Quantitative Methodology in Scientific Research

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

The course consists of seven modules, organized with respect to the main steps that should be followed in the development of a scientific research project based on the quantitative paradigm. Different forms of assessments are proposed throughout the course. For a student to successfully pass the course he/she must have at least a grade of 10 (out of a maximum grade of 20) to pass the course successfully. Their final grade will be the sum of the different assessment components.

Learning Outcomes

(1)To promote the understanding of the nature of a quantitative based scientific research within the social and human sciences

(2)To spur the reading and critical analysis of scientific research reports

(3)To enable students to plan scientific research projects appropriately, taking into consideration all the main steps involved

(4)To describe a quantitative research design, to connect it to the appropriate statistical analysis, taking into consideration the different types of data that can be found in real research problems

(5)To promote students’ competencies with the software IBM SPSS Statistics, namely when developing a data base, performing a statistical analysis and interpreting the results within the context of the research problem

(6)To promote correct methodological and informed decisions in the course of a scientific research project

To describe the main rules for the organization of a written scientific report, whether in the format of an article or a thesis

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Module 1: Science and the underlying principles related to knowledge building.

Module 2: From the general research questions to the formulation of clear scientific problems.

Module 3: The hypothesis as possible answers that can be empirically validated.

Module 4: The architecture of research work: possible research designs and questions related to internal and external validity.

Module 5: Techniques of data collection: construction, application and validation.

Module 6: Data statistical analysis, interpretation and contextualization of the results.

Module 7: The organization of a scientific report.

Head Lecturer(s)

Cristina Maria Coimbra Vieira

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Two individual and mandatory moments of evaluation: the first one at the end of Module 3, which represents 30% of the final grade; and the second one at the end of the last module (7), worth 45% of the final classification. The remaining 25% of the evaluation is associated with several small activities proposed to students throughout the course: 100.0%

Bibliography

Abell, N., Springer, D. W., & Kamata, A. (2009). Developing and validating rapid assessment instruments. Oxford University Press.

Aliaga, M. and Gunderson, B. (2006). Interactive statistics (3^rd Edition). New York: Prentice Hall.

Almeida, L.,& Freire, T. (2008). Metodologia da Investigação em Psicologia e Educação (5ª ed.). Braga: Psiquilíbrios.

Ary, D. et al. (1990). Introduction to research in education. Forth Worth: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.

Bell, J. (2002). Como realizar um projecto de investigação em ciências sociais. Lisboa: Gradiva.

Charles, C. M. (1988). Introduction to educational research. London: Longman.

Coutinho, C. P. (2013). Metodologia de Investigação em Ciências Sociais e Humanas: Teoria e Prática (2ª ed.). Almedina.

Fraenkel, J. R., & Wallen, N. E. (2003). How to design and evaluate research in education (5th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Hill, M. M., & Hill, A. (2000). Investigação por questionário. Lisboa: Edições Sílabo.

Hoaglin, D., Mosteller, F., &Tukey, J. (1983). Análise Exploratória de Dados: Técnicas Robustas: um guia.Lisboa: Edições Salamandra.

McMillan, J. H. & Schumacher, S. (1989). Research in education: A conceptual introduction. Glenview: Scott, Foresman and Company.

Moore, G. (1983). Developing and evaluating educational research. Boston: Little Brown and Company.

Moreira, J. M. (2004). Questionários: Teoria e Prática. Coimbra: Livraria Almedina.

Newton, R. R., & Rudestam, K. E. (1999). Your statistical consultant: Answers to your data analysis questions.Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Pestana, D., & Velosa, S. (2008). Introdução à Probabilidade e à Estatística (3ª Edição). Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.

Quivy, R., & Campenhoudt, L. V. (2008). Manual de investigação em ciências sociais (5ª ed.). Lisboa: Gradiva.

Tuckman, B. W. (2012). Manual de investigação em educação: Metodologia para conceber e realizar o processo de investigação científica (4ª ed.). Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.

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.