After successful completion of the course, students are able to conduct qualitative urban studies and understand the relationship between a research design and respective methodology. The methods presented in this course will be applied in the context of  Vienna’s 12th district (Meidling), as this area has witnessed considerable change in terms of still ongoing urban renewal and urban development processes. Research practice competencies are acquired within an overall qualitative approach, that is theoretically informed and contextualised by a basic set of structural/quantitative descriptions.

The main learning outcomes are:

• Hands-on approach towards the application of qualitative research methods in urban studies
• Enhanced understanding about the choice of methods within different research designs
• Critical use of quantitative data as in social area analysis settings (e.g. social space analysis)

Additional learning outcomes:

• Basic insights in the difference between lifeworld and everyday life-based approaches in qualitative urban research
• Enhanced research data management skills
• Capability of a self-reflexive research practice
• Insights in the possibilities of a multi-methodical and participatory approach
• Interpretation and coding skills when dealing with qualitative data

The primary aim of the course is to provide an overview of basic socio-spatial research methods with an emphasis on choices as regards qualitative research strategies. The second goal is to investigate spatial strategies against socio-spatial polarization using housing, public space, and everyday life as a heuristic entry points for empirical urban research. Empirical research hence shall explore the impact of urban restructuring on existing social spaces and analyse abstract spatial representations within the realm of concrete urban development processes, and renewal discourses.

This exercise will be realised on site as the embodied proximity is key for constituting good group dynamics, for jointly training methods on site and for carrying out empirical field research.

Unit 1    Kick Off,
9. October, 10:30 – 12:00  

The kick off unit will present the lectures, give an overview on the exercise grading proposal, debate and, if needed, amendment, Q&R. The unit concludes with an introduction to qualitative urban research, an overview of the research process in urban studies and outline different types of qualitative data sources.

Debate (consensual and/or dissent-oriented), empirical field research, intra-research team review, shared interpretation of data

Depiction of the Research Field for Empirical Study in Urban Studies:

The students are expected to carry out research about and in spatial proximity to the IBA Quartier Wolfganggasse in the eastern part of Vienna's 12^th district (Meidling). This urban development is presented as a so-called “socially inclusive quarter” and is currently undergoing the final construction phase. While the IBA Quartier Wolfganggasse acts as a focal point, the geography of the course is not limited to the urban development area itself. This is also justified because the development project also became the starting point for a broader urban renewal program (see below), for which a subcontractor of wohnfonds.wien has developed a renewal concept.

Overall, this area is one of the most densely built-up working-class neighbourhoods in Vienna, close to the city centre. The selected area can be described as a heterogeneous urban fabric, in which mainly late Gründerzeit residential buildings are mixed with small-scale economic functions such as craft businesses and historical infrastructures such as railway tracks and railway depots.

The railway, which initiated the industrialisation of the area, demarcates the south. The belt that borders the eastern side of the area also bears witness to Vienna's radical past. Just on the opposite side we find early examples of the Red Vienna housing programme. Within walking distance are two larger green spaces such as the Paula von Mirtow Park or the Haydn Park.

The geography of the course could, depending on the chosen orientations within the student working groups, also include the southern surroundings of the development project, which consists of an ÖBB housing estate and a terrain vague that could very soon turn into a predominantly private urban development project.

The Kick-Off of the Elective Module 5: Society, Everyday Life and Space will take place on October 3, 2023, 10:00 - 12:00 am together with all Course Instructors.

We invite all students to participate:

Tuesday, 3.10.2023 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Room BA 02B Getreidemarkt Campus

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Each group further develops their presentation into a final research report/research design with main findings, description of the overall research design and critically self-reflects on the chosen methodology and its bias. The precise way of examination shall be agreed with students during the kick-off units and shall then be updated here.

Please also visit, if possible, the core courses of this module (i.e. VO 280.909, and SE 280.911) as well as the VU 280.A77 and the SE 280.948)