Research Methods and Techniques - 1st semester

Objectives

a) Present the main tools required to study the social phenomenon, bearing in mind its understanding, analysis, presentation and methodological rigor
b) Provide theoretical concepts inherent to the scientific acknowledgment
c) Provide the methodological tools essential to carry out research;
d) Learn about the several types of methods and techniques that can be used in the social sciences study, in order to be able to analysis and criticize some issues.

General characterization

Code

711071043

Credits

Responsible teacher

Carmen Rodrigues Silva Fonseca

Hours

Weekly - 4

Total - Available soon

Teaching language

Portuguese

Prerequisites

None.

Bibliography

BELL, Judith Como realizar um projecto de investigação: um guia para a pesquisa em ciências sociais e da educação. Lisboa: Gradiva, 1997. [CS 12640 - FCSH]
BRYMAN, Alan e TEEVAN, James J. Social research methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. [CS 11690]
ECO, Umberto Como se faz uma tese em ciências humanas. Lisboa: Editorial Presença, 1998.
QUIVY, Raymond e Campenhoudt, Luc Van Manual de investigação em ciências sociais, 2ª ed. rev. e aument. Lisboa: Gradiva, 1998. [CS 10614/C - FCSH]
THOMAS, Gary How to do Your Research Project. A Guide for Students in Education and Applied Social Sciences. Londres: SAGE Publications, 2009. Capítulo 6, disponível em: http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/28073_Thomas(Research).pdf

Teaching method

Theoretical and practice classes. Exhibition of the contents, concepts and problems, and presentation of main issues examples that will be discussed with the students.

Evaluation method

Team work: 30%
Exam: 70%

Subject matter

1. The scientific acknowledgment. a) Theoretical and epistemological problems of social science. b) Concepts. c) Deontology and ethic.
2. The scientific research. a) The research process. b) The project: definition, problematic, analyses models, variables, hypotheses.
3. Qualitative and quantitative methods and techniques. a) Main features. b) Advantages and disadvantages.
4. The Information Resources. a) Typology. b) Resources research and critics. c) Deontological and quoting rules. d) Bibliographic presentation rules.
5. Academic works. a) Typology. b) Academic writing, structure and presentation rules. c) The book review.

Programs

Programs where the course is taught:

Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations