Methods Center

First Fall School of the Methods Center on October 6 and 7, 2022

Interdisciplinary Methods

The Methods Center at the University of Tübingen cordially invites PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and professors to join our first Fall School. 
The theme is "Interdisciplinary Methods" since we offer workshops about Mixed Methods, Machine Learning, Psychometrics, and Econometrics.

We are looking forward to an exciting and productive gathering!

Arrival in Tübingen

The workshops take place in the "Neue Aula" (Geschwister-Scholl-Platz) in the rooms 2, 4, 5, and 6.

From the train station you can take the busses 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 to the stop "Geschwister-Scholl-Platz". The "Neue Aula" is on the other site of the street of the bus stop. When you enter the building, you can find the rooms by going straight ahead and turning left before leaving the building again.

The venue will be open from 8:30.

Workshops

Workshop 1: Foundations of Deep Learning for the Social Sciences - Christopher Urban (in English)

Machine Learning

Deep learning (DL) has revolutionized how complex processes are modeled in fields including computer vision, natural language processing, computational biology, weather forecasting, and game playing, but is rarely used to model complex behavioral processes in the social sciences. In this workshop, I will provide a thorough overview of the potential benefits and practical considerations related to applying DL to behavioral data. We will begin with an introduction to neural networks (NNs), covering fundamental concepts such as automatic differentiation and stochastic gradient-based optimization. Next, we will cover important NNs including convolutional NNs for modeling image data as well as recurrent NNs and Transformers for modeling sequential data. We will conclude with connections between DL and latent variable modeling, focusing on how DL tools can be used to enhance the flexibility and computational efficiency of the structural equation and item response theory models commonly used in the social and behavioral sciences. Each topic will be accompanied by worked examples in R and/or Python.

Workshop 2: Psychological Constructs as Continuous Time Dynamic Systems - Charles Driver (in English)

Viewing psychological constructs as interrelated dynamic systems is at once highly intuitive at the conceptual level, yet instantiating formal statistical models of observed data for such systems is fraught with difficulties -- some obvious and some less obvious. In this workshop I will discuss conceptualizations of change and individual differences in psychological systems, from linear growth to complex multivariate stochastic processes and input effects. The workshop has two main goals -- the first is to simply learn to think a little more deeply about how psychological processes may behave and interact over time, independent of any statistical model or data. The second goal is to begin to formalise some of these ideas as statistical models. To pursue the first goal we will use discussion, drawing, and simulation in R, and for the second we move on to modelling approaches including regression, SEM, and continuous time state space modelling via ctsem. The general perspective throughout will revolve around representing dynamic systems as (hierarchical) stochastic differential equations (i.e. continuous time) with some form of measurement model, though the intention is to focus on an intuitive and pragmatic understanding rather than any of the complex mathematics.

Workshop 3: Mixed Methods - Stefan Rädiker (in German)

Überblick

In diesem Workshop durchlaufen wir wichtige Schritte, die es bei der Planung und Durchführung einer typischen Mixed-Methods-Studie zu beachten gilt: Wir starten bei der Bedeutung und Formulierung von Fragestellungen, besprechen Aspekte des Samplings sowie verschiedene Designs und widmen uns anschließend intensiv der sequenzbasierten, datenbasierten und resultatbasierten Integration. Anhand eines Beispiels mit Übungen behandeln wir konkrete Fragen und Probleme in den einzelnen Schritten.
Die Teilnehmenden haben die Möglichkeit, vorab Fragen zum Thema einzubringen, die sie gerne im Workshop behandeln möchten.
Die Teilnehmenden erhalten mehrere Handouts für die Übertragung der Inhalte auf eigene Projekte.
Hinweise zu Mixed-Methods-Funktionen in MAXQDA runden den Workshop ab.
Am zweiten Tag können wir bis zu 2 Projekte der Teilnehmenden besprechen. Wer das eigene Projekt in den Workshop einbringen möchte, schickt bitte bis zum 9. September an raediker@methoden-expertise.de eine Übersicht zu dem Projekt mit folgenden Inhalten (2-4 Seiten):
•    Fragestellungen
•    Qual. und quan. Daten sowie Stand und Art der vorgesehenen Analyse
•    Fragen, „Knackpunkte“ und Unsicherheiten, die Sie im Projekt beschäftigen und die Sie gerne im Workshop besprechen möchten
 

Interessant für

alle Forschende und Lehrende, die eine konkrete und praxisnahe Einführung in die Planung und Umsetzung von Mixed-Methods-Projekten suchen.

