Research and Intervention Methodologies

Code:

MSOCI008

Acronym:

MII

Instance: 2010/2011 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Sociology
Course/CS Responsible:	Masters in Sociology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MSOCI	35	MSOCI - Study Plan	1	-	6	52	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The overall objective of this discipline is the consolidation of the training in quantitative and qualitative methodologies and methodologies of reasoned sociological intervention.

The specific objectives that should be fulfilled are:
- to think about social production of scientific knowledge;
- To enhance scientific preparation about theoretical and methodological assumptions, which are the basis of research;
- To increase the knowledge regarding the design of research programs and strategies of basic and applied investigation;
- To operationalize the strategies of basic and applied research;
- To identify and assess critically the variety of methods and techniques of research

Students should achieve a thorough knowledge of the subject and the methods and techniques of sociological research, through the development of the following skills:
- To decide critically on the paradigms suitable for basic and applied research;
- To design the research and strategies of basic and applied research suitable for the objects of study and for the objectives of research;
- To operationalize the methods and research techniques, taking into account their virtues and limitations;
- To assess/evaluate critically the use of different techniques for collecting and processing information.

Program

1.The social production of scientific knowledge. Scientific knowledge as a socio-institutional and historical product

2. The overall logic of the scientific research
2.1. Production of scientific knowledge: the paradigms of quantitative and qualitative analysis of reality
2.2. Theoretical and methodological assumptions and design of quantitative and qualitative research. The different logics of research: hypothetical-deductive and inductive logic.
2.3. Strategies of research related to the quantitative and qualitative approach: construction of analysis models.
2.4. Theoretical and operational pluri-paradigmatic and inter-paradigmatic convergence
2.5. Methodologies of research and social intervention: basic research and research-action

3. Critical analysis of techniques for gathering information
3.1 Documentary sources
3.2. Survey by questionnaire
3.3 Interview
3.4 Observation

4. Methodologies of projects of social intervention

Mandatory literature

DELGADO, Juan Manuel; GUTIÉRREZ, Juan, eds. ; Métodos e técnicas cualitativas de investigación en ciencias sociales , Madrid, Editorial Sintesis, s/ d
QUIVY, Raymond; CAMPENHOUDT, LucVan ; Manual de investigação em Ciências Sociais, Lisboa, Gradiva, 1992
DENZIN, N. K.; LINCOLN, Y. S.; Handbook of qualitative research, London, New Deli, Sage, 1994. ISBN: 0-8039-4679-1
HILL, Andrew.; HILL, Manuela M. ; Investigação por questionário, Lisboa, Sílabo, 2000. ISBN: 972-618-233-9
ALBARELLO, Luc; DIGNEFFE, Francoise; HIERNAUX, Jean-Pierre, et al ; Práticas e métodos de investigação em Ciências Sociais , Lisboa, Gradiva , 1997. ISBN: 972-662-554-8
DESCOMBE, Martin; Ground rules for good research, Maidenhead, Open University Press; McGraw-Hill Education, 2002. ISBN: 0 335 20651 4
BELL, Judith ; Como realizar um projecto de investigação, Lisboa, Gradiva, 1993. ISBN: 972-662-524-6
ALBARELLO, Luc; Devenir praticien-chercheur : comment réconcilier la recherche et la pratique sociale, Bruxelles, De Boeck, 2004. ISBN: 2-8041-4550-6
FLICK, U.; An introduction to qualitative research, London, Sage, 1998. ISBN: 0-7619-7436-9
ESTEVES, A.; AZEVEDO, J., eds.; Metodologias qualitativas para as Ciências Sociais, Porto, Instituto de Sociologia, 1998
GUERRA, Isabel Carvalho; Fundamentos e processos de uma sociologia de acção, Lisboa, Principia, 2002. ISBN: 9728500858
CEA DÁNCONA, Maria Ángel ; Metodología cuantitativa: estrategias y técnicas de investigación social , Madrid, Editorial Síntesis, 1999 . ISBN: 84-7738-420-7
FOODY, W.; Como perguntar. Teoria e prática da construção de perguntas em entrevistas e questionários, Oeiras, Celta, 1996
SCHUTT, Russell K.; Investigating the social world: the process and practice of research, Thousand Oaks, Pine Forge Press, 1996. ISBN: 0-8039-9010-3
SCHIEFER, Ulrich; BATISTA, António et al; Manual de planeamento e avaliação de projectos - MAPA, Principia, Cascais, 2006. ISBN: 972-8818-58-
GUERRA, Isabel Carvalho; Pesquisa Qualitativa e Análise de Conteúdo. Sentido e formas de uso , Lisboa, Principia, 2006. ISBN: 972-8818-66-1
GHIGLIONE, Rodolphe; MATALON, Benjamin ; O inquérito: teoria e prática , Oeiras, Celta Editora, 2005. ISBN: 972-774-120-7

Teaching methods and learning activities

Combination of expository, interrogative, active and demonstrative methods.

Theoretical-practical (TP) classes – lectures on different aspects of the program, with emphasis on exposition of theoretical contents. The lecture’s expository approach is intercalated with both interrogative strategies, encouraging student participation, and demonstrative methods, focusing on examples of cases within Portuguese society.

Tutorial supervision (OT) sessions – class following prior work programmes. Tutorial supervision Sessions consist of the scientific-pedagogic support and follow-up provided to students, in previously defined small groups, as well as oral presentations followed by discussion regarding the work developed. Students are assessed based on the quality of their participation and the work presented and defended in these sessions.

Software

Endnote

keywords

Social sciences > Sociology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	56,00
Teste prático final	Exame	2,00
	Teste	40,00
	Defesa pública de dissertação, de relatório de projeto ou estágio, ou de tese	24,00
	Total:	-	0,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Description	Type	Time (hours)	End date
	Estudo autónomo	40
	Total:	40,00

Eligibility for exams

Students are assessed based on the following components:
- Preparation of worksheets;
- Individual test;
- Attendance and participation in theoretical-practical classes and tutorial supervision sessions only in the case of regular students
Students are required to complete all assessment components, according to student status.

Calculation formula of final grade

Continuous assessment including the following components:
i) Worksheets
Weight: 30% for regular students; 40% for students with special student status.
- Group work (individual work may be agreed in advance with the lecturer only in exceptional cases and for reasons of force majeure);
- Class attendance and participation are essential components in this type of work;
- Work programs are diversified. A number of worksheets will be developed and discussed in classes on previously defined dates specified by the lecturer. Only some of these worksheets will be in writing;
ii) Open book test
A set of practical problems will be presented for students to answer individually, characterizing in detail the methodological procedures they would apply:
Weight: 60%
Individual work
iii) Attendance and participation in theoretical-practical classes and tutorial supervision sessions for ordinary students only
Weight: 10% for attendance and participation

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students who are legally exempt from class attendance are required to contact the lecturer as soon as classes start in order to establish the corresponding assessment procedures.

Classification improvement

Improvement of marks applies to the whole set of assessment components. Therefore, students wishing to improve their mark will have to repeat both the assessment components described above.