Thesis Project - RNEE-AFA

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

Teaching method with expository sessions and tutorial guidance. The lab-practice component is associated to problem resolution situations and to the use of specific literature search software and to access to different information sources. At tutorial guidance level students are encouraged to participate and present their ideas orally, to discussion them and ask questions and doubts, encouraging interactive learning between the different actors in the teaching-learning process. Students are also encouraged to participate in an active learning process, reading articles and book chapters, with a minimum of 20 articles in English (20x4 hours) and 10 articles in Portuguese (10x2 hours). It is assumed that an article in English requires four hours and an article in Portuguese 2 hours of reading.

Learning Outcomes

The course aims to develop methodological and experimental design skills leading to the preparation of a dissertation project under the field of Sport Sciences or other related fields. Thereby promotes the development of the following specific competencies:
[1] Critical thinking
[2] Formulation of research questions
[3] Transform a research question in to a research project
[4] Search and analyze, methodically, the bibliographical sources, using appropriate electronic tools
[5] Analyze and define methodologies
[6] Make choices in terms of data analysis and processing.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Steps for the project: [1] Choose the theme of the study, [2] Literature review / revision of the state of the art; [3] Conceptualization of the problem, [4] Definition of the aims of study, [5] Definition of cases / research questions, [6] Definition of the sample, [7] Definition of variables to analyse (based on pre-defined problem) [8] Selection of measurement instruments (questionnaires, laboratory equipment, etc.) [9] Definition of study procedures (based on measurement instruments selected) [10] General time schedule (clear definition of the different stages, times of monitoring); Steps not included in the project: [11] Data Collection, [12] Organization and cleaning the data, [13] Data analyses, [14] Presentation of the results, [15] Discussion of the results and [16] Conclusions.

Head Lecturer(s)

José Pedro Leitão Ferreira

Assessment Methods

Continuous
Preparation of a thesis project: 100.0%

Bibliography

[1]Delanty, G. (2000). Social Science: Beyond Constructivism and Realism. Buckingham: Open University Press.

[2]Smith, M.J. (1998). Social Science in question. London: Sage Publications.

[3]Thomas, J., Nelson, J., & Silverman, S. (2005). Research Methods in Physical Activity. Champaign, Illinois. Human Kinetics.

[4]Bryman, A. (2012). Social Research Methods (4^th Edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[5]Howell, D.C. (2010). Statistical Methods for Psychology (7^th Edition). Belmont: Wadsworth.