Resources for Researchers

SoSciSurvey: Scientific surveys are free at SoSciSurvey. You can create an account and create your own survey.
Unipark: Some chairs have their own Unipark licenses. For information please contact the Research Methodology Training Centre.

To capture data from questionnaires automatically only makes sense if you have many questionnaires with many questions.

Otherwise, manual data capturing makes more sense. To reduce errors, it is advisable to work with an input mask. For example, you can create a survey at SoSciSurvey (see notes above) and use the online survey as a mask. Alternatively, you can also use a database program (Access) or, if you have the appropriate programming knowledge, create a mask yourself.

If you want to capture questionnaires automatically, you must be aware of the appropriate formatting of the questionnaires in advance. A free program for collecting paper questionnaires would be queXML. But that only makes sense if you are familiar with Linux and server installation. The price of programs is at least in a four-digit range.

R and RStudio: R and the user interface RStudio are mainly used in teaching at the ZU. Both programs are free of charge. In particular, if you work with large data sets or use computationally intensive procedures, you may want to use the R-server of the university. For information please contact the Research Methodology Training Centre.

SPSS can be obtained via the IT Team. For information please activate a ticket in the ticket system via the zu|niverse serviceportal of the ZU.

Stata is used at the ZU only at a few chairs and is not used in teaching. Information on how to order can be obtained from the Research Methodology Training Centre.

MAXQDA is the predominantly used content analysis program for teaching at the ZU.  Information on how to order can be obtained from the Research Methodology Training Centre.
Atlas.ti is an alternative content analysis program that is not used for teaching at the ZU. Information on how to order can be obtained from the Research Methodology Training Centre.

You can also transcribe with MAXQDA. An alternative free program is EASYTRANSCRIPT. The most common program with largest range of functions is  f4.

Information on how to order can be obtained from the Research Methodology Training Centre. For transcriptions it is often helpful to work with a pedal (see below equipment).

Recording Device / Voice Recorder: Recording with smartphones usually works very well, but there are sometimes problems with smartphones having low battery levels, especially on days of multiple interviews, or that the recording will be interrupted by incoming phone calls. For these and some other reasons, the classic voice recorder is not yet out of fashion.
Pedal: Transliterating is much easier if you can stop the record with a pedal.

When you collect data yourself, you need to think about data privacy protection and you need to explain the respondents what you are doing with the data and how you are processing it.

Information on the subject of data protection when collecting qualitative data can be found in the links provided in the right-hand column.

You will also find help with the collection of standardized data in the right-hand column. (see „Muster zur Einhaltung von Datenschutz bei Online-Umfragen herunterladen“ translated "Download privacy compliance sample for online surveys").

SPSS and MAXQDA is installed in the computer room. There is access to the R and Python servers. For more information on how to use it, please contact the Research Methodology Training Centre.

The Media Laboratory has iMacs and a presentation screen with AppleTV.
Photoshop is available as software and a VR space with Valve Index incl. full body measurement by 6x Vive Tracker 3.0. There is a university-owned Steam account with VR software, portable Oculus Quest 2 incl. accessories, OBS and XSOverlay for video recordings in VR without having to put off the headset.