Method for determining a capacitance and/or a change in capacitance of a capacitive sensor element, including the steps of: a) discharging an average value capacitor, and either b1) discharging the capacitive sensor element and c1) charging an operating capacitor to a charging voltage, or b2) discharging the operating capacitor and c2) charging the capacitive sensor element to the charging voltage, d) connecting the operating capacitor to the capacitive sensor element and subsequently separating the operating capacitor from the capacitive sensor element, e) connecting the operating capacitor to the average value capacitor, and f) evaluating a voltage established across the operating capacitor or across the average value capacitor in order to determine the capacitance and/or the change in capacitance, characterized in that - in step e), after connecting the operating capacitor to the average value capacitor, the operating capacitor is separated from the average value capacitor and, before step f), the steps b1) and c1) or b2) and c2) to e) are repeated a predefined number of times, or - in step e), after connecting the operating capacitor to the average value capacitor, the operating capacitor is separated from the average value capacitor, and the steps b1) and c1) or b2) and c2) to f) are repeated until a predefined threshold voltage is established across the operating capacitor or across the average value capacitor in step f), a number of repetitions being evaluated additionally in order to determine the capacitance and/or the change in capacitance. a) discharging an average value capacitor, and either b1) discharging the capacitive sensor element and c1) charging an operating capacitor to a charging voltage, or b2) discharging the operating capacitor and c2) charging the capacitive sensor element to the charging voltage, b1) discharging the capacitive sensor element and c1) charging an operating capacitor to a charging voltage, or b2) discharging the operating capacitor and c2) charging the capacitive sensor element to the charging voltage, d) connecting the operating capacitor to the capacitive sensor element and subsequently separating the operating capacitor from the capacitive sensor element, e) connecting the operating capacitor to the average value capacitor, and f) evaluating a voltage established across the operating capacitor or across the average value capacitor in order to determine the capacitance and/or the change in capacitance, characterized in that - in step e), after connecting the operating capacitor to the average value capacitor, the operating capacitor is separated from the average value capacitor and, before step f), the steps b1) and c1) or b2) and c2) to e) are repeated a predefined number of times, or - in step e), after connecting the operating capacitor to the average value capacitor, the operating capacitor is separated from the average value capacitor, and the steps b1) and c1) or b2) and c2) to f) are repeated until a predefined threshold voltage is established across the operating capacitor or across the average value capacitor in step f), a number of repetitions being evaluated additionally in order to determine the capacitance and/or the change in capacitance. - in step e), after connecting the operating capacitor to the average value capacitor, the operating capacitor is separated from the average value capacitor and, before step f), the steps b1) and c1) or b2) and c2) to e) are repeated a predefined number of times, or - in step e), after connecting the operating capacitor to the average value capacitor, the operating capacitor is separated from the average value capacitor, and the steps b1) and c1) or b2) and c2) to f) are repeated until a predefined threshold voltage is established across the operating capacitor or across the average value capacitor in step f), a number of repetitions being evaluated additionally in order to determine the capacitance and/or the change in capacitance.