Methods of Social Research

Chair of Methods of Social Research

Prof. Dr. Nina Baur

Research and Teaching Interests

  • Methods of Social Research (especially Social Science Methodology, Process-Oriented Methodology, Spatial Methods and Mixed Methods Research)
  • Historical Sociology, Sociology of Processes, Innovations and Risks
  • Sociology of Space
  • Economic Sociology (especially Consumer Goods and Labour Markets)

Profiles in Scientific Portals

ORCID: 0000-0002-6626-1997

GND: 122585054

ResearcherID: K-6240-2017

Loop profile: 505333

Scopus Author ID: 24330547100

Technische Universität Berlin
Faculty VI: Planning Building Environment
Department of Sociology

Fraunhoferstraße 33-36 (FH 9-1)
10587 Berlin
Germany

sekretariat@mes.tu-berlin.de

Phone: +49 (0)30 / 314 - 78547

Fax: +49 (0)30 / 314 - 79494

Office: FH 927

 

Office hours by appointment - Please contact the Office Management

Education

2005Dr. rer pol. (Doctor of Political Sciences, equivalent to Ph.D.) in Sociology, Otto-Friedrich-University of Bamberg (Germany) (Supervisors: Gerhard Schulze and Richard Münch)
1993–1999Studying Sociology, specialized in Methods of Social Research, at Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg (Germany), der Universität Hamburg (Germany) und der Lancaster University (United Kingdom). Degree: “Diplom-Soziologin” (Diploma in Sociology, equivalent of a Master’s degree), with Distinction

Academic Positions Held

since 2009Full Professor (W3) for Methods of Social Research, Department of Sociology, Technical University Berlin (Germany)
2006–2009Professor (W1) for Methods of Social Research, Department of Sociology, Technical University Berlin (Germany)
2005–2006Assistant Professor (C1) for Sociology and Methods of Social Research, Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt (Germany)
2001–2005Research Associate and Lecturer for Sociology and Methods of Social Research at the Otto-Friedrich-University of Bamberg and the Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt (Germany)
2000Graduate and Research Assistant, Otto-Friedrich-University of Bamberg and Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz (both Germany)
1995–1999Student Research and Teaching Assistant, Otto-Friedrich-University of Bamberg and University of Hamburg (both Germany)
  

Third Party Funded Projects

2020–2024“Global Center of Spatial Methods for Urban Sustainability” (SMUS or GCSMUS), Director together with Angela Million (Urban Planning), funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) via the DAAD program “Higher Education Excellence in Development Cooperation – exceed”
2018–2025“Knowledge and Goods” (A03), principal investigator together with Elmar Kulke (Geography), in the DFG Collaborate Research Center “Re-Figuration of Spaces” (CRC 1265), with partners from Architecture, Arts, Communication Sciences, Geography, Planning, Political Sciences, Sociology.
2021–2024“Apples and Flowers. Effects of Pandemics on the (Re-)Organization of Commodity Chains for Fresh Agricultural Products.” Principal investigator together with Elmar Kulke (Geography), funded by the German Research Association’s (DFG) Funding Line “Corona Effects”
2020–2021“Urban Agriculture in Nairobi, Kenia.” Project together with Elmar Kulke (Geography), and Lech Suwala (Urban Planning), funded by the “Inaugural Call 2020/2021” of the Berlin Center for Global Engagement (BCGE) of the Berlin University Alliance (BUA)
2022–2025“Optimising Value Chains for Vocational Rehabilitation. Coordinating Actors in the Return-to-Work Process” (Reha-Ketten). Principal investigator in a project in the funding line “Improving Job Rehabilitation” of the Federal German Pension Fund (DRV)
2019–2023“Barriers and Potentials for Job Integration of Disabled Employees, A Typology of Labour Relations between Employers and Employees with Health Impairments” (ERMTYP), principal investigator together with Jannis Hergesell (Sociology), funded by the Research Network Provision for Old Age (FNA) of the Federal German Pension Fund (DRV)
2019–2022“Augmented Reality-Based Ubiquitous Interaction with Ring-Based Gesture-Recognition” (UbiAct), principal investigator of the sociological sub-projects, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), with partners from Computer Sciences
2012–2021“Innovation Society Today. The Reflexive Production of the New” (“Innovationsgesellschaft heute: Die reflexive Herstellung des Neuen”). Member of a Graduate School, with partners from Historical Sciences, Planning, Economics and Business Studies at TU Berlin, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)
2011–2017“Local Conventions of Hairdressing. Intrinsic Logic of Cities and Economics of Convention” (Economic Conventions). Principal investigator together with Martina Löw (Sociology), in the DFG Project Group “Intrinsic Logic of Cities”, with partners from Political Sciences, Philosophy and Literature from the universities of Darmstadt, Frankfurt and Heidelberg, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)
2012–2016“Interdisciplinarity and Innovation in a Cluster Organisation” (SIEU). Principal investigator in the DFG Excellence Cluster “Unifying Concepts in Catalysis” (UniCat) with partners from Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Engineering from various universities and research institutions in Berlin, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)
2012–2015“New Forms of Organizing Science” (“Neue Formen der Forschungsorganisation”), part of the project network “genderDynamics. Case Studies on the Co-Evolution of Scientific Cultures and Organizational Forms in Science in Physics” (“genderDynamiken. Fallstudien zur Verschränkung von Fachkulturen und Forschungsorganisationen am Beispiel der Physik”), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
2011–2014“Risk Communication and Risk Behaviour” (“Risikowahrnehmung und -verhalten”), part of the project network “Anthropogenic Micropollutants and Pathogenic Organisms in Urban Water Cylces” (“ASKURIS” – “Anthropogene Spurenstoffe und Krankheitserreger im urbanen Wasserkreislauf”), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
2007–2014“Arranging Acquiring and Orientating within Space. On a Sociology of the Constitution of Space” (“Raumgestaltung, Raumaneignung und Orientierung. Grundzüge einer Soziologie der Raumkonstitution”), funded by Technical University Berlin

