Innovative Methodological Approaches

Both quantitative and qualitative methodologies face a number of challenges due to dynamics of change in social spaces. The social science methodology of our department faces up to these developments by integrating new findings in social science theory formation in general and spatial research in particular into our considerations and developing innovative methodological approaches. The rapid development of the digitalization of society is used productively to explore innovative ways of data collection and data analysis. By using geo-coded data and new panel and register data sources in Austria, innovative methods such as agent-based modeling and classic survey research, our interdisciplinary work aims to enrich the immediate living, working and living environment with data. In addition, longitudinal analyses are used to analyze life courses and processes of social change and differentiated analyses of the realities of life within and beyond Europe are carried out using multi-level country comparisons. Our methodological approaches are thus also incorporated into the research fields of sustainable development and mobility and migration in our department. In general, we follow the approach of equal appreciation of quantitative and qualitative methods and constructively promote methodological training and research in this sense. Our approaches in research and teaching are complemented by participatory methods (e.g. ethnographic research, biographical interviews, visual methods) and innovative “arts-based” activities (creation of films and podcasts) to provide students with additional practical skills on the one hand and to strengthen science communication to the public on the other.