Christoph Deutschmann: Postindustrielle Industriesoziologie. Theoretische Grundlagen, Arbeitsverhältnisse und soziale Identitäten. Grundlagentexte Soziologie, herausgegeben von Klaus Hurrelmann

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Sozialer Status und prosoziales Handeln: Ein Quasi-Experiment im Krankenhaus

Sociological, social psychological and economic research on the nexus between socioeconomic status and prosociality has so far provided contradictory findings. Some studies suggest that actors with a high socioeconomic status act more egoistically than actors with a lower socioeconomic status. Other studies find the opposite to be true. In contrast to previous research, which has worked with one-dimensional measures for socioeconomic status, this study examines prosocial behavior among occupational groups that have regular real-life contact in their workspace. About 150 hospital employees (physicians, nursing staff and nursing students) participated in experiments on altruistic giving in dictator games. The findings are surprisingly strong and clear-cut: Actors with higher social status act more prosocial than low-status actors. Furthermore, we find hardly any in-group effects, which have been repeatedly postulated. Our findings support the claim that high status promotes prosocial behavior. Also, they indicate that the inconclusive and in part contradictory findings provided by previous research stem to a considerable degree from deficient measures of social status and problematic experimental designs.     

Paneldaten in der Soziologie: Fixed Effects Paradigma und empirische Praxis in Panelregression und Ereignisanalyse

In sociology there is a growing body of literature discussing the ability of quantitative research methods to test causal inferences. This discourse introduces panel data as an important instrument to defend the interpretation of coefficients as effects: by focusing on what is going on within individuals, panel data allow for longitudinal empirical modelling, which reflects the inherent semantic of scientific hypotheses. As a consequence, unobserved heterogenity is absorbed and alternative explanations to the presumed causal mechanisms are largely ruled out. However, a within-, or rather Fixed Effects-estimator is needed to realize this potential of panel data. Consequently, such within-estimators are well established as standard in the methodological discourse on panel data. We explain this standard with references to the mechanics of within-estimators in panel-regression and event-history analysis. Finally, inspection of contributions to the two major German language journals for sociology shows that within-estimators are rarely used in empirical practice. We conclude that the potential of panel data to control for heterogeneity is largely underused in empirical practice. At the same time, our inspection of studies illustrates that the benefits of panel data are multidimensional and go beyond statistical virtues.     

Studienabbruch und Studienfachwechsel in der Soziologie: Ein Blick hinter die Zahlen

Analyses of dropout ratios for a subject are predominantly based on data from the university administration or drawn from standardized surveys. A detailed analysis of several years of enrollments for a selected subject shows that such data strongly overestimate the true dropout ratio (at least concerning ?Magister”-students). This is due to the inability of such data to identify virtual enrollments and to identify students waiting for enrollment in their subject of choice. At least half of the dropouts from sociology (the examined subject) come from one of those two groups. An analysis of the motivations for dropping out of the chosen subject indicates fundamental problems in the process of choosing a subject. These problems are a much greater factor for such decisions than the quality of teaching.     

Nachhaltige Stressreduktion durch Introvision: theoretische Grundlagen und empirische Ergebnisse

The article deals with a re-analysis of two studies in which the pedagogical-psychological counseling and coaching method Introvision as method of reducing somatic symptoms (tinnitus, neck strain) and in particular the so resulting stress was tested. It based on the transactional stress model and the theory of mental Introferenz is a connection between consciousness and the emergence of conflicts of stress, as well as its specific somatic effects is produced. Subsequently, the data of both experimental and control groups are compared and brought into relation. In particular, three aspects are considered: the extent of exposure (as measured by the GSI and the TICS) between the study groups (tinnitus, neck strain), the development of the different study groups (tinnitus, neck strain) over time (pre, post, follow-up ) and possible similarities. On the one hand it can be said that comparable on a theoretical level in coping with stressful events in the sense of conflict avoidance strategies, the Introvision is however used as a conflict resolution strategy, and thus provides a means for the alternative stress management. The study groups differed in their baseline levels of both the normal population and from each other (in some cases significantly). Both study groups improved significantly compared to the control group, and have a similar profile. Especially in the initial values for the stress they are different, which suggests that tinnitus sufferers use different coping strategies (dramatized) (minimize) as concerned with neck tension. The Introvision proves consulting and coaching method for reducing the burden of somatic complaints and stress, as well as prevention methods, ie the further deterioration of symptoms (compared to the control group), one advancing chronicity process works effectively.