SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF CURRICULAR UNIT This course combines a set of essential information for the execution of the final master's work, guiding students in the fulfillment of the main stages of the research process and / or reflection and following a structured methodology and logically sequential, ranging from the choice theme and problem definition to the critical analysis of results and conclusions.
OBJECTIVES The preparation of the individual final work was established as the main objective of this course, looking for students to meet the main rules for the implementation of scientific work, revealing knowledge of the phases of research and structure of the work process. Furthermore it is intended also: 1) Keep focused and motivated students in the implementation of scientific work, based on their orientation and ongoing monitoring; 2) Provide the student's ability to find the starting point of his work, including the definition and characterization of the problem of research and appropriate strategic action plan; 3) Raising awareness on the importance of literature review both in a pre-project phase to assist in the choice of subject to study, as a later stage for the creation of theoretical support base of all empirical work; 4) Assist in the definition of the scientific method in the research process, identifying the main sources of information and data collection techniques; 5) Check critical attitude to analyze the results of the work in order to suboptimal conclusions aimed at the problem identified explanation.
SKILLS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES The students should be able to: 1) Understand the process of creation and development of a research work; 2) Identify problems analytically and set a work plan for the study, identifying the best data collection techniques for this purpose; 3) Use tools to support statistical analysis of the data collected in order to sustain a critical analysis of results; 4) Make a good time management in the execution of each phase of the research work in order to ensure compliance with pre-defined terms.
Programme
1. Introduction 1.1. Work's Type 1.2. Structure and Rules
2. Research Problem 2.1. Features and ethics research 2.2. research problem discussion 2.3. research strategy
3. Literature Review 3.1 Purpose and planning research 3.2 Information sources and types of analysis 3.3 construction method of literature review
4. Operational Steps of the Research Process 4.1. Construction of Hypotheses/Objectives 4.2. Identification and selection of variables 4.3. Research Methods 4.3.1. Definition of scientific method 4.3.2. Sampling techniques 4.4. Data collection techniques 4.4.1. Classification of technical 4.4.2. data collection tools 4.4.2.1 Interview 4.4.2.2 The questionnaire 4.5. Analysis and Empirical contextualization 4.5.1. Comparative statistical methods 4.5.2. Data analysis and interpretation of results 4.5.2.1 Construction and subsequent procedures in a database 4.5.2.2 Descriptive analysis of the variables 4.5.2.3 Parametric tests 4.5.2.4 Non-parametric tests 4.5.2.5 Linear regression model 4.5.2.6 Introduction to factor analysis 4.5.3. Conclusions and future direction lines
Main literature
Hill, M. & Hill A.;Investigação por questionário, Edições Sílabo, 2009
Supplementary Bibliography
Real de Oliveira, E.; Ferreira, P.;Métodos de Investigação: da interrogação à descoberta científica, Grupo Editorial Vida Económica, 2014
Learning Methods
The contents of this course will be particularly exposed in tutorial classes combining the theoretical exposition of the main concepts, methods and techniques to the discussion of practical cases and resolution of application exercises. For such use shall be means of computer support, including Microsoft Powerpoint software for presentation of the contents, as well as other support tools, including applications such as SPSS and publications in various paper. During the classes will be encouraged to pro-activity and critical attitude of the students face the issues under discussion.