TEACHING PORTFOLIO
My current teaching portfolio includes seminars, lectures and colloquia on for BA, MA, and PhD students:
SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES
The course includes the aims of sociology, how to construct explanations (Hempel-Oppenheim, mechanisms, macro-micro-macro model), anthropological assumptions, unintended consequences of intended action, subjective expectancy theory, definition of the situation, variable rationality, interpretative paradigms (including symbolic interactionism, ethno-methodology), normative paradigms (homo sociologicus), dual process, game theory, collective goods problems, social dynamics, socialization, culture, social norms, and social networks.
SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH
This seminar provides an overview of key topics of health sociology. It analyzes the social and biomedical models of health, discusses health determinants (e.g., social versus behavioral versus ecological factors), and theorizes about health and illness (including the structure-agency debate). The course uses empirical studies to explore the underlying mechanisms that explain the relationship between health and gender, social relations, social status, lifestyle, work, and migration. It also evaluates strategies of health prevention (e.g., e-health).
STIGMATIZATION
The course includes the definition and measurement of stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination, theories explaining their occurrence (e.g., stereotype-content model, minimal group paradigm, attribution theory, realistic conflict theory, social identity theory, social dominance orientation, system justification theory, symbolic racism theory, social role theory) and prevention strategies regarding sexism and racism, stigma towards people with mental illness or obesity, etc.
CRIME AND DEVIANCE
The course includes the definition and measurement of crime, problems of official statistics, requirements for theories, a critical discussion of various theories, such as deterrence, anomie, learning, labeling, social disorganization, social control, situational action theory, Marxist and feminist theory, and prevention strategies.
THE ETHICAL, LEGAL, AND SOCIAL ASPECTS (ELSA) OF BIOTECHNOLOGIES
This course investigates the ethical, legal, and social aspects of biotechnologies, which include transcranial magnetic stimulation, brain-computer interfaces, and genetic modifications. It discusses the potential, dangers, and prevalence of these biotechnologies, and examines empirical studies that attempt to explain moral evaluations of them. Policy implications of biotechnologies are also identified.
DECISIONS AND PERCEPTIONS
The course includes various concepts such as rationality, limited rationality, heuristics and biases, and discusses related problems as well as empirical analyses.
DRUG USE AND MEDICALISATION
The course focuses on medical and non-medical strategies to enhance cognitive performance including the definition and prevalence of enhancement, strategies for enhancement (e.g., nutrition, meditation, prescription drugs, sports), theories (such as social learning, self-control, theory of planned behavior, strain, and rational choice theory), the ethical discussion, regulation and prevention strategies.
THESIS COLLOQUIUM
The course includes the discussion of the relevance and the precision of research questions of BSc, MSc, and PhD projects, of postulated hypotheses, research designs, data analysis, findings, limitations, and aims for future research as well as research ethics, research integrity, and publication strategies.