From SSKE

FEUP MESG - Services Engineering and Management

Introduction to Research Project Course

Objectives, Skills and Learning Outcomes

This course unit aims to provide students with conceptual and instrumental resources to carry out a research project in the domain of social sciences. The concepts to be approached are related to two general domains: the historical and epistemological context of social sciences research and the comprehension of the different stages of a research project.
At the end, students should have developed a set of skills in the domain of social sciences research, which allows them to autonomously conceive and carry out an individual research project.

Program

I. Scientific research in social sciences
1. Characteristics
2. Research paradigms, quantitative and qualitative methodologies and knowledge development
3. Historical perspective and epistemological context quantitative and qualitative research
II. Stages of research
1. Definition of object/subject of study, aim and research questions;
2. Selection of research methodology;
3. Hypothesis formulation;
4. Sampling techniques;
5. Data collection techniques (written documents, interview, observation, questionnaire);
6. Data analysis techniques;
7. Publication/diffusion of results
8. Ethical issues related to social sciences research.