Methodology in Sociological Research - 1st semester
Objectives
1. Methodological knowledge and skills to delineate and manage, in an integrated and evolutive way, a basic or applied research project required for completing the non lective component of the master. 2. Knowledge and understanding of the main strategies and technical options available to social science research, and the ability to combine them in keeping with their research objectives. 3. Ability to communicate and engage in critical and refexive discussion of research projects.
General characterization
Code
722081071
Credits
10
Responsible teacher
Ana Lúcia Teixeira, Ana Nestal Roque
Hours
Weekly - 3 letivas + 1 tutorial
Total - Available soon
Teaching language
Portuguese with teacher supervision in FL
Prerequisites
Does not apply
Bibliography
Bardin, L. (2009). Análise de conteúdo. Lisboa: Edições 70. Bryman, A. (2012). Social research methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Guerra, I. C. (2006). Pesquisa qualitativa e análise de conteúdo. Sentidos e formas de uso, Parede: Principia editora. Hill, A., & Hill, M. M. (2008). Investigação por questionário. Lisboa: Edições Sílabo. Lisboa, M. (2016) (Coord.). Metodologias de investigação sociológica: problemas e soluções a partir de estudos empíricos. Vila Nova de Famalicão: Húmus. Quivy, R., & Campenhoudt, L. V. (2008). Manual de Investigação em Ciências Sociais. Lisboa: Gradiva. Silva, A. S., & Pinto, J. M. (Org.) (1986). Metodologia das Ciências Sociais. Porto: Afrontamento. Vicente, P., Reis, E., & Ferrão, F. (2011). Sondagens: a amostragem como factor decisivo de qualidade. Lisboa: Sílabo.
Teaching method
The professors give framing synthesis lectures on all topics in the syllabus, which are deepened with the assigned readings. In parallell, students are asked to present the ongoing progress of their personal projects during the collective tutorial, from the first delineation of a research theme and its problematisation, the building in of outcomes of their autonomous literature review and their methodological learning, up to the final project design. The syllabus culminates with the discussion of the students´ individual projects.
Evaluation method
The final written project weighs 100%.
Subject matter
1. Scientific method, operationalization and research planning. Research strategy. Steps: problematization; hypothesis construction; construction of the observation field; empirical operationalization of data collection and processing; analysis of results and discussion. 2. Types of methodological approaches: quantitative; qualitative and mixed. Examples of research projects. 3. Quantitative approaches for data collection, data management and statistical analysis (univariate, bivariate and multivariate). Application examples. 4. Qualitative approaches: interviews, life histories and qualitative data managements and analysis (eg Content Analysis). Application examples. 5. Mixed methodological instruments. Application examples. 6. Workshops with students based on the themes of their final assignments. 7. Final discussion of the research projects.