The seminar focuses on qualitative methods for analyzing online media and their use, which can be applied on the Internet. In order to create a starting point for the discussion, we will first familiarize ourselves with qualitative research and deal with its central concepts and the characteristics of a qualitative research process. We will also discuss how research in online environments differs from research in people's living environments or with traditional mass media. We will then learn about virtual ethnography and how it differentiates from other qualitative methods of online research. Together we will look at examples of virtual ethnographies, reflect on their fields of application and talk about potentials and limitations.

In addition, we will use a virtual ethnography as an example in our own research. Finally, we will present the results of this study, reflect on the research procedure and critically scrutinize it. On the basis of our experiences and the findings obtained, we will once again discuss the practical research benefits that qualitative online analyses can provide.

Academic achievement: Creation and application of empirical research instruments, reports on the status of work, the course of the project and the results

Examination achievement: Research report

Kurs im HIS-LSF