International Experience

since 2020Director of the “Global Center of Spatial Methods for Urban Sustainability” (SMUS or GCSMUS) which is based at Technische Universität Berlin and connects 48 institutional partners from 48 countries and 8 world regions
2019Visiting Scholar at IIT Roorkee (India) as part of a DAAD Bilateral Academic Exchange
2016Visiting Fellowship at the Japan’s Women University (Japan)
since 2011Local host for international guests in Brazil, Botswana, India, Indonesia, Italy, Namibia, Thailand, Singapore, South Africa, the U.S.A. and Zimbabwe (with research stays in Germany of 2 weeks to 2 years, amongst others funded via DAAD, IPODI and Fulbright)
since 2010Organiser or co-organiser for the whole program, or programme coordinator for part of the program at large-scale international conferences as a representative of the “Global Center of Spatial Methods for Urban Sustainability” (SMUS or GCSMUS), the “Research Committee on Logic & Methodology in Sociology” (RC33) of the “International Sociology Association” (ISA), the Collaborate Research Center “Re-Figuration of Spaces” (CRC 1265) or the Section “Economic Sociology” of the “German Sociology Foundation” (DGS), amongst them: 2nd ISA Forum of Sociology, 3rd ISA Forum of Sociology, 9th International Conference on Social Science Methodology, 1st RC33 Regional Conference: Asia and several Joint Conferences “International and Interdisciplinary Conference on Spatial Methods” (SMUS Conferences) and “RC33 Regional Conference”
2009 – 2011Reviewer for Selecting Fulbright Scholars for the Social Sciences
since 2008Organisation of more than 35 sessions at international conferences
2007Visiting Fellowship at Yale University (U.S.A.)
since 2004more than 35 presentations at international conferences
since 2000Extended stays of four weeks up to five months in Australia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Georgia, Greece, India, Japan, Laos, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and to the U.S.A.
 Many shorter trips to most European countries, Australia, Brunei, Canada, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Palau, Qatar, Samoa, Singapore, South Africa, Tonga, Tuvalu and the U.S.A.
1995 –1996Undergraduate Visiting Student in Sociology, Lancaster University (United Kingdom)
1988 – 1990High School “German School London”, London (United Kingdom)
1978 – 1980Kindergarden / 1st Grade; Elementary School, Endwell (USA)

Scholarships and Awards

2015Price for Excellent and Good Practice, Outstanding Engagement and Commitment for Students. Fakultät VI (Planen – Bauen – Umwelt), Technische Universität Berlin
2007Selected member of “ProFiL” (“Professionalisation of Women in Research and Teaching: Mentoring – Training – Networking”), a programme for training high potential women in science, funded by the universities of Berlin
2006DGS Dissertationspreis (Prize of the German Sociological Association for one of the two best Ph.D. theses in German Sociology between 2004 and 2006)
2005E.ON Kulturpreis Bayern (“E.ON Cultural Prize of Bavaria”) for the best Ph.D. thesis of Otto-Friedrich-University of Bamberg in 2004/2005
1994–2000Scholarship of the “Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes” (“German Scholarship Association”)
  

