Ideologies of Technological Change — And How to Study Them

What it is about

You engage with the ideas, metaphors and narratives that shape technological change (e.g. 'Data is the new oil', 'AI democratizes wisdom'). You will learn both theoretical approaches to the role of ideas in politics and society and various qualitative, mixed-methods and computer-assisted methods by which such ideas can be empirically studied. In the end you will be able to explain central theoretical debates and apply and evaluate empirical methods for studying ideational histories.

What you will be able to do

• Identify and explain central theoretical arguments and debates of the ideational social sciences
• Summarise empirical findings on the role of ideas in technological change
• Interpret and critically evaluate qualitative, mixed-methods and computer-assisted procedures for studying ideas
• In outline, demonstrate the application of appropriate methods to real-world case questions

What the module consists of

• SeminarConveying concepts, theories and empirical approaches; active exercises and discussions; development of a own research project (exposé) with accompanying colloquium

Teaching method

• Vorlesungsbasierte EinführungConveying fundamental concepts, theories and empirical methods
• Aktive Lernformate (Think-pair-share, Übungen, Umfragen/Quizzes)Deepening understanding through discussion, own analysis and application
• Exposé plus KolloquiumPractical training in independently planning a research project and in presenting/defending it in academic discourse