Research Methodology

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

The teaching methods are based on diversified strategies and activities, with recourse to a theoretical explanation of content, oral explanations, the presentation of themes exemplifying their applicability with practical examples and the discussion and resolution of problems through the use of a variety of materials.

Learning Outcomes

The aim of the subject is: 1) to analyse the main methodological issues related to the design of research in Psychology; 2) to promote advanced debate on the theoretical and methodological issues involved in the design of a research study; 3) to critically evaluate the use of different quantitative data analysis methods in research in social and human sciences; 4) to reflect on the concept of qualitative research and; 5) to raise awareness as to the specificity of the qualitative research process in Psychology.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Module I. Research Planning

1. Essential concepts and distinctions in research

2. Design types

3. Other designs and the validity issue

4. Old and new issues: Online data collection and research ethics

Module II. Quantitative Data Analysis Methods

5. The assets of research statistics in Social and Human Sciences

6. Main statistical analysis methods used in Social and Human Sciences

7. Fundamentals of Inferential Analysis, interpretation and writing of findings in accordance with APA norms

Module III. Qualitative Data Analysis Methods

8. Qualitative research paradigms and analytical frameworks

9. Qualitative research in Psychology

Head Lecturer(s)

Eduardo João Ribeiro Santos

Assessment Methods

Evaluation
A qualitative appreciation of the methodology identified in the pre-project: 100.0%

Bibliography

Birnbaum, M. H. (2004). Human research and data collection via the Internet. Annual Review of Psychology 55, 803–832.

Brewer, M. B. (2000). Research design and issues of validity. In H. T. Reis & C. M. Judd (Eds.), Handbook of research methods in social and personality psychology (pp. 3–16). New York: Cambridge University Press.

Campbell, D. T. & Stanley, J. C. (1963). Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for research. Chicago: Rand McNally.

Howell, D. C.(2001). Statistical methods for psychology (5th edition). Pacific Grove, CA: Duxbury/Thomson Learning Inc.

Levitin, D. J. (2002) Experimental design in psychological research. In D. J. Levitin (Ed). Foundations of Cognitive Psychology (pp.115-130). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Maroco, J. (2011). Análise Estatística com o SPSS Statistics. Pêro Pinheiro: ReportNumber.

Rosenthal, R. (1994). Science and ethics in conducting, analyzing, and reporting psychological research. Psychological Science, 5,127-134.