Methodology of Educational Research II

Recommended Prerequisites

Methodology of Educational Research I.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical and practical classes with moments of lecturing followed by group work.

Training of empirical data collection techniques, such as the design of Observation and Interview Guides.

Reading and discussion of texts and other documents relevant for the curricular unit and specified by the teacher.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this cu students should be able:

- To understand the contribution that qualitative methodologies can make to research in education.

- To know the main characteristics of the qualitative approach and the plans and relevant techniques.

- To analyze the advantages of qualitative methodologies and their main limitations, within the study of educational problems.

- To reflect on ethical issues that arise in planning, execution and publication of the results of a qualitative research in education.

- To develop skills that enable to choose the suitable for the study of a concrete educational problem qualitative terms.

- To train some techniques of qualitative data analysis in excerpts from interviews.

- To be able to read with critical thinking researches published resulting from empirical studies more of qualitative nature.

- To understand the possible complementarity of approaches in the construction of scientific knowledge.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Main characteristics of qualitative research.

2. History of the emergence of qualitative research throughout the twentieth century.

3. Elaboration of a glossary of key importance for the Curricular Unit.

4. Phases of qualitative research: some examples from real research.

5. The credibility of a qualitative study:issues concerning fidelity and validity of reached findings.

6. Detailed analysis of some qualitative research plans (eg. case study, participatory research).

7. Detailed analysis of some qualitative research techniques (eg.open-ended interview, participant observation).

8. Brief approach on some qualitative techniques of analysis: content analysis, discourse analysis, etc..

9. How to elaborate the report of a qualitative study: possible structures.

10. Ethical aspects to be considered in the course of a qualitative research.

Head Lecturer(s)

Cristina Maria Coimbra Vieira

Assessment Methods

Final evaluation
Exam: 100.0%

Continuous evaluation
Frequency: 50.0%
Synthesis work: 50.0%

Bibliography

Amado, J. (Org.). (2013). Manual de investigação qualitativa em educação. Coimbra: Imprensa da UC.

Bogdan, R., & Biklen, S. (1994). Investigação qualitativa em educação: Uma introdução à teoria e aos métodos. Porto: Porto Editora.

Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.). (2011). Handbook of qualitative research (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Schwandt, T. A. (1997). Qualitative inquiry: A dictionary of terms. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Vieira, C. C. (1995). Investigação quantitativa e investigação qualitativa: uma abordagem comparativa. Provas de Aptidão Pedagógica e Capacidade Científica apresentadas à Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade de Coimbra.

Vieira, C. C. (1999). A credibilidade da investigação científica de natureza qualitativa: Questões relativas à sua fidelidade e validade. Revista Portuguesa de Pedagogia, 33(2), 89-116.

Yin, R. K. (2008). Case study research. Design and methods (4th ed.). London: Sage.