Dissertation - Introduction to Research Project I

Code:

ESG0009

Acronym:

IPI I

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Engineering
OFICIAL	Economics

Instance: 2011/2012 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Industrial Engineering and Management
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Services Engineering and Management

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MESG	35	Syllabus since 2007/08	1	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

This course unit aims to provide students with conceptual and instrumental resources to carry out a research project in the domain of social sciences. The concepts to be approached are related to two general domains: the historical and epistemological context of social sciences research and the comprehension of the different stages of a research project.
At the end, students should have developed a set of skills in the domain of social sciences research, which allows them to autonomously conceive and carry out an individual research project.

Program

I. Scientific research in social sciences
1. Characteristics
2. Research paradigms, quantitative and qualitative methodologies and knowledge development
3. Historical perspective and epistemological context quantitative and qualitative research
II. Stages of research
1. Definition of object/subject of study, aim and research questions;
2. Selection of research methodology;
3. Hypothesis formulation;
4. Sampling techniques;
5. Data collection techniques (written documents, interview, observation, questionnaire);
6. Data analysis techniques;
7. Publication/diffusion of results
8. Ethical issues related to social sciences research.

Mandatory literature

Brewerton, P. & Millward, L.; Organizational Research Methods, Londres: SAGE Publications, 2001
Bryman, A.; Research Methods and Organization Studies, Londres: Routledge, 2000
Cassell, C. & Symon, G. (Eds.) ; Essential guide of qualitative methods in organizational research, London: Sage Publications, 2004
Denzin, N. & Lincoln, Y. ; The Landscape of Qualitative Research. Theories and Issues. , California: SAGE Publications., 1998
Sampieri, R. H., Collado, C. F. & Lucio, P. B.; Metodologia de Pesquisa, São Paulo: McGraw-Hill Interamericana do Brasil Ltda, 2006
Silverman, D.; Doing Qualitative Research. A Practical Handbook., Londres: SAGE Publications, 2000
Yin, Robert K.; Qualitative research from start to finish, The Guilford Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-1-60623-701-4

Complementary Bibliography

Bryman, A. ; Analyzing Qualitative Data, Londres: Routledge, 2001
Robert K. Yin; Case study research. ISBN: 978-1-4129-6099-1
Silverman, D.; Interpreting Qualitative Research. Methods for Analysing Talk, Text and Interaction. , Londres: SAGE Publications, 2001

Teaching methods and learning activities

- Classes based on the presentation of course unit themes
- Researches, use of specialized databases
- Autonomous study

keywords

Social sciences > Educational sciences > Research methodology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Accomplishment with approval of four modules (3 to 6) of the Certificate of infoliteracia	Trabalho escrito	40,00	30,00	2012-04-27
Portfolio (Work in small group)	Trabalho escrito	68,00	70,00	2012-06-29
	Total:	-	100,00

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Grade will be based on the assessment of the following components:
a) Individual assignment (50% of the final grade): Completion of four modules (3 to 6) of Certificado de Competências em Pesquisa de Informação Científico-Técnica the certificate of competence in technical-scientific information research; and
b) Group assignment (50% of the final grade): Portfolio

To complete this course unit, students have to:
i) reach a minimum grade of 50% in the four module (3 to 6) of Certificado de Competências em Pesquisa de Informação Científico-Técnica the certificate of competence in technical-scientific information research;
ii) reach a minimum grade of 10 out of 20 in the portfolio;
iii) a minimum final grade of 10 out of 20.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Not applicable

Classification improvement

Students may only improve the grade of the portfolio, if they did not reach a passing grade.