 

Inhalte
  • Schritt 1: Forschungsfragen formulieren
  • Schritt 2: Wahl eines Mixed-Methods-Ansatzes begründen
  • Schritt 3: Mixed-Methods-Design erarbeiten und festlegen
  • Schritt 4: Analyse und Integration, u.a. mithilfe von Joint Displays
  • Schritt 5: Ergebnisse berichten

Nach Besuch des Workshops können die Teilnehmenden Mixed Methods von artverwandten Begriffen unterscheiden und geeignete Mixed-Methods Designs erstellen. Sie wissen an welchen Stellen Integration möglich und sinnvoll ist und haben praxistaugliche Hinweise und Anregungen für eigene Projekte erhalten.
 

Ihr Dozent

Dr. Stefan Rädiker beschäftigt sich seit vielen Jahren mit der computergestützten Analyse von qualitativen und Mixed-Methods-Daten und hat zahlreiche Lehrbücher und Publikationen zur qualitativen und quantitativen Sozialforschung verfasst, u.a.:
-    Kuckartz, U., Rädiker, S., Ebert, T., Schehl, J. (2013). Statistik. Eine verständliche Einführung
-    Rädiker, S. & Kuckartz, U. (2019). Analyse qualitativer Daten mit MAXQDA. Text, Audio und Video
-    Kuckartz, U. & Rädiker, S. (2020). Fokussierte Interviewanalyse mit MAXQDA. Schritt für Schritt
-    Kuckartz, U. & Rädiker, S. (2021). Using MAXQDA for mixed methods research. In R. B. Johnson & A. J. Onwuegbuzie (Hrsg.), The Routledge reviewer’s guide to mixed methods analysis (S. 305–318)
-    Kuckartz, U. & Rädiker, S. (2022). Qualitative Inhaltsanalyse. Methoden. Praxis. Computerunterstützung
Sein Anliegen ist es, die Anwendung von Forschungsmethoden systematisch und leicht verständlich zu vermitteln. 
www.methoden-expertise.de 
 

 

Schedule

The workshops will take place on October 6 and 7 in the Neue Aula (Geschwister-Scholl-Platz) in Tübingen. The presented program is only an orientation. The specific timetable depends on the workshop and is given at a later time.

Thursday, October 6

08:30 - 09:30 Registration and coffee
09:00  - 12:00 Workshop 1 (Christopher Urban)
09:00  - 12:00 Workshop 3 (Stefan Rädiker)
10:00 - 12:00 Workshop 2 (Charles Driver)
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch break (included in fee)
13:00 - 15:00 Workshop 1 (Christopher Urban)
13:00 - 15:00 Workshop 3 (Stefan Rädiker)
13:00 - 16:00 Workshop 2 (Charles Driver)
19:00 Dinner

 Friday, October 7

09:00  - 12:00 Workshop 1 (Christopher Urban)
09:00  - 12:00 Workshop 3 (Stefan Rädiker)
10:00 - 12:00 Workshop 2 (Charles Driver)
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch break (included in fee)
13:00 - 16:00 Workshop 2 (Charles Driver)

Registration

We plan a face-to-face gathering. If, contrary to expectations, the pandemic should make it necessary, we would change the event to an online format at short notice and inform all registrants in a timely manner. For travel, please make sure to either book at short notice or secure cancellation options. In any case, we look forward to meeting you.

If you are interested in joining our Fall School, please write an email to office@mz.uni-tuebingen.de attaching the filled out registration form.
Please be aware that we fill the spots (20 per workshop) in the workshops in the order of the registration.

The fee for the Fall School is 60€ and it includes catering for the breaks and for lunch. On Thursday evening we offer to go to dinner together at one's own expense.

Contact

If you have any questions please write an email to office@mz.uni-tuebingen.de

 

Organizing Committee:

Augustin Kelava

Holger Brandt

Ursula Offenberger

Tim Schaffland