Methods and Techniques of In-depth Research

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Objectives

1. Understand and identify key paradigms and research methods in the social sciences.

2. Acquire skills in the main methods and techniques used in the social sciences in order to develop scientific projects.

3. Develop skills in qualitative and quantitative analysis of social data.

Program

Module 1.Paradigms and research methodologies.

1.1. The different paradigms

1.2. Research Methods

1.2.1 . The quantitative research

1.2.2. Qualitative research

1.2.3. The mixed approach

Module 2. The research process.

2.1. Review of literature

2.2. The problems and the formulation of a theoretical perspective

2.3. The definition of the variables

2.4. The formulation of hypotheses

2.5 The sampling process.

2.6 Data collection

2.6.1. Assumptions.

2.6.2. A quantitative observation.

2.6.3. The qualitative observation.

Qualitative Interviews

Other methods

Module 3. Main Issues on data analysis

3.1.The analysis of quantitative data

3.1.1. Quantitative analysis of the content

3.1.2. The statistical analysis

3.1.3. Analyze and interpret the quantitative data

3.2. The analysis of qualitative data.

3.2.1. Organize the data

3.2.2.Coding the data

3.2.3.Analyze and interpret the qualitative data

Teaching Methodologies

From the defined goals, we chose an approach that emphasizes the active participation of students in the design and development of research projects. The exercises in the classroom-oriented for the factual and conceptual evaluation; the oral presentation of a research problem and the realization of an individual essay allows to assess the understanding of the  subject content.

Bibliography

Almeida, João Ferreira e Pinto, José Madureira (1995) A investigação nas Ciências Sociais, Lisboa, Editorial Presença (UA-SD301.0 A448in)

Bravo, R. Sierra (1998). Técnicas de Investigación Social. Teoría y Ejercicios. Madrid, Editorial Parainfo, 12 ed.

Chabot, Jean Luc e Macarez, Nicolas. (1995) Méthodes en sciences sociales. Paris, PUF

Coutinho, Clara Pereira (2013), Metodologia de Investigação em Ciências Sociais e Humanas. Teoria e Prática (2ªedição),Coimbra, Almedina.

Gauthier, Benoît (2009) Recherche Sociale. De la problématique à la collecte des données. Québec, Presses Universitaires du Québec

Quivy, Raymond e Campenhoudt, Luc Van. Manual de investigação em Ciências Sociais. Lisboa, Gradiva, 2 Ed. 1998.

Rongère, Pierrette (1975). Méthodes des Sciences Sociales. Paris, Dalloz, 1975

Sampieri, Roberto Hernandez, Collado, Carlos Fernandez, Lúcio, Pilar Baptista. (2006) Metodologia de pesquisa. São Paulo, Mc Graw-Hill, (3ªed)

Code

0200916

ECTS Credits

7.5

Classes

  • Orientação Tutorial - 10 hours
  • Teóricas - 15 hours
  • Teórico-Práticas - 15 hours

Evaluation Methodology

  • Frequency: 50%
  • Individual and/or Group Work: 50%