2026]
Module content:
-        Qualitative and quantitative research methods
-        Analyzing research design, data analysis, and data interpretation in specific studies
-        Methods of social science research and their nomenclature
-        Quantitative and qualitative methods
-        Quality criteria of quantitative and qualitative research
-        Introduction to data management, data processing, and data analysis: Univariate and bivariate analyses, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, regression, correlation
 
-        Creating hypotheses and theories
-        Research ethics
 


[updated 26.10.2026]
Teaching methods/Media:
Presentations, group work, coursework, use of digital learning programs, quizzes

[updated 26.10.2026]
Recommended or required reading:
Bühner, M., & Ziegler, M. (2017). Statistik für Psychologen und Sozialwissenschaftler. Pearson, 2. aktual. Aufl.
 
Chalmers, A. (2007): Wege der Wissenschaft, Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg
 
Döring, N., Bortz, J.: Forschungsmethoden und Evaluation in den Sozial- und Humanwissenschaften. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer
 
Schnell, M.W., Heinritz, C.: Forschungsethik. Bern: Hans Huber
 
Voigt-Radloff, S., Stemmer, R., Behrens, J., Horbach, A., Ayerle, G. M., Schäfers, R., ...
& Braun, C. (2016). Forschung zu komplexen Interventionen in der Pflege- und Hebammenwissenschaft und in den Wissenschaften der Physiotherapie, Ergotherapie und Logopädie: ein forschungsmethodischer Leitfaden zur Ermittlung, Evaluation und Implementation evidenzbasierter Innovationen. Cochrane Deutschland, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg. (frei verfügbar)
 
The literature will be updated by the instructor for the course.


[updated 26.10.2026]
 
[Mon Nov  9 17:22:48 CET 2026, CKEY=hmdes, BKEY=heb, CID=HEB-16, LANGUAGE=en, DATE=09.11.2026]