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

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

8. Trabalho digno e crescimento económico - Promover o crescimento económico sustentado, inclusivo e sustentável, emprego pleno e produtivo, e trabalho decente para todos.

10. Reduzir as desigualdades - Reduzir as desigualdades dentro dos países e entre eles.

12. Produção e consumo sustentáveis - Assegurar padrões de produção e de consumo sustentáveis.

17. Parcerias para a implementação dos objetivos - Fortalecer os meios de implementação e revitalizar a parceria global para o desenvolvimento sustentável.

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

This curricular unit is secured by a lecturer with training in environmental human geography and territorial management, with the collaboration of two others, one specialized in physical geography and the other in environmental geography, which combines cartography and GIS. This collaboration aims to support the development of points 2 and 3 of the program, enabling an integrated approach to MI according to case studies. There will be theoretical expository guidance and presentation and discussion of research cases. In addition to learning the basic contents individually, students will have to develop and present projects and practical plans in groups based on a research question in geography selected for each group, an individual critical review of a work that focuses on a topic of geography research methodologies for discussion at the UC, in addition to an individual memory of the study visit to a research center at the University. Each of the practical works will be built around a geographic challenge and/or problem that will allow students to consolidate research skills and acquire essential scientific knowledge, but with a character and orientation fundamentally applied to the design and resolution of research challenges linked to territory and its sustainable management.

Assessment

Continuous assessment regime
30% Frequency + 70% Assignments (maximum of 4)
Minimum grade: 10 points in attendance and work
Frequency Components: Research Methodologies in Human and Environmental Geography (66%), Physical Geography (17%), Spatial Analysis (17%).
Work Components: Group Project (70%) + Individual Review (10%) + Individual memory of the field trip (10%) + Individual Practical Exercise (10%)
Approval through continuous assessment requires mandatory attendance in 75% of classes, which includes 100% attendance in project classes, except for admissible justification.

Final evaluation regime:
- Normal season exam - all material is assessed in an exam. Theory (30%) + Practice (70%)
- Appeal Exam ? all material is assessed in an exam. Theory (30%) + Practice (70%)

Any plagiarism detected in the work delivered, from work by other authors or from CHATGTP or other text production support using artificial intelligence, results in the classification of zero values ??in the work in question and the impossibility of presenting further assessment elements in the Curricular Unit.