Project Seminar

Code:

GEOGR078

Acronym:

SP

Instance: 2017/2018 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Geography
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Geography

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
GEOGR	60	GEOGR - Study Plan	3	-	12	-

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

1. Understand the principles associated with the organization of research projects, through the identification of objectives, hypothesis formulation and structuring of the research;


2. To know the basic scientific research methods and its applicability;


3. To increase analytical skills, discussion and communication of research results;


4. Develop an investigation project with relevant and valid geographical information, structured and documented using several languages and data sources;


5. Review and carefully interpret the information, comparing it, raising hypothesis for its confirmation/ rejection, keeping a reflective and receptive attitude to new challenges.

Learning outcomes and competences

1. 
   
   Design and organize a research project in Geography with relevant and valid geographical information, structured and documented using several languages and data source;
   
   


2. 
   
   Select the appropriate materials and scientific methods to implement the defined project;
   
   


3. 
   
   Apply appropriate strategies to the project development, selecting the analysis scale and the procedures of acquisition, processing and representation of information;
   
   


4. 
   
   Discuss and analyze problems, keeping a reflective attitude, in order to suggest and justify proposals for their resolution, supported by scientific concepts and methods;
   
   


5. 
   
   Demonstrate sensitivity to the geographical scope of issues, trying to reconcile and manage the potential of research process, always assuming a critical and receptive attitude to new challenges.
   
   

Working method

Presencial

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

Not applicable.

Program

1. Theoretical background: scientific research, its peculiarities and its problems.


2. Starting Question: definition of the problem to investigate.


3. The general and specific objectives.


4. Design and development of a research project in Geography.


5. Mobilization of different knowledge acquired in the several curricular units of the course and its suitability to the research project.


6. The construction of the analysis model.


7. Research, selection and organization of information, given the approach, design and problematic.


8. Choice of methods and techniques. Data processing and analysis gathered using scales, instruments and more appropriate techniques.


9. Discussion of the research plan and evaluation of its schedule.


10. Presentation and discussion of research results.

Mandatory literature

Ceia, C. ; Normas para Apresentação de Trabalhos Científicos, Ed. Presença, 2006
Clifford, N.; French, S.; Valentine, G. ; Key methods in Geography., Sage Publications, 2010
Creswell, J. W.; Research Design. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed approaches, Sage Publications, 2003
Gomez, B.; Jones, J. ; Research methods in Geography, Wiley Blackwell, 2010
Holloway, S.; Rice, S.; Valentine, G. (eds.); Key concepts in Geography, Sage Publications, 2003
Quivy, R.; Van Campenhoudt, L. ; Manual de investigação em Ciências Sociais, Gradiva, 2008

Comments from the literature

It will be given to students complementary bibliography related to their research project themes.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Software

SPSS
Excel
ArcGis

keywords

Social sciences > Geography

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Defesa pública de dissertação, de relatório de projeto ou estágio, ou de tese	20,00
Participação presencial	10,00
Trabalho escrito	70,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de projeto	212,00
Frequência das aulas	112,00
Total:	324,00

Eligibility for exams

Attend 75% of classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

Preliminary report: 10%;
Presence/performance in orientation sessions: 10%;
Presentation/oral discussion of the projects during a field trip to the areas under study and at the end of the semester: 20%;
Final report: 60%.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable.

Internship work/project

Not applicable.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Classification improvement

Improvement of the research project final report .