Research Methodologies

Subject: 2023/2024 - 2S

Programmes

Hours Effectively Taught

MDCM1

Software

Microsoft Office PowerPoint

IBM SPSS Statistics

GNU PSPP

Mendeley

QDA Miner Lite

Microsoft Office Excel

Teaching Language

Portuguese

Aims, Skills and Learning Outcomes

Descriptive summary of course unit
This curricular unit brings together a set of essential information for the execution of the master's final work, guiding students in fulfilling the main stages of the research and/or reflection process and following a structured and logically sequential methodology, ranging from choice from the theme and definition of the problem, to the critical analysis of the results and conclusions.

Objectives and learning outcomes
The preparation of the individual final work is the main objective of this course, seeking that students comply with the main rules of execution of scientific work, revealing knowledge about the stages of the investigation process and the formal structure of the work. In addition, it is also intended to:
1) Keep students focused and motivated in carrying out scientific work, based on their guidance and permanent monitoring;
2) Provide students with the ability to find the starting point of their work, namely in the definition and characterization of the research problem and its strategic action plan;
3) Sensitize students to the importance of literature review both in a pre-project phase to help substantiate the choice of the topic to be studied, as in a later phase to create the theoretical basis for all empirical work;
4) Helping to define the scientific method within the research process, identifying the main sources of information and data collection techniques;
5) To give a critical attitude to the analysis of the results of the work in order to draw conclusive conclusions regarding the explanation of the identified problem.

Skills to be developed
With the body of knowledge acquired, students should be able to:
1) Understand the process of creating and developing a research work;
2) Analytically identifying problems and defining a work plan to study them, identifying the best data collection techniques for this purpose;
3) Use tools to support the statistical analysis of the data collected, in order to support a critical analysis of the results;
4) Perform good time management in the execution of each phase of the investigation work in order to ensure compliance with pre-defined deadlines.

Programme

1. Introduction
1.1. Work's Type
1.2. Structure and Rules

2. Research Problem
2.1. Features and ethics research
2.2. research problem discussion
2.3. research strategy

3. Literature Review
3.1 Purpose and planning research
3.2 Information sources and types of analysis
3.3 construction method of literature review

4. Operational Steps of the Research Process
4.1. Construction of Hypotheses/Objectives
4.2. Identification and selection of variables
4.3. Research Methods
4.3.1. Definition of scientific method
4.3.2. Sampling techniques
4.4. Data collection techniques
4.4.1. Classification of technical
4.4.2. Data collection tools
4.4.2.1 Interview
4.4.2.2 The questionnaire

5. Quantitative research methodologies
5.1. Empirical analysis and contextualization
5.1.1. Comparative and statistical methods
5.2. Data analysis and interpretation of results
5.2.1. Construction and subsequent procedures of a database
5.2.2 Descriptive analysis of variables
5.2.3 Parametric and non-parametric tests
5.3. Linear Regression Models
5.4. Discreet choice models
5.5. Factor analysis and structural equations
5.6. Conclusions and future guidelines

6. Qualitative research methodologies
6.1. Methods of data collection
6.1.1. The observation
6.1.2. The individual and group interview
6.1.3. Other qualitative strategies for data collection (biographical approach, direct observation and documentary analysis)
6.2. Qualitative method of data analysis
6.2.1 Content analysis: coding, categorization and interpretation of information

Demonstration of the syllabus coherence with the curricular unit's learning objectives

The first two objectives are reached at the end of the program, culminating with the completion of the project work. The third objective is explored in the first three chapters of the program. It is important to note that the Mendeley software is used for the management of bibliographic references, since it allows the collection and insertion of citations and bibliographic references in text. The 4th objective is dealt with in points 5 and 6 of the program using quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The 5th objective is explored in carrying out the project work.

Main literature

Supplementary Bibliography

Learning Methods

The contents of this curricular unit will be exposed mainly in tutorial classes, combining the theoretical exposition of the main concepts, methodologies and techniques with the discussion of practical cases and the resolution of application exercises. To this end, computer support means will be used, namely the Microsoft Powerpoint software, to present the program contents, as well as other support tools, namely the Mendeley, GNU PSPP, QDA Miner Lite and Microsoft Excel software, available databases in different organizations and publications of scientific articles available in academic journals of reference. During the classes, the proactivity and critical attitude of students towards the issues under discussion will be encouraged. 

Assessment Components

Avaliação distribuída com exame final

Assessment Components

Continuous Assessment

Final Exam

A final assessment test: 40%
Completion of a scientific paper/article (individual): 60%

Proofs and special works

Demonstration of the coherence between the teaching methodologies and the learning outcomes

In order to achieve the objectives described above, the classes include the presentation of theoretical content using the Microsoft PowerPoint program. In the application of the contents taught, practical cases, exercises and databases are made available to students to apply the acquired knowledge. Regarding the 3rd objective, the Mendeley program is used, and in the 4th objective, to face the quantitative methodologies, the software Microsoft Excel and the GNU PSPP are used, and to deal with the qualitative methodologies, the software is used. QDA Miner Lite. As for the 5th objective, it is evaluated with the completion of the scientific article.