Thesis Project

Recommended Prerequisites

Knowledge of techniques and styles of academic writing.

Teaching Methods

This seminar focuses on the ongoing presentation and discussion of the student’s work and progress before the seminar’s convenor as well as fellow students. This work supposes the continuous supervision of each student work by the respectiv individual supervisors. 

Learning Outcomes

This course links the course on Research Methods to that of the Thesis and aims at overseeing the students in the process of writing their thesis proposal. Seminar classes, alongside with supervisions, will help students identify key issues in the development of their research projects, as well as underlying ethical issues.In the end, students should be able to design the theoretical and methodological approach for their individual research projects, identifying their goals, their conceptual and analytical framework and the appropriate methods and techniques to implement their research. Each research project proposal will be presented and discussed before a jury that will assess the quality and capacity of the student to move forward to the UC Thesis, in a session convened specifically for the purpose.

The research project proposals will be either in the field of political science or sociology, depending on the scientific framework of the student’s research proposal. 

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Seminar sessions focus on discussing the epistemological and methodological approaches to scientific research.

The syllabus envisages the fundamental components of a thesis project, in order to ensure that, by the end of the semester, each student has outlined their thesis proposal, in order to be discussed and defended.

The key issues are:

- Questions, objects and methodological design of the research;

- State of the art and theoretical framework;

- The relationship between epistemological conceptions, theoretical positions and methodological orientations;

- Specialization and inter/transdisciplinarity;

- Thesis’ relevance and contribution;

- Research and/as intervention. Research and ontological politics. Research ethics and responsibility.

Head Lecturer(s)

Marcos Andres Spognardi

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Project: 100.0%

Bibliography

Bibliografia básica convergente com a UC de Metodologia de Investigação:/Basic readings converge with the UC on Research Methods:

Becker, H. S. (2008), Segredos e truques da pesquisa. Rio de Janeiro : Jorge Zahar Editor

Becker, H. S.; Richards, P. (1986), Writing for social scientists: how to start and finish your thesis, book, or article. Chicago : University of Chicago Press

Bell, J. (2004), Como realizar um projecto de investigação : um guia para a pesquisa em ciências sociais e da educação. 3ª ed. Lisboa : Gradiva

Charmaz, K. (2008), Constructing grounded theory: a practical guide through qualitative analysis. Thousand Oaks : Sage Publications.

Creswell, John W. (2018), Research design: qualitative, quantitative, & mixed methods approaches. Los Angeles : Sage Publications.

Denscombe, M. (2011), The good research guide for small-scale social research projects. Maidenhead : Open University Press.