Quantitative Techniques of Sociological Research

Recommended Prerequisites

n.a.

Teaching Methods

The active methods are privileged, being the expository reduced to the essential, just to explain concepts and provide guidelines. The course is taught in theoretical-practical and practice laboratory lessons. Practical laboratory lessons are organized on the basis of concrete studies (under projects developed in FEUC and CES). Also a set of slides containing the fundamental topics and a set of solved exercises are presented during all classes. Students have access to an additional set of exercises to solve outside the classroom, although some of these are solved during classes

Learning Outcomes

The curricular unit Quantitative Techniques of Sociological Research aims to introduce students to empirical research in Sociology through quantitative methodologies. It addresses the concepts of methods and techniques, highlighting the dynamic nature of the research process, with particular emphasis on the survey by questionnaire.
On the one hand, it seeks to develop students’ reflective capacity in the design of research projects, including the definition of the universe and sample, the construction of the questionnaire, the processing of information, and the sociological and socio-political interpretation of results. On the other hand, it fosters a critical perspective on the potential meanings and limitations of statistical data

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

CP1.Sociological research: principles, methods and operationalisation
1.Princ. and conditions of using quantitative research techniques
2.Extensive methods in sociological inquiry
3.Analytical models and the operationalisation of concepts
CP2. Defining the empirical field: universe and sampling
1.Statistical representativeness
2.Main sampling techn.
CP3.The survey by questionnaire
1.Survey design: adequacy of the instrument to research objectives
2.Quest. items: types and formulation
3.Structure and layout of the questionnaire
4.Strategies for survey administration
5.Online surveys: specificities and challenges
CP4.Opinion and attitude scales
1.Scales as measurement instruments
2.Thurstone, Likert and Guttman scales
3.Reliability and validity of scales
CP5.Survey development
1.Pre-test
2.Pre-coding
3.Pl. the survey rollout
4.Pl. data processing
CP6.Data analysis and communication
1.Techniques for analysing results
2.Strategies for presenting and sociological interpretation of results

Head Lecturer(s)

Luís Filipe da Silva Martins

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Synthesis work: 50.0%
Frequency: 50.0%

Bibliography

Bolton, K., & Brace, I. (2022). Questionnaire design. London: Kogan Page.
Ferreira, V. (1997). O inquérito por questionário na construção de dados sociológicos. In A. S. Silva & J. M. Pinto (Orgs.), Metodologia das ciências sociais. Porto: Afrontamento.
Foddy, W. (1996). Como perguntar. Oeiras: Celta.
Iarossi, G. (2011). O poder da concepção em inquéritos por questionário. Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.
Moreira, J. M. (2009). Questionários: Teoria e prática. Coimbra: Almedina.
McClave, J. T., Benson, P. G., & Sincich, T. (2009). Estatística para administração e economia. São Paulo: Pearson/Prentice-Hall.
Osuna, JR (2005), Métodos de Muestreo. Casos Prácticos (2ªed), Madrid, CIS
Peytcheva, E., & Yan, T. (2025). A practical guide to survey questionnaire design. London: Routledge.