Research Methods II

Code:

PDSH08

Acronym:

MI II

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Scientific Research Methodology

Instance: 2023/2024 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	Doctoral Programme in Human Sexuality

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
PDSH	12	Plano de Estudos em vigor	1	-	12	56	324

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students
Obs.: Português e Inglês

Objectives

This course aims to provide a deep training in methodology of research to provide students the ability to plan the methodological components of a research project, using qualitative and quantitative methods.

 

Learning outcomes and competences

Qualitative Methods:

(i) Understand the characteristics, language and logic of qualitative research methods

(ii) understand utility of this framework of research in psychology;

(iii) Understand the overall phases and procedures required for the planning and structuring of qualitative research projects;

(iv) Train the use of some techniques of collection and analysis of qualitative data;

Quantitative Methods

i) Understand the background and characteristics of quantitative research

ii) Bring in a global perspective the different steps needed in the design and implementation of research projects, in the quantitative approach

iii) Adequate the analysis of quantitative data to the research objectives as well as to operate with some of the main techniques and software

iv) Evaluate the implications of the methodological options on data analysis, its advantages and limitations

Working method

Presencial

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

NA

Program

Qualitative methods:

I-Epistemological and theoretical Frameworks of qualitative research methods

- Epistemological roots of qualitative research

- Concerns and epistemological differences of qualitative methods

- The role of quality criteria in qualitative research

II-thematic analysis

- Objectives of thematic analysis

 - Theoretical Status of the thematic analysis

- Differences between inductive and deductive thematic analysis

- Process phases of thematic analysis

III- Narrative methods

IV - Grounded Theory
 
Quantitative Methods

- Introduction to quantitative methodologies

– Analysis of variance

– Linear regression

- Logistic regression

– Validation of instruments

- Confirmatory factor analysis 

- Structural Equation Models

- Meta-analysis

Mandatory literature

Patton M. Q. ; Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice (4th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage, Sage, 2015
Willig, C.; Perspectives on the Epistemological Bases for Qualitative Research. In H. Cooper (Editor-in-Chief), APA Handbook of Research Methods in Psychology: Vol. 1. Foundations, Planning, Measures, and Psychometrics (pp. 5-21). American Psychological, American Psychological Association, 2012
Willig, C.; Introducing qualitative research in psychology. Maidenhead, England: McGraw Hill/Open University Press. Cap.6 (177-210), McGraw Hill/Open University Press, 2013
Field, A; Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics, SAGE, 2013, Sage, 2013
Altman D. G.; ; Pratical Statistics for Medical Research, Chapman and Hall
Dawson-Saunders Beth; Basic and Clinical Biostatistics

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures for the acquisition and updating of key concepts.

Theoretical and practical work in which (i) the main techniques of quantitative and qualitative data analysis are presented; (ii) set up specific times to allow students to operate and use those techniques; (iii) possibilities but also potentialities and limitations of the techniques according to the design of the research are discussed; (iv) their methodological implications are highlighted .

Discussion of the application of the methodological options according to the research project of the student.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Trabalho escrito	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	68,00
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Trabalho de investigação	100,00
Trabalho escrito	100,00
Total:	324,00

Eligibility for exams

Evaluation
Individuals written report (100%)

Calculation formula of final grade

FINAL GRADE = written work/100%

Examinations or Special Assignments

NA

Internship work/project

NA

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

NA

Classification improvement

Students may improve the final grade during the appeal season

Observations

NA