| Code |
13396
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| Year |
1
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| Semester |
S2
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| ECTS Credits |
6
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| Workload |
OT(15H)/TP(30H)
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| Scientific area |
Sociology
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Entry requirements |
Not applicable.
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Mode of delivery |
Face-to-face.
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Work placements |
Not applicable.
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Learning outcomes |
Overall Objective: To equip students to design, plan and execute research in Social Sciences, critically understanding research methods and their relationship with social and political problems.
Specific Objectives:
• Foundations of Social Research: Identify paradigms and methodological strategies, understanding the scientific logic.
• Research Strategies: Distinguish qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods, relating them to research objectives.
• Critical Thinking: Analyse studies, identify limitations in the production of knowledge.
• Theory and Empiricism: Define objects of study, elaborate state-of-the-art reviews and operationalise concepts.
• Practical Application: Construct research designs, apply data collection and analysis techniques.
• Ethics in Research: Apply ethical principles in data collection and processing.
• Academic Writing: Write scientific texts with rigour, use citation standards and reflect on the learning process.
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Syllabus |
1. (Re)updating the main notions of Methodology in Social Sciences: the logic and strategy of scientific research
• Scientific Logic:
- Understanding the principles of deductive and inductive reasoning.
- Exploring the importance of falsifiability and replication in research.
- Distinguishing between causality and correlation.
• Research Strategy:
Examining different approaches, such as case studies, survey research and experiments.
Analysing sample selection and the generalisation of results.
Considering the triangulation of methods to increase validity.
2. (Re)updating the main concepts of Methodology in Social Sciences: the logic and strategy of scientific research
• Knowledge as construction and abstraction
• Components of a research project
• Scientific research work and forms of dissemination
• Types of research and investigation strategies
• Consultation of bibliographic databases and national and international indicators
• From theory to empiric
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Main Bibliography |
Bryman, Alan (2004 [2001]). Social Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cardenal, Eugenia (2016). Biography and Story in Sociological Analysis. The Contribution of the BNIM (Biographic-Narrative Interpretive Method) School. Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas, 155: 55-72.
Caetano, Ana (2017). Pensar na Vida. Biografias e Reflexividade Individual. Lisboa: Editora Mundos Sociais.
Foddy, Wiliam (1996). Como Perguntar?Teoria e prática da construção de entrevistas e questionários. Oeiras: CELTA.
Ghiglione, Rodolphe & Matalon, Benjamin (1995) [1985]. O inquérito teoria e prática., Oeiras: Celta
Laurel, B. (ed.) (2003).Laurel, B. (ed.) (2003). Design research: methods and perspectives. Cambridge: Massachusetts: The MIT Press.
Matos, Madalena (2014). Metodologias qualitativas e quantitativas: de que falamos? Fórum Sociológico [Online], 24 | 2014.
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Teaching Methodologies and Assessment Criteria |
The course unit has a strong practical and reflective component. Classes will serve as a workspace for the analysis and discussion of texts and audiovisual materials. The pedagogical approach adopted (Project-Based Learning) involves reading and critically analysing texts, presentations, individual and team work, and writing a learning journal.
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Language |
Portuguese. Tutorial support is available in English.
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