Quantitative Research Practices

Recommended Prerequisites

Mathematics (at the secondary level)

Teaching Methods

The lectures are divided into theoretical and practical. In the theoretical lectures the theoretical exposition is accompanied with practical examples. In the practical classes are solved exercises that illustrate the main concepts.

Students are also encouraged to participate in the classroom, thus stimulating their critical.

In the theoretical lecturers, the concepts are presented using slides and the examples are solved on the board and discussed with the students. In the practical classes, exercises are solved and the participation of the students is encouraged.

Learning Outcomes

Overall objectives:

To develop the ability to think in abstract and the skills to solve quantitative practical problems.

 

Specific objectives:

To develop calculus skills and a concrete and systematic way of thinking;

To develop the ability to organise and analyse quantitative data using statistical tools;

To develop the ability to solve problems with application to the field of Sociology.

 

Generic competencies:

Develop cognitive, methodological and technological competences, in order to enhance the ability to think, solve problems and to organise and treat information.

 

Specific competencies:

Ability to analyse and summarise the information;

Ability to organise and task planning;

Development of skills to manage, organise and treat information;

Stimulate the capacity for solving problems;

Ability to apply knowledge in practice;

Fostering the ability to learn/research.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

PART I-Sets, Functions and Matrices

1Set Theory

1.1The notion of set

1.2Subsets, universal set and set of parties

1.3Euler-Venn diagrams

1.4Operations on sets

1.5Partition of a set

2Functions

2.1Definition

2.2Surjective, injective and bijective functions

2.3Inverse function

2.4Real functions of real variable

2.5Study and graphical representation of lines and quadratic functions

2.6Exponential and logarithmic functions

3Matrices and determinantes

3.1Definition

3.2Operations with matrices: addition and multiplication

3.3Inverse of a matrix

3.4Notion of determinant

3.5Computation of the determinant of a matrix

 PART II - Statistics

4 Descriptive Statistics

4.1 Distribution frequency

4.2 Measures of location

4.3 Measures of dispersion

4.4 Measures of bias and kurtosis

4.5 Measures of concentration: Lorenz Curve and Gini Index

5 Linear Regression

5.1 Diagram of dispersion

5.2 Simple linear regression model

5.3 Coefficient determination and coefficient of linear correlation

Head Lecturer(s)

Humberto José da Silva Pereira Rocha

Assessment Methods

Continuous Assessment
Test with a 30% weight to the final grade : 30.0%
A final Exam, with a weight of 70% to the final grade. There is control of the attendance. : 70.0%

Final Assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

CASTRO, Vítor - Apontamentos teóricos de Práticas de Investigação Quantitativa. Coimbra: FEUC, 2011. [BP 517 CAS]

DOWLING, Edward - Cálculo para economia, gestão e ciências sociais. Lisboa: Editora McGraw-Hill, 1994. [BP 51-7 DOW]

MURTEIRA, Bento [et al.] - Introdução à estatística. Lisboa: Escolar Editora, 2010. [BP 519.2 INT]

LIMA, Teresa P.; VITÓRIA, José - Álgebra linear. Lisboa: Universidade Aberta, 1998. [BP 512 LIM]

MURTEIRA, Bento - Análise exploratória de dados : estatística descritiva. Lisboa: Editora McGraw-Hill, 1996. [BP 519.2 MUR]

MURTEIRA, Bento; HUBERT, George; BLACK, Joseph - Estatística descritiva. Lisboa: Editora McGraw-Hill, 1983. [BP 519.2 MUR]

RAMOS, Madalena; BARROSO, Mário - Métodos quantitativos para as ciências sociais. Lisboa: Editora Sílabo, 2001. [BP 303 RAM]

REIS, Elizabeth - Estatística descritiva. 7ª ed.. Lisboa: Editora Sílabo, 2008. [BP 519.2 REI]