2026

Research Methodologies in Geography

Name: Research Methodologies in Geography
Code: PAO15313L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area: Geography

Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Sustainable Development Goals

Learning Goals

To prepare students for autonomous research in the different fields of Geography (Human, Physical, Environmental, Mapping and GIS), responding to the dynamics of the labour market. Training should enable scientific and personal skills to be developed including those associated with teamwork. Students should be able to: (a) think and develop a research project, decomposing the various stages of this process; (b) approach the fundamental concepts of Geography and articulate the various geographical scales in the interpretation of the territory; (c) adapt methods and techniques to the different study domains, perspectives and geographical problems; (d) collect, treat and represent, appropriately and critically, territorially based information; (e) use appropriate methods and techniques to communicate research results.

Contents

1. The research process in Geography.
2. Formulation of research questions and hypotheses.
3. Didactic examples of application in Physical Geography.
4. Didactic examples of application in Human Geography.
5. Didactic examples of application in Spatial Analysis.
6. Importance of interconnecting different approaches.
7. Choice of methodologies and experimental design.
8. Data processing.
9. Research Projects.
10. Presentation of results.

Teaching Methods

This curricular unit is taught by a professor in the area of environmental human geography and land-use planning, with the collaboration of two others, one specialized in physical geography and the other in spatial modelling (cartography and GIS). This collaboration aims to support the development of the different objectives and themes for this course, enabling an integrated approach to RM according to case studies. There will be theoretical expository guidance and presentation of research cases. In addition to an individual written test, of a theoretical nature, students will have to prepare individual practical work, memories of study visits, and group projects. Each of the practical assignments and projects will allow students to consolidate research skills and acquire essential scientific and professional knowledge.

Assessment

Theoretical component (6 points) and practical component (14 points): ? Theoretical test ? 6 values (minimum 50% - 3 values); Human Geography (4 points), Physical Geography (1 point), TIG (1 point). ? Assignments/practice (under the guidance of Human Geography, Physics or TIG Teachers depending on the topic chosen by the students) ? 14 points (minimum 50% - 7 points); ? Normal exam (you can only do the missing part ? theoretical or practical) ? Appeal Exam ? all material assessed in a practical theoretical session Any plagiarism that is detected in the work delivered, from work by other authors, CHATGTP or other text production support using artificial intelligence, results in the classification of zero values in the work in question and in the inability to present further evaluation elements in the Unit Curriculum.