Call for Papers for ESA RN21 Midterm Conference "Quantitative Methods in European Sociology"

Nov 9/10 in Maribor, Slovenia

The Research Network 21 is the representation of quantitative methodology in the European Sociological Association. RN 21 has been re-launched at the 2011 ESA Conference in Geneva. We broadened the scope of the network and aim to covering the full range of quantitative and mixed methods in European sociological research. To mirror this new scope, we changed the network's name from "RENCORE" to "Quantitative Methods".

The mission of ESA RN 21 is to encourage and enhance rigorous empirical sociological research using quantitative and mixed methods in Europe. We promote the use of all varieties of quantitative and mixed methods, including survey research, experimental methods, causal inference, simulation, statistical techniques, comparative methods, and others.

To our 2012 midterm conference we invite everybody engaged in quantitative or mixed methods empirical research, where ever they may be working - European or Non-European. Besides providing an opportunity for discussion of recent developments in European quantitative research the aim of this midterm conference is to vitalize RN 21 and to strengthen the visibility of quantitative methods in the ESA.

The conference will take place in Maribor, Slovenia on November 9 and 10 2012. Maribor is the second largest city of Slovenia and is 2012 European Capital of Culture. The conference is organized in cooperation with the Slovenian Sociological Association. Jointly with the RN21 midterm conference the Slovenian Sociologists will hold their annual conference in Maribor, and we are looking forward to participating in very interesting sociological discussions.

We welcome submissions on all quantitative issues, but especially encourage paper presentations on one of the following topics:

Topic 1: "Measurement Quality and Measurement Equivalence" Topic 2: "Standardizing Variables for Cross-National Survey Research" Topic 3: "Experimental Methods and Simulation in Sociological Research" Topic 4: "Mixing Methods: Moving Beyond the Quantitative-Qualitative Divide" Topic 5: "Migration and European Integration: Methodological Problems and Approaches"

Please submit English language abstracts of about 500 words no later than

*15. September*

by E-mail to henning.best@gesis.org . Please do not forget to include the name(s) of the author(s), his/her/their affiliation(s) and E-mail address(es). Participants will be notified regarding acceptance the latest by the end of September.

Conference fees: The fees will cover organization costs, coffee breaks and the conference dinner. ESA members pay 50 Euros, ESA non-members 70 Euros in conference fees (including the conference dinner). PhD-students pay a reduced fee of 30 Euros. All paper presenters are expected to register by October 1 at the latest.

Key dates: 15. September 2012: Abstract proposals 30. September 2012: Notification of acceptance 1. October 2012: Registration 9./10. November 2012: Conference

We look forward to seeing you in Maribor, Valentina Hlebec and Henning Best