Research Methodologies and Epistemology II

Code:

MC112

Acronym:

MIEII

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Epistemologia e Metod. de Invest. em Educação

Instance: 2016/2017 - 2S (since 13-02-2017 to 26-05-2017)

Active?	Yes
Course/CS Responsible:	Criminology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MC	38	Plano Oficial de MC - 2010	1	-	6	54

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

With this curricular unit it is intended that students solidify and increase their skills towards using quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques. They should also be able to understand and interpret the analytical components of research papers, as well as to select the most adequate analytical tools for their research projects. Students should also be able to use a software for statistical analysis, such as the SPSS.

 

Learning outcomes and competences

In particular, in this course it is intended that students are able to:

Part A - Qualitative Research:

• To apply the methods of observation, interview and documentary analysis in order to study different dimensions of the criminal phenomenon.
• To know the methods of qualitative data analysis, and learn to apply the techniques of content analysis.
• To develop skills of analysis, discussion and critique of different techniques of qualitative analysis in Criminology.


In Part B - Quantitative Research:

• To perform preliminary exploratory analysis of quantitative data;
• To describe available data based on descriptive statistics;
• To apply suitable statistical methods when making inference;
• To interpret and comment statistical software outputs (SPSS outputs).

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

n.a.

Program

Part A – Quantitative Research

1. Probabilitues and statistical infrence according to the Neyman-Pearson model
2. Introduction to SPSS
3. Data screening
4. Descriptive statistics
5. Parametric and non-parametric bivariate techniques
6. General Linear Model (ANOVA and Linear Regression)
7. Introduction to multivariate statistics: Multiple Regressions.

Part B – Qualitative Research

1. Qualitative methodologies to collect data: qualitative interview (individual, focus group, life stories), observation and documental analysis;
2. Data analysis in quantitative research:

2.1. Data preparation;

2.2. Types of qualitative data.

3. The quality of qualitative research: obectivity, reliability, validity and generalization.

Mandatory literature

Albarello Luc 070; Práticas e métodos de investigação em ciências sociais. ISBN: 972-662-554-8
Bachman Ronet; The^practice of research in criminology and criminal justice. ISBN: 0-7619-8706-1
Bardin Laurence; Análise de conteúdo. ISBN: 978-972-44-1320-4
Flick Uwe; Métodos qualitativos na investigação científica. ISBN: 972-9413-67-3
Foddy William 1942-; Como perguntar. ISBN: 972-8027-54-0
Mason Jennifer; Qualitative researching. ISBN: 0-8039-8986-5
Bachman, Ronet e Raymond Paternoster; Statistical Methods for Criminology and Criminal Justice, McGraw-Hill, 2003. ISBN: 0-07-251844-8
Weisburd David; Statistics in criminal justice. ISBN: 978-0-387-34112-5
Bushway Shawn 340; Quantitative methods in criminology. ISBN: 0-7546-2446-3
Marôco, João; Análise estatística com o PASW Statistics (ex-SPSS). ISBN: 9789899676305

Complementary Bibliography

Blumer Herbert; Symbolic interactionism. ISBN: 0-520-05676-0
Denzin Norman K.; Interpretive interactionism. ISBN: 0-8039-3003-8
Denzin Norman K.; Handbook of qualitative research. ISBN: 0-8039-4679-1
Fowler Jr. Floyd J.; Survey research methods. ISBN: 0-7619-2191-5
Hagan Frank E.; Research methods in criminal justice and criminology. ISBN: 0-205-44739-2
King Roy D. 340; Doing research on crime and justice. ISBN: 978-0-19-928762-8
Hagan Frank E.; Research methods in criminal justice and criminology. ISBN: 0-205-44739-2
Howell, David; Statistical Methods for Psychology, Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth, 2007
Pestana Maria Helena 1958-; Análise de dados para ciências sociais. ISBN: 972-618-391-X

Teaching methods and learning activities

During classes programmatic contents are presented and discussed, with the help of exercises and the application to concrete cases.

In the case of quantitative analysis, students will follow classes with a computer, performing the analysis and following tutorial examples given by the teacher.

Software

IBM SPSS Statistics (v21 ou v22)

keywords

Physical sciences > Mathematics > Statistics
Social sciences > Criminology

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

n.a.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final grade will correspond to the final exam classification.

Examinations or Special Assignments

cf. general regulamentation.

Internship work/project

n.a.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

cf. general regulamentation.

Classification improvement

cf. general regulamentation.