Thesis Project

Code:

PD_CF52

Acronym:

ProjetoTese

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Forensic Sciences

Instance: 2019/2020 - A (of 16-09-2019 to 31-07-2020)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education
Course/CS Responsible:	Doctoral Programme in Forensic Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
PDCF	10	Ciências Forenses_13	1	-	12	57	324

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

This curricular unit aims to introduce from the theoretical point of view, detailed knowledge necessary to develop a dissertation a doctoral project. The tutorial follow-up defined to each student will be performed to assure that the submitted project results original, feasible, based on a proper design and methodology, with scientific interest in the forensic area as well as publishable.

Learning outcomes and competences

Students will develop skills to: (a) define research problems and operational issues, (b) know the “state of the art” on the topic to investigate, (c) detect implicit ethical dilemmas in a research project and deal with them in accordance with national and international regulations, and eventually questioning the ethics committee, and (e) apply a methodological reasoning with proper interpretation of the operational and epistemological limitations; (g) dominate the structure of a scientific text.

Working method

Presencial

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

Not applicable

Program

Theoretical classes:

1. To choose a doctoral research project
2. Structure of a doctoral research project
3. Advanced literature search
4. Literature references. Available software
5. Funding sources and applying for fellowships
6. Data analysis
7. Selecting scientific journals for articles’ submission
8. Impact of scientific communication and strategies to valorize the produced knowledge

Tutorial advising to each thesis project.

Mandatory literature

J Usher-Smith, G Murrell, H Ellis, C Huang; Research in medicine: planning a project - writing a thesis (Cambridge Medicine), Cambridge Academic Press, 2010. ISBN: 9780521132282 (3rd edition)

Complementary Bibliography

CM Roberts; The dissertation journey: A practical and comprehensive guide to planning, writing, and defending your dissertation., Corwin - Sage, 2010. ISBN: 9781412977982
RL Joyner, WA Rouse, AA Glatthorn; Writing the winning thesis or dissertation: A step-by-step guide, Corwin - Sage, 2012. ISBN: 978-1452258782
FL Rakotsoane; Proposal-writing for a research project, thesis and dissertation: a step-by-step guide., Lambert Academic Publishing, 2012. ISBN: 978-3848416301

Teaching methods and learning activities

Throughout the theoretical approach, it is provided general and fundamental knowledge in order to assure a proper execution of the project. On the other hand, through the tutorials, the student obtains support to the development of his specific project. These two levels of support shall guarantee that the final project is robust and assures the fulfillment of the goals previously highlighted. Particularly it should be taking into account the feasibility of the project and it is advisable to publish an original article (full length paper) related to the topic of the dissertation, in indexed international journal with peer review and impact factor, the student being the first author.
Given the individualized character of the work and the teaching methodology proposed, the teachers will essentially apply theoretical and tutorial classes, indebting all the necessary efforts for its full implementation. A lecture method in conjunction with the interrogative method will be applied at an early stage in order to promote the transmission of general knowledge for the proper preparation of the final dissertation thesis.

 

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	70,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de projeto	70,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

Presence in lectures and delivery of a written doctoral project.

Calculation formula of final grade

Evaluation: (a) continuous (30%) - assesses the student’s ability to solve the various problems that arise during the project preparation and to present a poster communication in a congress; (b) final (70%) - evaluates the developed dissertation project. Approval is conditional to a positive result in both components of the final evaluation.