Research Methodologies in Geography

Code: GEO13362L

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Geography

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Sustainable Development Goals

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Learning Goals

To prepare students for autonomous research in the different fields of Geography (Human, Physics, Environmental) and also in Cartography and GIS, responding to the dynamics of the labor market in which they point to this need. Training should enable scientific and personal skills to be developed for this response, including those associated with teamwork (ability to plan and develop collaborative work). Students should be able to: think and develop a research project, decomposing the various stages of this process; to be able to approach the fundamental concepts of Geography and to articulate the various geographical scales in the interpretation of the territory; namely to adapt methods and techniques to the various domains, perspectives and geographical problems; to be able to collect, treat and represent, in an appropriate and critical manner, territorially based information; to be able to use appropriate methods and techniques to communicate research results.

1 - The process of research in geography: The object of study, interpretation of reality (the common sense and scientific knowledge); The production of scientific knowledge and broad conceptions of science, theory, concepts and methods.
2 - Recognition of the importance of linking different approaches to the analysis and contextualization of research.
3 - The question of the choice of methodologies. The data processing.
4 - The importance of the advisor / advising: contacts and discussion of research. Progress reports.
5 - Didactic examples of the application of the investigation in Geography and exercises of application in different domains of Geography.
6 - Presentation of results in the form of scientific articles, reports, dashboards and oral communications.

Teaching Methods

RMG curriculum is provided by a teacher with training in human geography, with the collaboration of two others, one specialized in physical geography and another in the environmental geography that associates cartography and GIS. This collaboration is intended to support the development of points 2 and 3 of the program, making possible an integrated approach to RMG in accordance with case studies. There will be theoretical expository orientation and presentation of research cases. In addition to an individual written test, both theoretical and practical, students will have to prepare individual practical assignments and a critical review of a work that focuses on a geography theme chosen for discussion in the CU. Each of the practical assignments will be built around a challenge and / or problem that will allow students to consolidate research skills and acquire essential scientific knowledge. The progress of the work is reported and the practical work after evaluation can be improved.