2024
Methods and Techniques of Sociological Research I
Name: Methods and Techniques of Sociological Research I
Code: SOC02404L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Sociology
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Presentation
Stimulating the spirit of scientific discovery and learning how to do sociological research using the best methods and techniques for a more rigorous observation of social life
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
- Provide the basic methods and techniques of scientific research;
- Learn the different stages of practical implementation of a social research, integrating theories and methods;
- Interpret, critically, the methodologies used in works of disclosure, in general scientific research and particularly in the domain of social sciences, especially sociology;
- Contribute to a critical and relativist analysis of the scientific knowledge in its methodological and practical aspects.
- Justify specific methodological and technical components of other curriculum subjects.
- Learn the different stages of practical implementation of a social research, integrating theories and methods;
- Interpret, critically, the methodologies used in works of disclosure, in general scientific research and particularly in the domain of social sciences, especially sociology;
- Contribute to a critical and relativist analysis of the scientific knowledge in its methodological and practical aspects.
- Justify specific methodological and technical components of other curriculum subjects.
Contents
I - Introduction: The social research: importance, usefulness, obstacles and resources; Ethics in research; Strategies and typologies of the Social Research. The Research Project - general operating criteria.
II - The Planification of the Research: Choice of Theme and its delimitation; the hypothesis formulation; measuring in social research.
III - The Collection of Information: the universe to study and sampling techniques. Typologies of the observation and data collection techniques: the available information (types and relevance); the triggered information (questionnaire).
II - The Planification of the Research: Choice of Theme and its delimitation; the hypothesis formulation; measuring in social research.
III - The Collection of Information: the universe to study and sampling techniques. Typologies of the observation and data collection techniques: the available information (types and relevance); the triggered information (questionnaire).
Teaching Methods
The Curricular Unit has a theoretical and practical nature. In theoretical classes, the teacher presents the syllabus orally, using national and international reference bibliography and using documentary and audiovisual materials illustrating these theoretical contents. In practical classes, students develop, in groups, practical tasks related to the research projects they are developing. Students' oral participation is highly encouraged, both in theoretical classes and (naturally) in practical classes. All mandatory reading texts and support materials will be made available on Moodle. In addition to classes, students can clarify doubts or request tutorial guidance, in person, at the teacher's office during office hours, or at another time by appointment via email.
Assessment
Students can opt for the continuous assessment system or the final assessment system.
In the continuous assessment regime, students are assessed based on the following assessment elements: a) Individual test, written and without consultation, with a weighting of 50% for the final grade; b) Group work, oral and written, with a weighting of 50% for the final grade. The work grade includes participation and carrying out activities in practical classes (10%) and writing and delivering the final project (40%). To be approved in continuous assessment, the individual test grade cannot be lower than 7 points.
In the final assessment regime, students are assessed based on the following assessment element: a) Written exam, individual and without consultation, with a weighting of 100% for the final grade.
In the continuous assessment regime, students are assessed based on the following assessment elements: a) Individual test, written and without consultation, with a weighting of 50% for the final grade; b) Group work, oral and written, with a weighting of 50% for the final grade. The work grade includes participation and carrying out activities in practical classes (10%) and writing and delivering the final project (40%). To be approved in continuous assessment, the individual test grade cannot be lower than 7 points.
In the final assessment regime, students are assessed based on the following assessment element: a) Written exam, individual and without consultation, with a weighting of 100% for the final grade.