Project's Test

Recommended Prerequisites

      The  students should have knowledge of the disciplines of  Sources of Sociological Information, Introduction to Research Methodology and the units of research methods and techniques in sociology. This is an academic unit to be taken at the end of the course.

 

Teaching Methods

In the first part of the course, classes are based on lecturing and training on the different stages of research and includes the following procedures for: 1) selection and listing of critical variables, 2) development of the state of the art, 3) planning of a project, 4) formulation of hypotheses and designing methodology, 5) development of timelines; 6) institutional support resources, 7) reporting and dissemination of results.

In the second part students will present the progress of the preparation of the project, identifying the difficulties and suggested options.

Learning Outcomes

Overall objectives

This course aims to train the students in the practices of designing, implementing and presenting of a research project. The syllabus emphasizes the practical aspect of this course, geared to address the different phases of a research project, from conception to presentation and disclosure of results

 

Specific objectives

To internalize the structure of a research project and to train its different phases: design and layout of the research, preparation and presentation of the project

 

Generic competencies

The unit test project aims to operationalize knowledge and skills acquired in the course both at theoretical and methodological levels.

Specific competencies

In the essay, students should be able to: i) define the subject that prompted the research, ii) examine the sources of information; iii) Select documents; iv) collect information; v) Treat the information vi) prepare a report .

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. What is a research project

1.1. How to design a research project

1.2. Types of research projects

2. The elements of a research project

2.1. Understanding and clarifying the issue

2.2. The starting quaestion

2.3. Search, selection and collection of information

2.4. Information processing

2.5. State of the art and model analysis

2.4. Objectives, hypotheses and operationalization

2.6. Human resources and financial resources

2.7. Organization and scheduling of tasks

3. Preparation and presentation of research projects

3.1. Preparing a dissertation proposal

3.2. Developing a research project

3.3. Entities funding of research projects

4. Project results

4.1. Preparing interim and final reports

4.2. Arguing and debating in the scientific context

4.3. Scientific and unscientific publications

Head Lecturer(s)

Sílvia Maria Dias Ferreira

Assessment Methods

Continuous Assessment
A review of the presentation of another student : 5.0%
Oral presentation of a part of the research project : 20.0%
An essay with a maximum of 20 pages, in which is shown the research project: 75.0%

Final Assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

BECKER, Howard S. — Segredos e truques da pesquisa. Rio de Janeiro : Jorge Zahar Editores, 2008. [BP 001.8 BEK]

BELL, Judith — Como realizar um projecto de investigação : um guia para a pesquisa em ciências sociais e da educação. 3ª ed.. Lisboa : Gradiva, 2004. [BP 001.8 BEL

CRISTÓVÃO, Fernando - Método : sugestões para a elaboração de um ensaio ou tese. Lisboa : Edições Colibri ; Centro de Literatura de Expressão Portuguesa da Universidade de Lisboa, 2001.[BP 001.8 CRI]

O'LEARY, Zina - The essential guide to doing your research project. Reprint.. Los Angeles : Sage Publications, 2010. [BP 001.8 OLE]

QUIVY, Raymond ; CAMPENHOUDT, Luc Van — Manual de investigação em ciências sociais. 4ª ed. rev. e aument.. Lisboa : Gradiva, 2005. [BP 303 QUI]

SOUSA, Gonçalo de Vasconcelos e - Metodologia da investigação, redacção e apresentação de trabalhos científicos. Porto : Livraria Civilização Editora, 1998. [BP 001.8 SOU]