Academic Functions (Selection)

since 2018Member of the Advisory Council for Consumer Affairs (SVRV) to the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV)
since 2017Member of the Advisory Board for the Journal "Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie" (KZfSS)
since 2014Managing Editor of the Journal “Historical Social Research” (HSR) (Co-operating Editor 2007 – 2014)
since 2010Board Member of the Research Committee on Historical Sociology (RC56) of the International Sociology Association (ISA) (until 2016 called “Working Group on Historical and Comparative Sociology”, WG02)
2018–2022Past President of the Research Committee on Logic & Methodology in Sociology (RC33) of the International Sociology Association (ISA) (Secretary 2010 – 2014, President 2014 – 2018)
2017–2022Member of the DFG Scientific Network “Mixed Methods and Multimethod Social Research. An Interdisciplinary Network on the Methodology and Applications of Integrative Research Methods” (MMMR)
2017–2021Board Member of the Collaborate Research Center “Re-Figuration of Spaces” (CRC 1265)
2018–2019Theory Tandem “Cross-Cultural Comparison and the Constitution of Space” in the Collaborate Research Center “Re-Figuration of Spaces” (CRC 1265) (together with Angela Million)
2011–2019Council Member of the German Sociology Association (DGS)
2016–2019Board Member of the Section "Economic Sociology" of the German Sociology Assocation
2014–2018Member of the Editorial Board of Current Sociology Monograph
2013–2016Member of the Advisory Board of the DFG Research Group “Urban Climate and Heat Stress in Mid-Latitude Cities in View of Climate Change” (1736 UCaHS)
2011–2014Board Member of ASI (“Arbeitsgemeinschaft Sozialwissenschaftlicher Institute e.V.” – “Consortium of German Social Research Institutes”)
2011–2014Member of the Audit Committee of the Ethical Grievance Board (“Beschwerdestelle”) of the Council of German Market and Social Research (“Rat der Deutschen Markt- und Sozialforschung e.V.”)
2008–2014Vice President of the User Advisory Board of GESIS (“Gesellschaft Sozialwissenschaftlicher Infrastruktureinrichtungen e.V. ” – “Society of Social Research Infrastructural Facilities”)
2009–2014Co-editor in the Monograph Series „Studientexte Soziologie“ („Study Texts Sociology”)
2011–2013Member of the Advisory Board of the ZTG (Zentrum Technik und Gesellschaft, Technische Universität Berlin)
  

Offices and Committee Memberships at the TU Berlin (Selection)

since 2021General Director (GD) of the Department of Sociology (IfS) (2017–2021 Deputy Director)
since 2021Chairperson of the Examination Board of the Department of Sociology (IfS)
since 2016Deputy Chairperson of the Program Development Committee for Sociology (AK) of the Department of Sociology (IfS) (2009–2016 Chairperson)
since 2014Deputy Programme Coordinator at the Department of Sociology (IfS) (2011–2014 Programme Coordinator)
since 2012Start-Up Ambassador
since 2011Member of the Academical Senate (AS)
since 2007Member of the Institute Council (IR) of the Departmen of Sociology (IfS)
  

Publications (Selection)

Baur, Nina (2017): Process-oriented Micro-Macro-Analysis. Methodological Reflections on Elias and Bourdieu. In: Historical Social Research (HSR) 42 (4). 43-74

Akremi, Leila/Baur, Nina/Knoblauch, Hubert/Traue, Boris (Eds.) (2018): Handbuch Interpretativ forschen (Handbuch Interpretative Research). Weinheim: Beltz Juventa

Baur, Nina/Besio, Cristina/Norkus, Maria/Petschick, Grit (Eds.) (2016): Wissen – Organisation –Forschungspraxis. Der Makro-Meso-Mikro-Link in der Wissenschaft (Knowledge – Organisation – Research Practice. The Macro-Meso-Micro-Link in Science). Weinheim: Juventa 

Baur, Nina/Mennell, Stephen/Million, Angela (2021). The Refiguration of Spaces and Methodological Challenges of Cross-Cultural Comparison [44 paragraphs]. In: Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 22(2), Art. 25

Baur, Nina/Castillo Ulloa, Ignacio/Mennell, Stephen/Million, Angela (2021). The Refiguration of Spaces and the Refiguration of Epistemic Cultures: The Changing Balance of Involvement and Engagement in Fundamental and Applied Research [75 paragraphs]. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 22(3), Art. 21

