Research Methodology

Code:

PDF01

Acronym:

PDF01

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Social Science

Instance: 2022/2023 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Course/CS Responsible:	Physiotherapy

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
DF	12	Plano do Programa de Doutoramento	1	-	5	30	135

Teaching language

Portuguese and english

Objectives

This curricular unit aims to provide students with knowledge enabling them:
1. Understanding the evolution of scientific research;
2. Understanding different methods and practices inherent to the construction of scientific knowledge;
3. Knowing the importance of bio-statistics in the treatment of experimental results;
4. Understanding different forms of dissemination of scientific knowledge and processes inherent to its quality.
5. Understand the structure of a scientific article and the general rules for the elaboration of each one of its parts;
6. Understand the process of publishing scientific articles and the practical aspects involved in it.

Learning outcomes and competences

It is expected that successful students depict the following competencies:
1. Perceptiveness of the fragile nature of scientific knowledge;
2. Ability to make operational the methods and procedures to be used in a scientific study;
3. Capacity to decide on the type of research to be undertaken and to decide on the statistical model to be used
in data analysis;
4. Ability to choose the most appropriate strategies to control the research plan;
5. Awareness of ethics in research involving humans or animals.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Theoretical contents:
1. Epistemology and paradigms of scientific research
2. Process of health research
3. Planning a research project
3.1. Construction of the problems
3.2. Classification of variables
3.3. Construction and classification of hypotheses
3.4. Methods and techniques of information collection
3.5. Data analysis
3.6. Reporting results
4. Research plans
4.1. Descriptive
4.2. Case studies
4.3. Correlational
4.4. Laboratory studies
5. Internal and external validity and reliability of research plans
6. Epidemiological research
7. Clinical trials
8. Ethics to research

Practical/laboratorial contents:
1. Planning a research project
2. Standards and guidelines for the preparation and presentation of scientific papers
3. Bibliographic referencing software
4. Analysis and discussion of scientific papers and questions about the scientific research methodologies

Mandatory literature

Fortin MF; O Processo de Investigação da concepção à realização. 3ª Edição, Loures: Lusociência, 2003
Conover WJ; Pratical Nonparametric Statistics. 2nd Ed., John Wiley & Sons, 1980
Frada João José Cúcio; Guia prático para elaboração e apresentação de trabalhos científicos. ISBN: 972-8081-01-4
Lakatos Eva Maria; Metodologia cientifica
Montgomery DC; Design and Analysis of Experiments. 3rd ed, John Wiley & Sons, 1991

Teaching methods and learning activities

The theoretical lectures (n=20 hours) will be expositive, although always looking for the effective participation of
students through the raise of issues and problems related to the topics to teach. In practical/laboratorial lessons (n=10
hours) there will be an interaction with the student even closer, with the constant help of the teacher to solve practical problems arising within the context of the practical class. Students must attend at least 75% of the theoretical and practical lessons.

keywords

Health sciences > Ethics in health sciences
Humanities > Philosophy > Philosophy of science

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	0,00
Teste	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	105,00
Frequência das aulas	30,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

Calculation formula of final grade

The final classification will be equal to the result of the final exam.