Seminar I

Code:

MCI0016

Acronym:

SCI1

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Information Science

Instance: 2010/2011 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Informatics Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Information Science

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MCI	20	Plano de estudos oficial	2	-	6	60	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The aim of this course unit is to familiarise students with the principles and the available methodological and technical instruments, which enable an adequate selection when carrying out an individual research project.

Program

1. Introduction to research methodology
Science as a construction of reality
Epistemology and scientific knowledge practices: the main research paradigms; the main research strategies

2. Research logic:
Stages: formulation of the starting point; exploration; theoretical problematic; hypothesis and analysis model; indicators; empirical research; results
Project, design and research results

3. Research methods and techniques:
Quantitative, qualitative and experimental methods
Sampling
Survey by questionnaires
Interviews
Case studies and direct observation
Documentary research
Life stories
Content analysis
Grounded theory

4. Complementariness and methodological triangulation

5. General presentation of software: NUDist and SPSS.

Mandatory literature

Albarello, Luc 070; Práticas e métodos de investigação em Ciências Sociais. ISBN: 972-662-554-8
Silva, Augusto Santos 340; Metodologia das ciências sociais
P de Bruyne, J. Herman e M de Schoutheete; Dynamique de la Recherche en Science Sociales, Presses Universitaires de France, 1974

Complementary Bibliography

Ghiglione, Rodolphe; O inquérito. ISBN: 972-774-120-7
António Joaquim Esteves & José Azevedo (eds.); Metodologias Qualitativas Para as Ciências Sociais, Instituto de Sociologia, Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto, 1998
Javeau, Claude; L.enquête par questionnaire. ISBN: 2-8004-0771-9
Ghiglione, Rodolphe et al.; Manuel d'Analyse de Contenu, Armand Colin, 1990
Hanse, Anders et al; Mass Communication Research Methods, Palgrave, 1998
Marshall, Catherine & Rossman, Gretchen B.; Designing Qualitative Research, Sage Publications, 1995
Yin, Robert K.; Case study research. ISBN: 0-8039-5663-0
Quivy, Raymond; Manual de investigação em ciências sociais. ISBN: 972-662-275-1

Teaching methods and learning activities

Classes will be interactive and aiming to promote the discussion of cases and processes, not only by the materials to be provided, but also by students’ projects.
A special emphasis will be given to students’ doubts and problems while carrying out their projects.
Bibliography is based on several articles for the illustration and application (will be provided in class) and in a set of books to support course unit programme.

Software

SPSS 11
NVivo

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	46,00
Individual assignment about research methology	Trabalho escrito	24,00		2010-12-17
Dissertation proposal	Trabalho escrito	22,00		2010-12-17
Literature/state-of-the-art review	Trabalho escrito	72,00		2010-12-17
	Total:	-	0,00

Eligibility for exams

The assessment is based on an individual assignment (IA) and students’ participation in class (PA) is worth 20% of the final grade.

Calculation formula of final grade

Grade = (0.8 IA + 0.2 PA)