Baur, Nina (2021): Decolonizing Social Science Methodology. Positionality in the German-Language Debate. In: Historical Social Research 46 (2). 205-243

Norkus, Maria/Baur, Nina (2020): Time and Social Processes. In: Atkinson, Paul Anthony/Delamont, Sara/Williams, Richard A/Cernat, Alexandru/Sakshaug, Joseph W. (Eds.): SAGE Research Methods Foundations. London/Thousand Oaks/New Delhi: Sage

Hergesell, Jannis/Baur, Nina/Braunisch, Lilli (2020): Process-Oriented Sampling. In: Canadian Review of Sociology 57 (2). 265-285

Baur, Nina (2005): Verlaufsmusteranalyse. Methodologische Konsequenzen der Zeitlichkeit sozialen Handelns (Social Pattern Analysis. On Methodological Consequences of Time in Social Action). Wiesbaden: VS-Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften (Summary in: Baur, Nina (2008): Taking Perspectivity Seriously. A Suggestion of a Conceptual Framework for Linking Theory and Methods in Longitudinal and Comparative Research. In: Historical Social Research/Historische Sozialforschung (HSR) 33 (4). 191-213)

Baur, Nina/Blasius, Jörg (Eds.) (2022): Handbuch Methoden der empirischen Sozialforschung (Handbook Methods of Social Research). 3rd edition. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien

Braunisch, Lilli/Schweia, Malte/Graeff, Peter/Baur, Nina (Eds.) (2020): Challenges for Big Data Analysis. Data Quality and Data Analysis of Analogous and Digital Mass Data. Forum of Historical Social Research (HSR) 45 (3)

Baur, Nina (2019): Linearity vs. Circularity? On Some Common Misconceptions on the Differences in the Research Process in Qualitative and Quantitative Research. In: Frontiers in Education 23 (4). 15 pages

Baur, Nina/Kelle, Udo/Kuckartz, Udo (Ed.) (2017): Mixed Methods. Special Isse 57/2017. Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie (KZfSS) 69 (Supplement 2). Wiesbaden: Springer

Baur, Nina (2008): Markt (Markets). In: Baur, Nina/Korte, Hermann/Löw, Martina/Schroer, Markus (Eds.) (2008): Handbuch Soziologie. Wiesbaden: VS-Verlag. 273-294

Heidenreich, Martin/Baur, Nina (2015): Locations of Corporate Headquarters in Europe: Between Inertia and Co-evolution. In: Lundan, Sarianna (Ed.) (2015): Transnational Corporations and Transnational Governance. The Cost of Crossing borders in the Global Economy. Basingstoke: Palgrave. 177-207

Baur, Nina/Löw, Martina/ Hering, Linda/Raschke, Anna Laura/Stoll Florian (2014): Die Rationalität lokaler Wirtschaftspraktiken im Friseurwesen. Der Beitrag der „Ökonomie der Konventionen“ zur Erklärung räumlicher Unterschiede wirtschaftlichen Handelns (The Rationality of Local Economic Practices in the Hairdressing and Barbering Market. How Economic of Conventions Can Contribute to Explaining Spatial Variation of Economic Performance). In: Bögenhold, Dieter (Ed.) (2014): Soziologie des Wirtschaftlichen: Alte und neue Fragen. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien. 299-327

Baur, Nina/Hering, Linda (2017): Learning from the Past. How Local Economic Conventions Influence Responses to Global Crises. In: Human Figurations: Long-term Perspectives on the Human Condition 6 (2).

Baur, Nina/Fülling, Julia/Hering, Linda/Kulke, Elmar (Ed.) (2020): Waren – Wissen – Raum. Interdependenz von Produktion, Markt und Konsum in Lebensmittelwarenketten (Goods – Knowledge – Space. Interdependence of Production, Retailing and Consumption in Food Commodity Chains). Wiesbaden: Springer VS

Baur, Nina /Kulke, Elmar/Hering, Linda/Fülling, Julia (2021): Dynamics of Polycontexturalization in Commodity Chains. In: sozialraum.de 13 (1)

Million, Angela/Haid, Christian/Castillo Ulloa, Ignacio/Baur, Nina (Ed.) (2022): Spatial Transformations. Kaleidoscopic Perspectives on the Refiguration of Spaces. London/New York: Routledge

Complete List of Publications 

Link

 

Version: 26.02.2022