PT|EN
Social Sciences Methodology: Qualitative Methods
Courses Degree in Social Sciences
Cod: 41038
Department: DCSG
ECTS: 6
Scientific area: Sociology
Total working hours: 156
Total contact time: 15

This discipline aims to provide theoretical and practical knowledge resources on the processes of social research. Focuses on qualitative methods of description, understanding and interpretation of social and cultural, emphasizing its main principles and theoretical and methodological debates. For that explores the relationship between theory and empirical research in the social process as well as the comparison of different qualitative methods and their suitability for research in a particular context. It explores the problems of analysis and interpretation of information collected and produced in the process of qualitative research, as well as the relationship between qualitative and quantitative methods.

Methodology of Social Sciences
Methods and Techniques of Social Research
Qualitative Methods

At the end of this course the student should be able to:
  - Analyze critically the importance and characteristics of qualitative research.
- Distinguish the different perspectives of qualitative research and decide, in a reasoned manner, by a certain method to develop a specific study.
- Understand and identify key issues that the practice of qualitative research places.

 

1. The role of theory in qualitative research
2. Qualitative methods
3. The practice of research
4. The research project in Social Sciences
5. Documental research
6. Observation
7. Interviews and group dynamics
8. From the text to theory: Analysis and Interpretation - content analysis
9. The relations between qualitative and quantitative methods
10. The research report

Beaud, Stéphane; Weber, Florence (2007) Guia para a Pesquisa de Campo – produzir e analisar dados etnográficos, RJ, Editora Vozes
FLICK, U. Métodos Qualitativos na Investigação Científica, Lisboa: Monitor, 2005
CARMO, Hermano; FERREIRA, Manuela Malheiro; Metodologia da Investigação. Guia para Auto-aprendizagem; Lisboa: Universidade Aberta, 2008
QUIVY, Raymond ; VAN CAMPENHOUDT, Luc — Manual de investigação em Ciências Sociais. Lisboa: Gradiva, 1998.
LESSARD-HÉBERT, M.; GOYETTE, G. ; BOUTIN, G. —
Investigação qualitativa, fundamentos e práticas. Lisboa: Instituto Piaget, 1994.
See other bibliography on the platform.
 
 

E-learning.

Continuous assessment is privileged: 2 or 3 digital written documents (e-folios) during the semester (40%) and a presence-based final exam (p-folio) in the end of the semester (60%). In due time, students can alternatively choose to perform one final presence-based exam (100%).

It is crucial that students consult frequently the couse in:
www.moodle.univ-ab.pt/moodle/ .